
Glass J 5"1 -L 
Book . ' Co P ■ 




y^^r^ COMTADMDMG 




OF PROMINENT^ REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 

OF THE COUNTY 

TOGETHER- Wl TH ■ POFfTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES- OF- ALL - THE 

~^ — ¥-— -— 

CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN BROS. 

1891. 



(^ 






yfn 



7v^ 



w. 







/.r>^ 



7 



/2 /?/f 



pi^Ep/^?E. 




^>t> -H>-t- <5<^ 

JHE grSatest of, English historians, Macaulay, and one of the most brilliant writi-rs of 
the present cenlnry, has said : "The history of a country is best told in a record of the 
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the Poktijait and Bioguai-iiicai. 
Album of this county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and 
talcing tiierefrom dry statistical matter tiiat can be appreciated by but few, our 
corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their 
enteri)rise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among tliose 
comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by 
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an 
influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men wlio 
have risen from the lower wallcs of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and 
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of manj', very 
many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content 
to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what 
tlHiy could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the 
anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from tlie fact 
that it contains so much that would never find its waj' into public records, and whicii would otherwise be 
inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunitv possible 
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers Hatter them- 
selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph- 
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to five the 
information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasional!}' some member of 
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never bo found, though repeated calls were made 
at their residence or place of business. 

^ e . , ,Q,>, CHAPMAN niiOS. 

CniCAOo, .September, 18!)1. 




^i{_jr\ i x LJ.-v>ix 








•u->i..vi<:*.i^' 



OF THE 



GOVERNORS of MICHIGAN, 



AND OF THE 



yv 



~~f' 



y ,JMW^ 



OF THE 



WS^3S3Z3Z 







COPYRIGHTED 



6^?^^M^]^ ^SO?. 






1885. 



as2as?.sgsggj^f^ 



















^-^=^^^^=^^^ 



'9 






^^^-^ 



CA 



FIJiST PRESIDENT. 




v^-a 




s--^ 






■ga'^' .4' .1' ; 4^; ■^;-t'^t^'^'?^t^t^'^Mtai'as^t'^t-^>%'(!^i;^<^^.^ii^t^'ta?'>ra^i:s;' 







I HE Father of our Country was 

'■j'l horn in Westmorland Co., Va., 
r.M% _ ' ' 

^ Feb. 22, 1732. His parents 
i] were Augustine and Mary 
-^ (Ball) Washington. The family 
to which he belonged has not 
been satisfactorily traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, John, 
Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
I^awrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of six children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, tiie father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George lie left tiie parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
tnathemat'cs. His spellinii was rather <iefectiv« 



Remarkable stories are told of his great physica: 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was 1 4 years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which aftenvards proved very 
essential to him. In 175 i, though only 19 years of 
age, he was apix)inted adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with liis brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise ilie 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without military 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



irip was a perilous one, and several times he came near 
losing his life, yet he retarned in safety and famished 
a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
Washington took a most inijMrtant part. In the 
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
dock's defeat, Wasliington was almost the only officer 
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says : " 1 had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was leveling my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

After having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought i)romotion in the royal army, he 
look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
CO resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Custis. 

When the British Parliament had closed the port 
if Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
del[)hia,Se|)t. 5, r774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if iwssible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
England were ])lainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
responsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted 
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and 
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
him under ever)' possible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, r783, Washington, in 
a patting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the army lo 
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He 
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer aiid planter, shunning all 
connection with public life. 

lit February, 17S9, Washington was unanimously 
elected President. In his presidential career he was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
of other governments ; trials from want of harmony 
between the different sections of our own country; 
trials from the impoverislied condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and 
while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
very annoying. 

At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
1797, at the expiiaton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, lioping to pass there 
his few remaining years free from the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his repose 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he superinter.ded from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
his life was suddenly cut off. December i 2, he took 
a seveie cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth his body was borne wiih military honors to its 
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
Mount Vernon. 

Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
the reverence of all parties, and princijjles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect 
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetrv. 
He commanded respect without any appearance ol 
haughtiness, and ever serious without V^iogduU. 



"■^. 




TiVElVTIETH PRESlLiENT. 




\>>«yrs.v; 



.^^y^y^-AL^s< 






i^:g«^;::'f*T;:;5*5;:;j<**i;:;j<s^;:;;*- 



^^■•^^^^ 



AMES A. (GARFIELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. 19, 
1S31, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
""' ents were Abram and Eliza 
(Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
^9 tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike tiie houses of 
J poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
.dc about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces bc- 
.vsen the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
lard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
.:lea!ed, an orchard planted, and a lug barn liuilt. 
I'lie household com[)rised the father and mother and 
heir four children — Mchetai)el, 'I'liomas, Mary and 
'ames. In May, 1825, tiie father, from a cold con- 
./acted in helping to ])ut out a forest fire, died. At 
'his time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perliaps, can 
tell how much James was indebted to his biother's 
ceil and self-sacrifice during tiie twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
itrs live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
iiiem. He 1 ibored at farm work for others, did car- 
penter «ork, (Ivii'pid wood, or <.lid anytliing that 
woulil Ipfinn in a few ilollars to aid liis widowed 
mother in lie- ■ i-':>,>;^lcs to keep the little f.m ily to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling cliildhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seatsof honor 
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. 'I'he [loorest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until hi 
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain 0/ 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, wliich his mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he should try to obtair 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on tlie Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he wen' 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Listitute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. 'I'his school 
was started by the Disciijles of Christ in 1S50, of 
which churcli he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way 
He then became both teacher ami ]Hipil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from whi' h 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned lo Hiram 
College as its President. As above stated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often [)rf;aching in ils pulpit and i)l3ces where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, Presidirt of 
Vale College, says of him in reference to liisrclipion: 



o«. 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



a man of 
His whole 



" President Garfield was more than 
strong moral and religious convictions, 
history, from boyhood to the last, sliovvs that duty to 
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
my JLidgmeiu there is no more interesting feature of 
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian comniunions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
;hurch of his mother, the church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most "nsec- 
Urian charity for all ' who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" 
Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 1 1, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
jn Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During tliis year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in i86i was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived his commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in acUon, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
'Humphrey Mirshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest (leneral in the 
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
in its operations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of the 
General Coutt-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
Porter. He was then ordered to rei)ort to Gen. Rose- 
crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff" 
The military h'story of Gen. Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars of the Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Gew Garfield was 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for si.\ty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua 
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the lime he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
body. Thert; he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Sinct 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question whici. 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before t. 
tribunel of the American people, in regard to whicL 
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Uix)n Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention- 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
day it grew in favo; with the people, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way and at the deixit, in com- 
pany with Secretary ISlaine, a man stepped behind 
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his liack. 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but in.licling no further 
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
" the shot that was heard round the world " _ Never 
before in the history of the Nation hnd anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his power and hope. Foreighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest'of human lessons— how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
19, 1883, at Ellieron, N. J , on the very b.ank of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly jirevious. The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty -.nid exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the fou; deed. 



TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT. 



99 





HESTER A. ARTHUR, 

twenty-first Presi'^.^iii of the 
United States was born in 
Franklin Cour ty, Vermont, on 
thefifthofOdobcr, 1830, and is 
the oldest of a family of two 
sons and five daughters. His 
father was the Rev. Dr. William 
Arthur, a Baptist d.rgyman, who 
emigrated to tb.s country fro:n 
the county Ant.im, Ireland, in 
his i8th year, and died in 1S75, in 
9J y}i Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 
"^ long and successful ministry. 
j>^j^j Young Arthur was educated at 
Ig M Union College, S( henectady, where 
J ]\ he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
»j ter his graduation he taught school 
R] in Vermont for two years, and at 
the expiration of that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his iwcket, 
and e.Uered the office of ex-Judgc 
^W E. D. Culver as student. After 
being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry 1). Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward niaj-r'^d the daughter of Lieutenant 



Hemdon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon. 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here esjxjused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was jjut off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of S500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



100 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored i*r- 
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed hmi Engineer- 
in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
?o, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1 880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the 'sading politicians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the history of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
■vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of 
anxious suspense, when the liearts of all civilized na 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainlv God- 
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored ]x>sition in the world ivas at any moment 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
the Vice President to ;.ssume the responsibilities of 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York. 
Sept. 20, iSSr. The iX)sition was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many important measures were to be immediately 
decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
Arthur took tlie reins of the Government in his own 
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1S85, and was 
a popular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
rj'ing with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to thcni and with credit to himself. 




a^t:rt£yr 



' U^^c^a^iy^K.^^ 




J'^'riJ^^amd 



S>EC0ND PHESIDENT. 



sS(k££ai^ 




,^M%33i^ 






-■j^,?^ 

3*:^ 



^(OMK ABAM 




^ :. . v.A.t..t ,.f. .t .'. .'.,.t..'. .-., A 4 ■t..A.t., .t..fe.t ..t..tA.t.-t4-t...t.,4-t..t.4tjfe&A, j-..^^^^^ •«■ 



'^Tipj 





OHN ADAMS, the second 
, President and the first Vice- 
President of the United States, 
t was born in Braintree ( now 
t-ys, Quincy),Mass., and about ten 
''^' miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1640, with a family of eight 
sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoeniaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
'school of affliction," from which Ivj endeavored to 
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For tiiis purjxDse he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been ti^rned from this by what he 
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic goodnature,'' 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive lowers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married Aijigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (i7f'5), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
Mon turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holdin^, :v town meeting, and the resolu- 



tions he offered on the subject became very jwpulai 
throughout the Provmce, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos^ 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegate.s 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himseU 
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against tlii 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the conunittee of nve 
apjxjinted June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on ."Xdams devolved the task of battling it througl\ 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of projjhecy. "Yesterday," he says, "t'ac 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America ; and greater, i)erhaps, never was or wil 
be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these L'nited 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde. 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotirm to /Mmighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with [wniii, shows. 



24 



JOHN ADAMS. 



games, S|)orts, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
fioui one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me trans}X)rted 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
hope we shall not. " 

In Noveml)er, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms ^nd money 
from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
jxjsed him to great peril of capture jjy the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In September of the same year he was again 
clioseii to go to Paris, and tliere hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might be found willing to listen to such pvoix)sels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and 
formed important commercial treaties 

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
Bath. \Vhile in England, still drooping anddesjiond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to .'Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,hemade the trip. 

February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
condescend to aiiixaint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. .Adams felt that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
nis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, .\gain 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elected President, though not without mucho'piKisition. 
Serving in this office four vears,he was succeeded by 
-Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 

While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 



French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was atisSuewith 
the majority of his countr)men led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted in behalf of the French peo[)le. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two jxjwerful parties were thus soon organ- 
ised, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
ajjpreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look uixsn his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had been so active in creating and 
supjwrting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde-' 
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left ujx)n the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly jiilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On l)eing requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
DF.PKNDENCE FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his spiiit into the hands of his God. 

The personal appearance and maimers of Mr. 
Adams were not particularly ])re]X)ssessing. His face, 
as his ])ortrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
manners were frequently abrupt and imcourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
the manners and address of Jefferson. 



THIRD PRESIDENT. 



27 




m^?=r.-^ 



THOMAS iTEFiFEISSOM 













HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
born April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
l^well, Albermarle county, Va. 
His parents were I'eler and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
thet'ormcr a native of Wales, 
and tlie latter born in Lon- 
don. To them were born six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
fatlier died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
ing been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 lie entered William 
end Mary College. \Villiamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fashion 
a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat e)i[)ensively, kecinng fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
was earnestly devoted lo his studies, and irreproai ha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
siiiii influences, that he was not ruined. In tiie sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
exi)lained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
liouis a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of tlie city and back again. He thus attained very 
high ;;;tellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. 'Die most difficult Latin and 
Greek authors he read witii facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldom gone fortli from college halls: and 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately ujjon leaving college he began the 
study of law. For the short time he continued in tlie 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
Tlie policy of England iiad awakened the spirit of 
resistance of tlie American Colonies, and the enlarged 
views whicli Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was choser 
a inember of the Virginia House of Burgesses. !n 
1772 lie married Mrs. Martha .Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, thare 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, wliich 
commanded a pros|)ect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye^ 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon 
became the most distinguisiied resort in our land. 

In 1775 he was sent to the Cdonial Congress. 
where, though a .silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon iiecome known, and he 
was placed ui)on a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Rolierl R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was api)ointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
ill it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776, What must have been the feelings of that 



28 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
Vvho was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
soverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, as Governor of Virginia. At one time 
the Britisli officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
Moniicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
in the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two yeirs later he was apiK)inted Minister Plenipo- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected President over 
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and George Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
tranquility and peace of the Union ; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from (xslitical life. For a period of nearly 
forty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years required, and ujxjn the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in tiieir coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable watering-place. 

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
great preparations were made in every part of tin.' 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer, 
and one of tlie few surviving signers of the Declara- 
tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained nc 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was jjerfectly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the ne.xt 
diiy, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha'. 
he might be permitted to breathe the airof the fiftieth 
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture thiougli our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
life! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting to fill uf) the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
freedom ; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for the good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore- 
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He ix)ssessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage; and ?.is command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic; and 
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he formed his style 
upon the best models of antiquity. 







/ cZA^'^ '■ ' .^yOC 



g,j^M^^-( c'-'^ 



FOURTH PRESIDENT. 



1WW> npDisoi|. 





AMES MADISON, "Father 
" the Constitution," and fourth 
^'"'President of the United States, 
was born March i6, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
June 28, 1836. The name of 
James Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the important 
events in that lieroic jieriod of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of tliis great repubUc were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of tiie Constitution of tlic United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
lauding upon tile shores of the Chesa- 
pealce but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
planter, residing uiwn a very fine es- 
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esipie and romantic, on the west side 
of Soutli-west Moinitain, at the foot of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monlicello. The closest jjersonal and 
jKjlitical attachment existed between these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 



prudent zeal ; allowing himself, for months, but tliree 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 1771, with a feeble 
body, witli a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind highly disciplined and riclily stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subst' 
quent career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with wiiich he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ol 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
liis life was not to l)e long, he diiected esi>ecial atten- 
tion to theological studies. FMidowed with a inuid 
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled ix)wers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
('777)1 he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and 
conse(iuently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed tiie talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Ciovernors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 



32 



JAMES MADISON. 



nitellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
The most conspicuous positions among them. 

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no power to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any -State more prominent than Virginia in 
tlie declaration, that an efficient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
this subject. Five States only were represented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by .Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their 
delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island 
was represented. George Washington was chosen 
president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
'I'here was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted i)y a vote 81 to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little jMwer at home and little I'espect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, 
and urging its adoption. There was great opjxisition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives in tlie first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable jXDWer of fascination, 
whom he married. She was in person and character 
queenly, and probalily no lady has thus far occupied 
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Midison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 



British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
our flag was exixjsed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
in his disposition, war had no charms for Iiim. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by conqiulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the 1 8th of June, 18 12, President Madison gave 
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, 1813, was re-elected by a large majority, 
and entered ui^on his second term of office. This is 
not the place to describe tlie various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infan'- 
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
pling with the most fonnidalile power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in Febniaiy, 
18 13, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the United States under blockade. 

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
burg, upon Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of tlie 
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to 
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. 13, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 

On the 4th of March, 18 17, his second tenn of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
son died July 12, 1849. 




i^- 



^^^i^^^i^ 7 /^z 



-?-^y^_ 



FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



35 





AMKS MONROK. Uio ntili 
. I'rcsidcntof 'I'hc United States, 
was born in Westmoreland Co., 
Va., April 2.S, 1758. His early 
life was jjassed at the place of 
nativity. Hi.5 ancestors had lur 
9 many years resided in the prov- 
ince in which he was born. When, 
at 17 years of ai;e, in the process 
',' of completing his education at 
William and Mary C'ollege, the Co- 
lonial Congress assembled at I'hila- 
del|)hia to deliberate u[)on the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
(ireal Britian, declared the seiKira- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the [jrospect of con- 
tending with an enemy whom they had been taught 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United .States owe their 
(wlitical emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, 
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and Wbitfj 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it flee' 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four month,' 
alter the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left 
shoukler. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was i)ro- 
moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of l.ord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 177S, in the actions of Brandy 
wine, Ciermanlown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and jjursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county. 
• a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by tha*. 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Kxecuiive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early perioti disiilayed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, whii h were afterwards 
employed with unremitting energy for the public good, 



36 



JAMES MONROE. 



he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
ilie Congress of the United States. 
DeeplyasMr. Monroefelt the imperfections of the old 
Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
ihinking, with many others of "ihe Republican parly, 
that it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
secured its adoption. In 17S9, he became a member 
of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sej)- 
arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
strict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
Central Government as little jxjwer, and the State 
Governments as much [X)wer, as the Constitution would 
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England, 
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, which would give as much jjower to tlie 
Central Government as tiiat document could possibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light eipiilibrium. .\nd yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Wasiiington was then President. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
of Earoi)e were now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we sliould help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently o[)posed the Pres- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the ]X)licy of the Government, as the minister 
of that Government to the Repuljlic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this countrv, Mr. Moi- 
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the Province of 
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Sjxiin. Their united efforts were sue 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
This was probably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world. 

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
tain from that country some recognition of oui' 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
Madison. Wliile in this office war with England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. Upon the return o( 
peace he resigned the Deixirtment of War, but con- 
tinued in tlie office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec 
tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but little o[)position, and 
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four year? 
later he was elected for a second term. 

Among the im|iortant measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
Missouri Conii)roniise, and the " Monroe doctrine.' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
time the United States had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American states, and did not wish 
to have European powers longer attempting to sub- 
due [)orti(jns of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
on the part of F>uropean powers to extend their sys- 
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interjiosition for the jiurijose of ojipressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation by European 
l)owcrs of an unfriendly disiwsition toward the United 
States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
sentiment of the LInited States. 

At the end of his second term Mr. Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830, 
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831 




^l"** 

M'^- 



3. S, At 



<L/nvJ 



SIXTH PRESIDENT. 



39 




^ .^/C/QvAK^^a. 








OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 

sixth President of the United 
'States, was born in the rural 
home of his honored fatlier, 
John Adams, in Qnincy, Mass., 
on the I ith cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
worth, watched over his childhood 
during tlie almost constant ab- 
sence of liis father. When but 
eight years of age, lie stood with 
his niotlier on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the liooining of the great l)at- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his father for Europe, 
through a fleet ot hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Pan's, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
minister pleni]X)tentiary. His intelligence attracted 
the notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
(ohn Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to .'.tudy; then accompained his father to Holland, 
where he entered, first a school in .\msterdam, then 
the ITniversity at Leyden. About a year from this 
time, in t78i, when the manly hoy was but fourteen 
yea's of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

In this school of incessant later and of enobling 
rulture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence, 



in the spring of 17S2, he accompanied his father i; 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintanct 
with tlie most distinguished men on the Continent 
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he agair. 
became associated with the most illustrious men o( 
all lands in the conten)])lations of the loftiest temi)oral 
themes which can engross the human mind. Aftj' 
a short visit to P^ngland he returned to Paris, ana 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 17S5, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, v. lio jiad seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiipiette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attra(tive 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent supixjrt. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twcntj' 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
jiointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Gieat Britian. After thus spending a fortnight i. 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as 
minister pleni]X)tentiary. On his way to Portugal 
upon arriving in London, he met with ilespatches 
directing him to the court of Bei'iin, but rei|uesiirg 
him to remain in London ur.til he should receive his 
instructions. While w::iting he was niairicd to a; 
American lady to whom he had been iireviously en- 
gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughtt' 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in I ondon: 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those nccom- 
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in t'i{ 
elevated sphere for which she w« ^j>*fined 



lO 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
wlicre he remained until July, 1799, when, havingful- 
tilled all the piir^wses of his mission, lie soUcited his 
recall. 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
I he Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
'was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential members 
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1S09, Madison succeeded JelTerson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he inmiediately nominated John 
Qnincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
the climate and astronomical observations ; while he 
kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
All through life the Bible constituted an importart 
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chapters every day. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately apirainted Mr. 
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Euroiie, he 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
1 8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr, Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some time before Lhe close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of office, \\q\^ candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
seifen. As there was no choice by the people, the 
question went to the House of Re|)resentatives. Mr. 
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
;ombined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
*V><", past history of our country than the abuse which 



was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coim- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and applying hims(;lf to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
ixjrtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
"the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Prolxibly there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his [)lace in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be Ijrought forward and escape his scrutiny. The 
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
lire proslavery jiarty in the Government, was sublime 
in Its moral daiing and heroism. For persisting in 
presenting jjelitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jur)', 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination , 
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
he slept, the prajer which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2istof February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken l.>y ]iaraly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is the end of earth /"then after a moment's 
pause he added, '^\I am content" These were the 
last words of the grand " Old Man Eloquent." 



SE VENTH rHESIUENT. 



«*3 




•'^vmOM^r'^i^t&s??. •M^Mf^ ^-:^i 




ajs.aa.5»*©fSW!Wrav. 



#.|ir©ji^j^v^ ^k^%%%^%. 




NDREW JACKSON, the 
seventh PresideTit of tlic 
United States, was horn in 
Waxhaw settlement, N. (;., 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after his father's death. His 
parents were jxwr emigrants 
from Ireland, and took \\y 
their abode in Waxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest poverty. 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainly; and there was but very 
little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tractive. 

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
1781, he and his lirother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
dIow at the head of the helpless young jirisoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other ujxjn the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-jxjx. Their 
mother was successful ir> i)btaining their exchange, 



and took her sick boys home. After a long illness 
Andrew recovered, and tiie death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

.Vndrew supported himself in various ways,sichas 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was apjwinted 
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirnush 
with the Sharj) Knife. 

In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
Creat was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

During these years he worked hard at his profes- 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
The new State was entitled to but one member in 
the National House of Representatives. Andrew JackA 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 



44 



ANDRE W JACKSON. 



iessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
second term of office was then expiiing, delivered his 
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminstralion had been 
" wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his State, which position he held f^jr six years. 

When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred u|X)n him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
jffeied his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His offer was accejjted, and the troops 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack r.jjon New Orleans, where Gen Wilkinson was 
in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
with fifteen hundred troojis to aid Wilkinson. The 
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions; and he became the most popular 
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of "Old Hickory." 

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
iingering ii|X)n a bed of suffering news came that the 
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
one of the bends of tlic Tallapoosa River, near the cen- 
ter of Alabama, aliout fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
With an army of two tiio'isand men, Gen. Jackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called TolK>]K-ka or 
Horse-shoe, on tl^-' 27lh of March. 1814. The bend 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed K few probably, in the night, swam 
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
jxawer of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, 
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia uix>n the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
a force ujxDn the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
one of the ships was blown uji and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
And the battle of New Orleans w hich soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of o\ir country'; applauded by one party, 
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 




/ J ^^d^rr ^L^J 



7 



EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 



47 





ARTIN VAN BUREN, ihe 
eighth President of the 
United States, was born at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1 7 82. He died at the same 
place, July 24, i<S62. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a [ilain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
about half way up on one face. 
The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
or unbounded by slirub or flower. 

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventfid in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutcli lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and exemplary piety. 

,fe was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
ill his native village, and comiiienced the study of 
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were reijuired of him 
Vjefore he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
J. lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
spending six years in an office in his native village. 



he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 

studies for the seventh year. 

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years ot 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a iwlitician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in iiis 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloiiueiitly espoused Ihe 
cause of State Rights; though at llial time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing ruputation led him 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, ih. 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years 
constantly gaining strength by contending in tin- 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomiilishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consumi>. 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep ovet 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In iSi 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the Slate Senate, and i^ave his strenuous supjiort to 
Mr. Madison's adniinstiation. In 1815, he was ajv 
pointed y\ttorney-(^ieneral, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
p. ominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 



48 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
not require that " universal suffrage" which admits 
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
democratic i)rinciples, he contended that, while tlie 
path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
to every man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in tlie welfare of tlie 
State. 

In 182 1 he was elected a member of the United 
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
native State. His course in this convention secured 
the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 

In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
che Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
.■ermined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
'State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as tlid Martin Van Huron. ^Vhether 
entitled to the rei)utation or not, lie certainly was re- 
garded ihroLigiiout the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
It was sujiposed tliat no one knew so well as he how 
to touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all 
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to 
organize a political army which would, secretly and 
ste.'^Uhily accomplish the most gigantic results. liy 
these powers it is said that he outv/itted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
api)ointed Mr. Van Hiiren Secretary of State. This 
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
apix)inted Minister to England, wliere he went the 
same autuinn. Tlio Senate, however, when it met, 
refused to r.itif)' the nomination, .ind he lelurned 



home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor= 
ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu 
tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though tlie Constitution had conferred 
upon him the jiower to appoint a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery (juestion, and finally the great commer- 
cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re-election. 

With the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
and living within liis income, had now fortunately a 
competence for liis declining years. His unblemished 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
patriotism, and the distinguished positions whicli he 
had occuiiied in the government of our country, se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
.\\\\ of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
the [iresidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald 
he still exerted a powerful infiuence \\\to\\ the politics 
of the country. From this time until his death, on 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old 
age, ])robably far more happiness than he had before 
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. 



v%^. 



'"^r,. 




/(J-. //r^^G^iA^ 



■n.^^ 



NINTH PRESIDENT. 



S« 












^'(^^^':; 




ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SON, the ninth President of 
the United States, was horn 
at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively o\t- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, w as early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of tlie 
British crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
i William Henry, of course enjoyed 

in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
with honor sooi. r.fter the death of his father. He 
then te[)aired to Philadelphia tostudy medicine imder 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianshi|) of 
i'obert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

Jjwu the ouilircak of ilic Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the 'cnions'.tances of his friends, he 
ahando'^ed liis medical studies and entered the army, 
■laving obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then aiv 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
lX)sition. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided by Congress into two jwrtions. The 
eastern [wrtion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ai>. 
[Xjinted by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign \\\*i\\ the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with i)owers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white i>opulation. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferretl from tiie fact that he was four 
limes apjiointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas JefTerson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlements in that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic. Oneof thesesettlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opixjsite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabasii, and the tliird a P'rench 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrisoi. 
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indian.s. Aboi" 



5 = 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of 
these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
Panther;" the other, OUiwacheca, or "The Prophet." 
Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise in wliich he might 
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, tlie Prophet, was 
anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

liut the Prophet was not merely an orator: he was, 
i 1 the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the suiierhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
by the Great Spirit. 

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
t)ctober 28, 1812, his army began its inarch. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
sliort conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 

ikit Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a diiz/.ling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and j':st then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation which superstition and passion most 
liighly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of tlie 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoop was accompained by a shower of l)ullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
cus yells, the Indian bands ruslied on, not doublir.ga 
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
fore them, and completely routing thp foe. 



Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending t'roni the Can- 
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
with llieir savage allies, rushing like wolves from the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, i)lu,idering, scalpi.ig, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison 
was appointed l)y President Madison commander-in- 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
General Harrison was found equal to the position, 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- 
sponsibilities. 

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British ofificers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, without bread or salt. 

In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
the National House of Representatives, to re[iresent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
active member; and whenever he s[>oke, it was with 
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 18 1 9, Harrison was elected to the Senate ol 
Ghio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison Ijrought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Gen. Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election; but 
his triumph was signal. 

'I"he cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webstei 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the liopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
his inauguration as President of the United States. 



ll 





'"hO^ 




TENTH PRESIDENT. 



*>i 




JDIHK TYILlISo 




OHN TYLER, the tenth 
, Presidentof the United States. 
He was born in Charles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was the favored child of af- 
fluence and high social po- 
sition. At the early age of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
uated with much honor when 
but seventeen years old. After 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self with great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and partly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 

At nineteen years of age, ne 
commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and a.ston- 
ishing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
I et of the court in which he was 

hOt retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he 
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
Was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
ably with the Democratic party, opiX)sing a national 
bank, internal improvements by the General <«jvern. 



ment, a protective tariff, and advocatmg a strict con- 
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
were so arduous that before the close of his second 
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was jxjwerful 
in promoting jjublic works of great utility. With a 
rei)utation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes, C.overnor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, thtn represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. A [wrtion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his op|X)nent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, ujxjn taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined ihc ranks of tiie opjjosi- 
tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his oi)i)Osilion to the nuliifiers, had 
abandoned the i)iinciples of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
in perfect accordance with the princii)les which he 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he rosumcd the practice of 
!iis profession. There was a :i'I:i i 1 the Democraiu 



JOHN TYLER. 



/arty. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
lersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; audit was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
7839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice 
President lias l)ut very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duly being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the .Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus -:und himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
une.xpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
Ajril -itas inaugurated to the high and responsible 
office. He was (ilaced in a position of exceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
opposed to tl:e main principles of the party which had 
brought him into jiower. He had ever been a con- 
•istent, hoiie;t man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
sjUors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
n.ony with himself, and which would op[)ose all those 
I'iews which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
i-elected to retain their seats. He reccomm-.Mided a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for tlie 
incor]X)ration of a fiscal hank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it wiih 
nis veto. Y{ff (iuiigested, however, that he would 



approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
projjosed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It -.vas passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who si verely 
touched the pride of the President. 

The opposition now e.\ultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabmet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until atthe close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the su|)port of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and 
probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
many personal and intellectual accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
est, Charles city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
books and experience in the world, and possessing 
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
the scene of unusual attractions. \\\(\\ sufficient 
means for the exercise of a generous ho?|)itality, he 
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
ixjlicy had helped to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State., 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Ca\- 
hoiin had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by 
force of arms, the Government over which he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 



ELEVENTH PRESIDENT. 



59 









-I 



.^'^' 



\''<S-i 




AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
I'rcsideiU of the United States, 
was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
N. C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 
of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 
at the above place, as one of the 
first pioneers, in 1735. 

In tiie year i3o6, with his wife 
and children, and soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
the Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childiiood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth imtil 
he became one of the leading men of the region. I lis 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
sense and earnest i)iety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disapi>ointment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplaiy of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in iSicS, with the highest honors, be- 
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's heaUh was at this 
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably beer 
slightly acquainted before. 

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same \>o\\\\- 
cal faith. He was a i)oi)ular public speaker, anil was 
constantly called ujwn to address the meetings of his 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was [jopularly called the Najwleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 



6o 



/AMES K. POLK. 



courterus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in the jo) s and griefs of others which ever gave 
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
, Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of liini, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
tinuec^ in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
of I'^nnessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
member, a fre(]aent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on the 1 4th of Octo- 
ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexationof Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her jirovinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message, President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 



with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent yiearly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and wai 
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of "occupation,' 
then of " invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
We now consented to peace ujxjn the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be addied to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor. Mr Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good. With an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of tranquility and iiappiness were before him. But the 
cholera — that fearful scourge — was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississijjpi. This he contracted, 
and died on the isth of June, 1849, in the fiftv-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 




^.C^oc^A-^yi^y^y/^f^ 



jy' y^P(^^ 



TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 



<^i 




^i\f\.^V:tS^.T\. \.^^\si 









'k ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth 
m rrcsident of tlic United States, 
a was horii on the 24lh of Nov., 
¥ 1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
■0 fatlicr, t'olonel Taylor, was 
■^.j^^.^^'' '' \'irginian of note, and a dis- 
i^iifc"",)^^ tinyiiishcd [latriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When ZaLJuiry 
was an infant, iiis father with liis 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, wliere he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In tliisfront- 
?/iiR ier home, away from civilization and 
I all its refinements, yjung Zachar)' 
could enjoy init few social and educational advan- 
tages. When si.x years of age he attended a common 
school, and was then regardi'd as a bright, active boy, 
father remarkable for bhmtness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
<iianifesled a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely i)lantation. 
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under (ien. Wilkinson. Soon after 
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
(rom one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately after tlie declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in 1S12, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the ^V'abash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison,on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first iwints of attack by the Indians, 
icd iiy Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved ujxjn the fort. Their 
ai)proach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible prei)aration to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down ; the savages disai)peared. the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whooi) burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest arountl, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his iwst. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No jien can describe, 1.0 immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting Cire (o one of the block-houses- 
Until si.\ o'clock in the morning, this awfid conflict 
continued. The savages tiien, baflled at every ix)int, 
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this galiant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Untii the close of the war, MajorTaylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depthsof (he 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, wliich 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 



64 



ZACHARY TAYLOR 



tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 

For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
iiac'' promised they should do. The services rendered 
he';e secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
tc .he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
mand of '.he United States troops in Florida. 

After two years of such wearisome employment 
amidst the everglades of the peninsula. Gen. Taylor 
obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
and was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 
at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
imposed upon him. 

In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river 
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United States. Soon the war witii Me.xico 
was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
Was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Mnnterey and 
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he commanded. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
the sobriquet of " Old Rough and Ready.' 

The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
jpread tlie wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
ful po|)ularity in livinging forward the unpolished, un- 

■ 'Ted, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
I'residency. (Jen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
who had been long years in the public service found 
'l.iir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 



had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in liis haste re- 
marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent sjjeaker nor a fine 
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
pared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — 
Gen. Cass and E.x-President Martin Van Buren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Culnx ; California was 
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians 

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occuined the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the Qlh of July, 1850. 
His last words were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and trutliful 
description of his character: — " With a good store of 
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
quence. Tiie frontiers and small military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
'touch with a pair of tongs.' 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In shorf 
few men have ever had a more comforta;.''-":, >->>■>'-«. 
saving contempt for le3rnir.| of every kind,' 





~^x^ 



u 



V 



-ocnx) 



THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



6? 




-fe-^ 






^-r 



i ^MILLflRn FILLMnHE.^ % 

iji 



fe-^ 



-gL^ 



3? 



4-9- 





jI ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
teenth President ot'the United 
States, was born at Summer 
Hill, t'ayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the 71I1 of January, 1800. His 
~^ father was a farmer, and ow- 
ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
(umstances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
of I'iitsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she [wssessed an intellect 
ofvery iiigh order, united with much 
])ersonal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
I S3 1 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career u[X)n which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Near the mill there was a small villiage, when* some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were s[)ent in read- 
ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to l)e something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened tha'. 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
jK'cuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
Wood, — who was struck with the pre[x>ssessing ap- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made hisacquaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion alxiut 
a collegiate education. A young man is sup;K)sed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university hal" \ 
ind then enters a law office, who is by no means sis 



t;6 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he v/as 
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or hi fame. 
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might l)e called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention ; and lie was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Iiuffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of tlie 
State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degri e the respect of his associates. 

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
Ihe United States Congress He entered that troubled 
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
then raging. 

His term of two yeai^s closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing re|)- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past ex[)e- 
rience as a representative gave hmi stiength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
He was now jjrepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State. 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in liumpet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
namesofZachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
Cen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 

On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
about one year and four months after his inaugura 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He ap|)oinled a very able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 

Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
tiie South; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt 
the inadequacy of all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The iJOjiulation of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the Government should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillnicre's adminstration, and the Japan Exp.edition 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supixjsed that 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten iiy both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 





'^/^y/A>4 




FOURT&ENTH PRESIDENT. 



T 



|feaiCfta»^ ■'^^ 




_ .^««SW,!^ f 



oSfe|#^ ^1. FRANKLIN PIERCE.'^ ^^, 

- ■.t..t..t..t.44..t..t. -t«^t.»t^t«AiA-tA..t^t«.t«.t 









i 



RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
fourteenth Presidetit of the 
)?■ United States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revohitionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a home in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inde.vible intej^rity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Christian woni- 
Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 
Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. Tlie neighbors 
looked uiwn him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always siieakingkind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most ])opular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



an. 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied: it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and tiie brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet i)erilous path of [wlitical life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he es[X)used the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to rejjresent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
l)art in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Huren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest meini)erin 
the Senate. In the year 1834. he married Miss Jane 
Means Ap[)leton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with which her husband was honoied. Of the 



7« 



bRANKLIN PIERCE. 



three sons who were bom to them, all now sleep with 
their parents in the grave. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States ; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
He took an imj^rtant part in this war, proving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
tions, giving his cordial supjxDrt to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
measures met cordially with his a|)proval ; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
•afely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the I 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
snd in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
country had ever experienced. The controversy be 
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
culminating (xsint. It became evident that there was 
an " irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were borne to the North on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' tenii 
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
men, an honored communicant of the Episcoi)al 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen 
erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns 
people were often gladened by his material bounty. 





tL^7z^J (2^^U^-/l^^y7l-S6-<?7/^ 



I'IFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



K 




-*im. >— 




)»» 



«i^i^t%»t-g^i^.'Si'i'^ig 5^(^i^igs'tC.'i •• .'■ •■':'■• v ?'»'.S5>'§a»t^'sg>tSi»'ga'^ 'i??i'^'i;^^;^aS 



<fl '^Bil '^it 



,v^j^,' . ,' ; ,• ■• .' ■ i' .1' ; .'■;>i'g^taj!>'5:s.«g?a5£i-r;'.^^^i^t^t^i^t^i^t^i^>^>^tgg'.S.' 



-*mfi ►- 






•-* »»*- 





AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
teenth President of the United 
States, was born in a small 
frontier town, at the foot of the 
eastern ridge of the AUegha- 
nies, in Franklin Co., l'enn.,on 
the 23d of April, 1791. The j'lace 
where the humble cabin of his 
father stuod was called Stony 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
a [xjor man, who had emigrated in 
783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in liie d-rama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was born, he remaineil 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantagis. When James was eight years of age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
jirogress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, and yet his native |X)wers en- 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects wi "• 
facility. 

In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest 
honors of his clasi. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 181 2, when he was 
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When 1ml 
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 01 e of the 
judges of the State, who was tried uixan articles of 
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some imixjrtant case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

(Jen. Jackson, \\\>on his elevation to the Presidency, 
ap]K)inted Mr. Buchanan minister to- Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster. 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures ])roposedby President Jackson, of miiring repri- 



76 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 



sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
claims against that country ; and defended the course 
of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removal from office of those who were not the sup- 
porters of his adiiiinistration. Upon this question he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
from tlie journal of the Senate the vote of censure 
against Gen. Jackson for removing the de[)osits. 
Earnestly he opixjsed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged tlie prohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
that the reply should be returned, that Congress had 
no [xjwer to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
said he, " might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
States where it now exists." 

Ujwn Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the resix)nsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio (irande into that territory was a declaration 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of the course our Covernment pursued in that 
movement 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to the pi^rpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to bear against the W'ilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1S50, 
which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to England. 

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final al>ohtion, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
'.eived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The i>0|)ular vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
March 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
vears were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with wliom he had been 
allied in political principles and action for years, were 
su<;king the destruction of the Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this einergeni'v, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws 
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He therefore did nothing. 

The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominaied Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
tlie United States. 

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slaverj' 
party was such, that he had been willing to ofiferthem 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bii^ 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of the Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This 
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword-hilt, he exclaimed, "The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston: Fort Sumpter 
was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and iX)st-offices were 
api)ropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict whii h rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
from his lips to intlicate his wish that our country's 
banner should lriuni]ih over the flag of the rebellior, 
Hf" died at his Wheatland retreat, Jane i, i863. 




/^ 



<9-f iZ--i^-v^ 



e//^fe^^^T^ 



SIXTEENTH PRES/DENT. 



79 








i^5-.. 



„i^^ir^. 



RRAHAM LINCOLN, the 

sixteenth President of tlie 
,JUnited States, was horn in 
f? Hardin Co., Ky., Feh. 12, 
W 1809. Ahout tlie year 1780, a 
man hy the name of Abraham 
^"^ Lincohi left Virginia with his 
t.imily and moved into t)ie then 
wildsof Kentucky, (^nly two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
field, was stealthily a])pro::ched hy 
an Indian andshot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
little children, three 1)0)S and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was four years of age at his 
father's deatli. This Thomas was 
the father of .\braham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whone name must henceforth foi-ever be enrolled 
wiih the most prominent in the annals of our world. 
Of coarse no record has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
the ix)orest of the [xjor. His home was a wretched 
log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and inish out into the world, a friend- 
less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole oi his youth as a 
*/iborer in the fields C)f others. 

When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- 
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
"All that I am, or hojje to be," exclaims the grate- 
ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. 

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farin, and moved to Indiana Where 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As tlie years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. Tlie family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, 
and emigrated to ALacon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-cabin. .'Miraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
small lot of enclosed prairie [ilanted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and liecame 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating li(|uor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
God's word, "Thou shall not take the name of the 
Lord thy (Jod in vain ;" and a |)rofane expression he 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminatcd by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham woiked for a lime as a hired laliorer 
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
where he was employed in building a large flat-lwat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissi|ii)i to New Orleans, ^\'hat^.•ver Abraham Lin- 
coln undertcxik, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfacticn to his employers. In this adven- 



8o 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



ture his employers were so well pleased, that uix)n 
his return they placed a store and mill under his care. 

In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
ilavery cjuestion, and lie took the broad ground of 
.he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higher prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the i6th of June, i860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
five thousand. An immense building called "The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were thrown. William H Seward, a man whose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
orominent. It was generally supi)osed he would be 
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him : 
and aslittledid he dream that he was to render services 
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
only, if second, to that of Washington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
The tirade of abuse that vas [Xjured upon this good 



and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
high ix)sition. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his 
way making speeches. The whole journey was frought 
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more had arranged, upon his arrival to "get ujj a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
take him from HarrisL-urg, through Baltimore, at an 
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at 
half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with theirCon- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached W'ashinglon in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. 

In tlie selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opixDnents before the convention he gave 
important ix)sitions. 

During no other administration have the duties 
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
the resixjnsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, lie 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo*h personal and national Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
witli no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans Iiad been 
made for his assassination.and he at last fell a victim 
to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
was announced that they would Le present. Gen. 
Grant, however, left the city. .President Lincoln, feel- 
ing, witli his characteiistic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disapiwintment if he should fail them, 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the i)lay an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
entered the 1k3x where the President and family were 
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief l)y the death of its ruler. 
Strong men met in the streets and wei)t in speechless 
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
model. His name as the savior of his country ■"'ill 
live with that of Washington's, its father; his country- 
men being unable to decide which is tl^e greater. 





"/"'^dh^^.^'C^A^^ 




'^^^:^^:i^:Zt:j2>t^ 



SEVENTEENTH PREHIUEA/T. 



»1 




^SSBSf^ 













^? NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
•>) tceiith President of the United 
States. The early life of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 
^ the record of poverty, destitu- 
tion and friendlessness. He 
was horn December 29, 180S, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class oi' the 
"poor whites " of the South, vere 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supix)ried by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these s[)eeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of s|)eeches. The owner. 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the l)Oo!c 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such tlifficulties he pressed ou 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hous^ 
at work in the sho]), and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreatio," to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located a' 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 tlected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in jxjlitical 
affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which lie belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and :n 
1840 "stumjied the State," advocating Martin Van 
Huren's claims to the Presidency, in opjMasition to thos^ 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign heac()uired niucli 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

\\\ 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important jiost for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these resi^nsible jwsi- 
lions, ht; discharged his duties with distinguished abi.- 



84 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1S45, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the ''ree States of the Nortli should return to the 
Souih persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of iSuo, he 
ivas the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be lield subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 

1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished; that the Government will not 
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
only to protect, hut to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
was in utter ioi;onsistency with, and the most violent 



opiX)sition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything pwssible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty -four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his ten'.i, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotent';-, 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
session convened by President Grant, on the sth of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but fin.illy passed away at 
2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral W.1S attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect. 





/^ l2 



^-C^C^ 



EIGHTEENTH FRESIDENT. 



87 





^ LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
^ eighteenth President of the 
^r United States, was born on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a liumble 
home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Milii'ary .\':ademy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military [xjsts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resacade la I'alma, his second battle. At the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
side of the anin^al, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Mcrtino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
tlie leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, HI. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
1 have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
1 have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company uf vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Caj)t. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in behalf of the Government, On the 15 th of 



88 



UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 



June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared ill the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a Major-General, and the military 
iistrict of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened uj) the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. Cirant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed tc the aid 
of Gens. Rosecrans and Tliomas at Chattanooga, and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
,;nd enter upon th'» duties of his new office 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
the army toconcentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. 
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term. Gen. Grant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 

He was the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National Convention in 18S0 for a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
the illustrious General. 



ii 




cyi^^^^ej^^Ac' 



yr 



NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 



9» 












UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
the nineteenth Presidc-nt of 
the United States, was born in 
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
death of his father, Rutherford 
Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
cane ovfcffaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George was. born in Windsor, and remained there 
during his li/e. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah L;e, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezckiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 17 24, and was amanufac- 
turerof scythe;; at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
sonof Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an uiiknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he cstablislied a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes the fatiicr of President Hayes, was 



born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious 
frugal and opened-hearted man. 1 le was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the C'hurch, active 
in all the benevolent enteriirises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
tlie close of the war of r8i2, for reasons ine.vplicable 
to his neighbors, lie resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day 
when there were no canals, steamers, not railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in lier sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



V* 



HUTHUJiFORD B. HAYES^ 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he 
was not expected tj live beyond a month or two at 
most. As the months went by he grew weaicer and 
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
quiring from time to lime " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
f.imiliar terins with the family, after alluding to tlie 
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
aim, said in a bantering way, '" That's right! Stick to 
him. Yoa liave got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if lie wo.ild really come to something yet." 

"You reed not lauyh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
Pre.-.ident of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
djath; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he w<:nt to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
iister as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his character. 

His uncle Sardis Bircliard took the deepest interest 
in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; bit he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
\Vesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of si.xteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in t842. 

Innnediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1 845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, aciiuiring but a limited practice, 
and apparently unambitinns of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a jiowerful influence upon his subse- 
quent 'ife. One of these was his niarrage with Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the othev was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such men as '"hief Justice Salmon P.Chase, 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished in afterlife. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman, 
hood. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with young men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulne.s and 
modesty. 

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judga of 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
cept tlie nomination. Two years later, the office of 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Co-mcil 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In 1S61, when the Rebellion iiroke out, he was ai 
the zenith of his professional lii.. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take "in 
arms for the defense of his country. 

His military record was bright ar.d illustrious. In 
October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, t862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
of Soutli Mountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished services 
during the campaigns of 1864, in AV'est ^'irginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times 

In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present dnring the campaign, 
and after his election was im]X)rtuned to resign his 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, "1 
shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. 

Ir. 1S67, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. ,\llen G. Thunnan, a populai Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
He was elected Governor *br the third term in 1875. 

Jn 1876 he was the standard le.iier of the Repub- 
lican P.irty in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
aumirated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, h, wever, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his administration was an average 0!\.? 



II 



TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 



«°3 




■»v'f7 




K-:^^: 












, orx? 



' oOo 



TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- second Pres- 
ident of the United States, was 
born in 1837, in the obscure 
town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
half-story white house which is still 
standing, characteristically to mark 
the humble birth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con- 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to school in the " good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family on his hands had considerable 
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and iii two years he 
liad earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to letain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, wiiere he !iad an opportunity of attending a 
high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a point 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
N. Y. At this i)lace his father died, after preaching 
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 



104 



S. GROVE R CLEVELANn. 



calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
there was some charm in that name for him; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
»sk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not 
speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do, 
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
law," was the reply, "Good gracious!" remarked 
the old gentleman ; " do you, indeed .' What ever put 
that into your head? How much money have you 
got."" '"Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
anjr." 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
year, while he could "look around." One day soon 
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told ^hem what he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
ne was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
liave the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
Dut indue time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
exhibited a talent for e.xecutiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
t" was practically hii motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
eiected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated ; and in such capacity it fell 
to his duty to inflict capital pp.Ishment upon two 
caiminals. In i88i he was elected Mayor of the 
City of Buff'alo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecial reference to the bringing about ceriain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
performance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning contract : " This is a time for 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the peoplr; and to worsa 
than squander the people's money," The New York 
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
II, 18S4, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F, 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and lie 
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary 
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; 
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
of Wisconsin; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
Arkansas. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
inauguration. 




^&^ 




d^C.^^r^-'A'H^^^^'i^'--^^ 



TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDEfTT. 




•.o*o.@^<^..o»o» 




;ENJAMIN HARRISON, llic 
Iwcnty-tbii'd President, is 
tlio descendant of one of the 
iiistorical families of tliis 
country. The head of tiie 
r^i°^^ family was a l\Iaior(!eneral 
iJ^'l.Jfa Harrison, one of Oliver 
Cromwell's trusted follow- 
ers and figiiters. In the zoniih of Crom- 
well's power it became the duty of this 
Harrison to participate in the trial of 
Charles I, and afterward to sign the 
death warrant of the king. He subse- 
quently paid for this with his life, being 
hung Oct. 13, ICGO. His descendants 
came to America, and the next of the 
family that appears in history is Benja- 
rr.in 'larrison, of Virginia, great-grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, and 
after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison 
was a member of tlie Continental Congress during 
the years i774-5-G, and was one of tiie original 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He 
was three times elected Governor of Virginia. 
Gen. William Henry Harrison, the son of the 



distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a suc- 
cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, 
and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
western Territorj', was elected President of the 
United States in 1840. His career was cut short 
by death within one month after his inauguration. 
President Harrison war, born at .Nort.h Bend, 
Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. -^0, lS;j3. His life upto 
tiic time of his graduation liy the Miami University, 
at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
try lad of a family of small means. His fathor was 
able to give him a good education, and nothing 
more. He- became engaged while at college to tho 
daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female schoo 
at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- 
ter upon the study of the law. He went Ui Cin 
cinnati and then read law^ for two years. At tht 
expiration of that time young Harrison receiv. d tb . 
only inheritance v( his life; his aunt dying left him 
a lot valued at ^800. He regarded this legac}' as i 
fortune, and decided to get married at once, ♦aka 
this money and go to some Eastern town an ". 'i.>e- 
gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with 
the monej' in his pocket, he started out witii his 
young wife to fight ft«r a place 'ii the world, ile 



108 



BENJAMIN HARRISON. 



deciiled to go to Indianapolis, which was even at 

tli.'it time a town of promise. He met with sliglit 
iiicouragement at first, making scarcely anything 
llie first year. He workoil rliligently, applying him- 
self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
practice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- 
I'ession. He is the father of two children. 

In 1860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the 
position of Supreme Court Reporter, and tlien be- 
gan his experience as a stump speaker He can- 
vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a 
handsome majority. In 1862 he raised the 17th 
Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His 
regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
out Col. Harrison employed all his time at first 
mastering military tactics and drilling his men, 
when he therefore carae to move toward the East 
with Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
'Irilled and organized in the array. At Resaca he 
especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
rt Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
'ral, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
•jomplimentar}' terms. 

During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field 

he Supreme Court declared the olHce uf the Su- 
preme Court Reporter vacant, and another person 
was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
ing Indiana with his regiment until the fall of 1864 
he had taken no leave of absence, but having been 
nominated that year for the same office, he got a 
thirty-day leave of absence, and during tliat time 
made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
for another terra. He then started to rejoin Sher- 
man, but on the way was stricken down with scarlet 
_ever, and after a most trying siege made his way 
to the front in time to participate in the closing 
'.ccidents of the war. 

In ISGSGen. Harrison declined re-election as 
.«porter, and resumed the practice of law. In 1876 
£e was a candidate for Governor. Although de- 

eated, the brilliant campaign he made won for him 
a National reputation, and he w^as much sought, es- 
pecia].y in the East, to make speeches. In 1880, 
js usual, he took an active part in the campaign, 
und wii^ elected to the United States Senate. Here 
he served six years, and 7/.as known as one or the 
ibiest men, best lawyer"- ^nd strongest debaters in 



that body. With the expiration of his Scnaioi.i 
term he returned to the practice of his profession, 
becoming the head of one of the strongest firms ia 
the State. 

The political campaign of 1888 was one of the 
most raeraorable in the history of our country. The 
convention which asserabled in Chicago in June and 
named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer 
of the Republican party, was great in every partic- 
ular, and on this account, and the attitude it as- 
sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief 
among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly 
after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
TJarrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- 
ment became popular, and from all sections of the 
country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed 
thither to pay their respects to the distinguisheil 
statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through 
the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- 
tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
his speeches that they at once placed him in the 
foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 

On account of his eloquence as a speaker and his 
power as a debater, he was called upon at an un- 
commonly' early age to take part in the discussion 
of the great questions that tlien began to agitate 
the country. He was an uncomprtmiising ant: 
slavery man, and was matched against some of . '.e 
n-.ost eminent Democratic speakers of his State. 
No man who felt the touch of his blade de: ired u 
be pitted with him again. AVith all his eloq-'ence 
as an orator he never spoke for oratoricai effect, 
but his words always went like bullets to the mark 
He is purely American in his ideas and is a spier 
did type of the American statesman. Gifted witl. 
(juick perception, a logical mind and a ready tongue, 
he is one of the most distinguished imi)romi)tu 
speakers in the Nation. Many of these speeches 
sparkled witli tlie rarest of eloquence and contained 
arguments of greatest weiglit. IMany of liis terse 
statements have already become aphorisms. Origi- 
nal in thought, precise in logic, terse m statement, 
yet withal faultless in eloquence, he is recognized as 
the sound statesman and brill iau^ orator o- tac day 



^'A^^J^-i 




]m^:L ^c^=^^'-^=^^_ 



lem,^/ 








GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



'OS 









^JF-.v.rB^-S^^^.a^jjjrjwv. 





I 



TEPHEN T. MASON, the 
first Governorof Michigan, was 
a sou of Gen. John T. Mason, 
of Kentucky, but was born in 
Virginia, in 1812. At the age 
of 19 he was appointed Secre- 
tary of Michigan Territory, and 
served in that capacity during the 
administration of Gov. George B. 
Porter. Upon the death of Gov. 
Porter, which occurred on the 6th of 
July, 1834, Mr. Mason became Act- 
ing Governor. In October, 1835, he 
was elected Governor under the Slate 
organization, and immediately en- 
tered upon the performance of the 
' duties of the office, although the 
State was not yet admitted into the Union. After 
the State was admitted into the Union, Governor 
Mason was re-elected to the jwsition, and served with 
credit to himself and to the advantage of the State. 
He died Jan. 4, 1843. The principal event during 
Governor Mason's officFal career, was that arising from 
the disputed southern boundary of the State. 
• Michigan claimed for her southern boundary aline 
running east across the peninsula from the extreme 
southern jwint of Lake Michigan, extending through 
Lake Erie, to the Pennsylvania line. This she 
claimed as a vested right — a right accruing to her by 
compact. This compact was the ordinance of 1787, 
the parties to wiiich were the original 13 States, and 
the territory northwest of the Ohio; and, by the suc- 
cession of parties under statutory amendments to the 
ordinance and laws of ("ongress — the United .States on 
the one part, and each Territory northwest of the 
Ohio, as far as afTectcd by their provisions, on tlic 



other. Michigan, therefore, claimed it under the prior 
grant, or assignation of boundary. 

Ohio, on the other hand, claimed that the ordinance 
had been superseded by the Constitution of the 
United States, and that Congress had a right to regu- 
late the boundary. It was also claimed that the 
Constitution of the State of Ohio having described a 
different line, and Congress having admitted the State 
under that Constitution, without mentioning the sub- 
ject of the line in dispute, Congress had thereby given 
its consent to the line as laid down by the Constitu- 
tion of Ohio. This claim was urged by Ohio at 
some periods of the controversy, but at others she aj)- 
peared to regard the question unsettled, by the fact 
that she insisted upon Congress taking action in re- 
gard to the boundary. Accordingly, we find that, in 
18 1 2, Congress authorized the Surveyor-General to 
survey a line, agreeably to the act, to enable the jjcople 
of Ohio to form a Constitution and State government. 
Owing to Indian hostilities, however, the line was not 
run till 1 81 8. In 1820, the question in dispute 
underwent a rigid examination by the Committee on 
Public Lands. The claim of Ohio was strenuously 
urged by her delegation, and as ably opjwsed by Mr. 
VVoodbridge, the then delegate from Michigan. The 
result was that the committee decided unanimously 
in favor of Michigan; but, in the hurry of business, 
no action was taken by Congress, and the question 
remained open till Michigan organized her State gov- 
ernment. 

The Territory in dispute is about five miles iu 
width at the west end, and about eight miles in width 
at the east end, and extends along the whole )iorih- 
ern line of Oliio, west of Lake Eric. The lino claimed 
by Michigan was known as the " Fulton line," and 
that claimed by Ohio was known as the " Harris line," 



r06 



STEPHEN T. MASON. 



from the names of the surveyors. The territory was 
valuable for its rich agricultural lands; but the chief 
value consisted in the fact that the harbor on the 
Maumee River, where now stands the flourishing city 
of Toledo, was included within its limits The town 
originally bore the name of Swan Creek, afterwards 
Port Lawrence, then Vestula, and then Toledo. 

In February, 1835, the Legislature of Ohio passed 
an act extending the jurisdiction of the State over 
the territory in question; erected townships and 
directed them to hold elections in April following. It 
also directed Governor Lucus to apix)int three com- 
missioners to survey and re-mark the Harris line; and 
named the first of April as the day to commence the 
survey. Acting Governor Mason, however, anticipated 
this action on the part of the Ohio Legislature, sent 
a special message to the Legislative Council, appris- 
ing it of Governor Lucas' message, and advised imme- 
diate action by that body to anticipate and counteract 
the proceedings of Ohio. Accordingly, on the 12th 
of February, the council passed an act making it a 
crimmal offence, punishable by a heavy fine, or im- 
prisonment, for any one to attempt to exercise any 
official functions, or accept any office within the juris- 
diction of Michigan, under or by virture of any au- 
thority not derived from the Territory, or the United 
States. On the 9th of March, Governor Mason wrote 
General Brown, then in command of the Michigan 
militia, directing him to hold himself in readiness to 
meet the enemy in the field in case any attempt was 
made on the part of Ohio to carry out the provisions 
of that act of the Legislature. On the 31st of March, 
Governor Lucus, with his commissioners, arrived at 
Perrysburgh, on their way to commence re-surveying 
the Harris line. He was accompanied by General 
Bell and staff, of the Ohio Militia, who proceeded to 
muster a volunteer force of about 600 men. This 
was soon accomplished, and the force fully armed and 
equipped. The force then went into camp at Fort 
Miami, to await the Governor's orders. 

In the meantime, Governor Mason, with General 
Brown and staff, had raised a force 800 to 1200 
strong, and were in possession of Toledo. General 
Brown's Staff consisted of Captain Henry Smith, of 
Monroe, Inspector; Major J. J. Ullman, of Con- 
stantine. Quartermaster; William E. Broadman, of 
Detroit, and Alpheus Felch,of Monroe, Aids-de- 
camp. When Governor Lucas observed the deter- 
mined bearing of the Michigan braves, and took 5iote 



of their number, he found it convenient to content 
himself for a time with " watching over the border." 
Several days were passed in this exhilarating employ- 
ment, and just as Governor Lucas had made up his 
mind to do something rash, two commissioners ar- 
rived from Washington on a mission of peace. They 
remonstrated with Gov. Lucus, and reminded him of 
the consequences to himself and his State if he per- 
sisted in his attempt to gain possession of the disputed 
territory by force. After several conferences with 
both governors, the commissioners submitted proposi- 
tions for their consideration. 

Governor Lucas at once accepted the propositions, 
and disbanded his forces. Governor Mason, on the 
other hand, refused to accede to the arrangement, and 
declined to compromise the rights of his people by a 
surrender of jxsssession and jurisdiction. When Gov- 
ernor Lucus disbanded his forces, however. Governor 
Mason partially followed suit, but still held himself 
in readiness to meet any emergency that might arise. 

Governor Lucus now supposed that his way was 
clear, and that he could re-mark the Harris line with- 
out being molested, and ordered the commissioners 
to proceed with their work. 

In the meantime, Governor Mason kept a watch- 
ful eye upon the proceedings. General Brown sent 
scouts through the woods to watch their movements, 
and report when operations were commenced. When 
the surveying party got within the county of Lena- 
wee, the under-sheriff" of that county, armed with a 
warrant, and accompanied by a posse, suddenly made 
his appearance, and succeeded in arresting a portion 
of the party. The rest, including the commissioners, 
took to their heels, and were soon beyond the dis- 
puted territory. They reached Perrysburgh the fol- 
lowing day in a highly demoralized condition, and 
reported they had been attacked by an overwhelm- 
ing force of Michigan malitia, under command of 
General Brown. 

This summary breaking up of the surveying party 
produced the most tremendous excitement throughout 
Ohio. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the 
Legislature. But little remains to be said in reference 
to the "war." The question continued for some time 
to agitate the minds of the opposing parties ; and the 
action of Congress was impatiently awaited. Michigan 
was admitted into the Union on the condition that 
she give to Ohio the disputed territor)', and accept 
in return the Northern Peninsula, which she did. 



* 



SECOND GO VERNOR OF M/CH/GAiY. 



109 





#fcfe 



^ ljs,j>».»>»®|SK2'W>\/- 









ILLIAM WOODBRIDGE, 
isecond Governor of Michigan, 
was born at Norwich, Conn., 
Aug. 20, 1780, and died at 
Detroit Oct. 20, 1861. He 
was of a family of three brothers 
and two sisters. His father, 
Dudley Woodbridge, removed to 
Marietta, Ohio, about 1790. The 
life of Wm. Woodbridge, by Chas. 
Lauman, from whicli this sketch 
is largely com piled, mentions noth- 
ing concerning his early education 
beyond the fact that it was such as 
was afforded by the average school 
of the time, except a year with the 
French colonists at GalliixDlis, 
where he acquired a knowledge of 
• ) 3 the French language. It should 
be borne in mind, however, that 
home education at that time was 
an indispensable feature in the 
training of the young. To this and 
and to a few studies well mastered, 
is due that strong mental disci[>line which has served 
as a basis for many of the grand intellects that have 
adorned and helped to make our National history. 
Mr. Woodbridge studied law at Marietta, having 
as a fellow student an intimate personal friend, a 
young man subsequently distinguished, but known 
at that time simply as Lewis Cass. He graduated at 
the law school in Connecticut, after a course there of 
nearly three years, and began to practice at Marietta 
in 1806. In June, 1806, he married, at Hartford, Con- 
necticut, Juleanna, d. milliter of Jolin Truinbell, a 
distinguished auiiior and judge ; and author of the 



peom McFingal, which, during a dark period of the 
Revolution, wrought such a magic change ujx)n the 
spirits of the colonists. He was happy in his domes ■ 
ticrelations until the death of Mrs. W., Feb. 2, ig, i860. 

Our written biographies necessarily speak more 
fully of men, because of their active participation in 
public affairs, but human actions are stamped upon 
the page of time and when the scroll shall be unrolled 
the influence of good women ufxan the history of the 
world will bo read side by side with the deeds of men. 
How much success and renown in life many men owe 
to their wives is probably little known. Mrs. W. en- 
joyed the best means of early education that the 
country afforded, and her intellectual genius enabled 
her to improve her advantages. During her life, side 
by side with the highest type of domestic and social 
graces, she manifested a keen intellectuality that 
formed the crown of a faultless character. She was 
a natural poet, and wrote quite a large number of fine 
verses, some of which are preserved in a printed 
memorial essay written upon the occasion of her 
death. In this essay, it is said of her "to contribute 
even in matters of minor importance, to elevate the 
reputation and add to the well being of her husband 
in the various stations he was called ujwn to fill, gave 
her the highest satisfaction " She was an invalid 
during the latter jwrtion of her life, but was patient 
and cheerful to the end. 

In 1807, Mr. W. was chosen a representative to the 
General Assembly of Ohio, and in 1809 was elected to 
the Senate, continuing a member by re-election until 
his removal from the State. He also held, by a]>- 
|)ointment, during the time the office of Prosecuting 
Attorney for his county. He tcxjk a leading part in 
the Legislature, and in 181 2 drew u|) a declaration and 
resolutions, which passed the two houses unamiuously 



lO 



WILL/ AM WOODBRIDGE. 



and attracted great attention, endorsing, in strongest 
a.id most emphatic terms, the war measures of Presi- 
dent Madison. During the period from 1S04 to 1814 
the two law students, Woodbridge and Cass, had be- 
come widely separated. The latter was Governor of 
the Territory of Michigan under the historic "Governor 
and Judges" plan, with the indispensable requisite of a 
Secretary of the Terriiorry. This latter position was, 
in 1S14, without solicitation on his part, tendered to 
Mr. W. He accepted the position with some hesita- 
tion, and entered upon its duties as soon as he could 
make the necessary arrangements for leaving Ohio. 
The office of Secretary involved also the duties of 
collectorof customsat the port of Detroit, and during 
the frequent absences of the Governor, the dischargeof 
of his duties, also including those of Superintendent 
of Indian Affairs. Mr. W. officiated as Governor for 
about two years out of the eight years that he held the 
office of Secretary Under the administration of "Gov- 
ernor and Judges," which the people of the Territory 
preferred for economical reasons, to continue some time 
after their numbers entitled them to a mure popular 
representative system, they were allowed no delegate 
in Congress. Mr. W., as a sort of informal agent of 
the iieople, by correspondence and also by a visit to 
the National capital, so clearly set forth the demand 
for representation by a delegate, that an act was 
passedin Congress in iSigauthorizingone tobechosen. 
Under this act Mr. W. was elected by the concurrence 
of all ]wrties. His first action inCongress was to secure 
the i)assage of a bill recognizing and confirming the 
old French land titles in the Territory according to 
the terms of the treaty of peace with Great Britain 
at the close of the Revolution ; and another for the 
construction of a Government road through ihe "black 
swamps" from the Miami River to Detroit, thus oiien- 
ing a means of land transit between Ohio and Mich- 
igan. He was influential in securing the passage of 
bills for the construction of Government roads from 
Detroit to Chicago, and Detroit to Fort Gratiot, and 
for the improvement of La Plaisance Bay. The ex- 
pedition for the exploration of the country around 
I-ake Superior and in the valley of the Upper Mis- 
sissippi, projected by Governor Cass, was set on foot 
by means of representations made to the head of the 
department by Mr. W. While in Congress he stren- 
uously maintained the right of Michigan to the strip 
of territory now forming the northern boundary of 
Ohio, which formed the subject of such grave dispute 
between Ohio and Michigan at the time of the ad- 
mission of the latter into the Union. He served 
but one term as delegate to Congress, de- 
clining further service on account of personal and 
family considerations. Mr. W. continued to discharge 
the duties of Secretary of the Territory up to the time 
its Government passed into the "second grade." 

In 1824, he was appointed one of a board of 
commissioners for adjusting private land claims in 



the Territory, and was engaged also in the practice of 
his profession, having the best law library in the Ter- 
ritory. In 1828, upon the recommendation of the 
Governor, Judges and others, he was appointed by the 
President, J. Q. Adams, to succeed Hon. James With- 
erell, who had resigned as a Judge of what is conven- 
tionally called the "Supreme Court" of the Territory. 
This court was apparently a continuation of the Terri- 
torial Court, under the "first grade" or "Governor and 
Judges" system. Although it was supreme in its ju- 
dicial functions within the Territory, its powers and 
duties were of a very general character. 

In 1832, the term of his appointment as Judge ex- 
piring, President Jackson appointed a successor, it is 
supposed on political gTounds,much to the disappoint- 
ment of the public and the bar of the Territory. The 
partisan feehngof the time extended into the Terri- 
tory, and its people began to think of assuming the 
dignity of a State government. Party lines becom- 
ing very sharply drawn, he identified himself witli 
the Whigs and was elected a member of the Conven- 
tion of 1835, which formed the first State Constitution. 
In 1837 he was elected amember of tVe Slate Senate. 

This sketch has purposely dealt somewhat in detail 
with what may be called Judge W's. earlier career, 
because it is closely identified with the early his- 
tory of the State, and the development of its jxaliti- 
cal system. Since the organization of the State Gov- 
ernment the history of Michigan is more familiar, and 
hence no review of Judge W's career as Governor 
and Senator will be attempted. He was elected Gov- 
ernor in 1839, under a popular impression that the 
affairs of the State had not been prudently adminis- 
tered by the Democrats. He ser\'ed as Governor but 
little more than a year, when he was elected to the 
Senate of the United States. 

His term in the Senate practically closed his polit- 
ical life, although he was strongly urged by many 
prominent men for the Whig nomination for Vice 
President in 1848. 

Soon after his appointment as Judge in 1828, Gov- 
ernor W. took up his residence on a tract of land 
which he owned in the township of Spring Wells, a 
short distance below what was then the corporate lim- 
its of Detroit, where he resided during the remainder 
of his life. Both in his public papers and private 
communications, Governor W. shows himself a mas- 
ter of language; he is fruitful in simile and illustra- 
tion, logical in arrangement, happy in the choice and 
treatment of topics, and terse and vigorous in expres- 
sion. Judge W. was aCongregationalist. His opinions 
on all subjects were decided; he was earnest and 
energetic, courteous and dignified, and at times ex- 
hibited a vein of fine humor that was liie more at- 
tractive because not too often allowed to come to the 
surface. His letters and addresses show a deep and 
earnest affeclion not only for his ancestral home, but 
the home of his adoption and for friends and family. 



GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



"3 




<«« 



■+-• 




-»*- 



xJOHN S. BARRY R' 



^^^^^^M^^:^^^^^^^M<^^<i^&i::2£^^LJi£-i£dili^^^^^^^^^^' 



««c 



->-• 




-^J»- 





OHN STEWARD BARRY, 
.Governor of Michigan from 
fan. 3, 1842, to Jan. 5, 1846, 
and from Jan. 7, 1850, to Jan. 
I, 1852, was born at Amherst, 
N. H., Jan. 29, 1802. His par- 
ents, John and Ellen (Steward) 
Barry, early removed to Rocking- 
ham, Vt., where he remained until 
he became of age, working on his 
father's fami, and pursuing his 
studies at the same time. He mar- 
ried Mary Kidder, of Grafton, Vt., 
and in 1824 went to Georgia, Vt., 
where he hid charge of an academy 
for iwo years, meanwliile studying 
law. He afterward practiced law in 
that State. While he was in Georgia he was for some 
time a member of the Governor's staff, with the title 
of Governor's Aid, and at a somewhat earlier period 
was Captain of a comiiany of State militia. In 1831 
he removed to Michigan, and settled at White Pigeon, 
where he engaged in mercantile business with I. W. 
Willard. 
Four years after, 1834, Mr. Barry removed to Con- 



I 



stantine and continued his mercantile pursuits. He 
became Justice of the Peace at White Pigeon, Mich, 
in 1831, and held the office until the year 1835 
Mr. Barry's first public office was that of a member 
of the first constitutional convention, which assembled 
and flamed the constitution upon which Michigan 
was admitted into the Union. He took an important 
and prominent part in the proceedings of that body, 
and showed himself to be a man of far more than 
ordinary ability. 

Uixjn Michigan being admitted into the Union, 
Mr. Barry was ciiosen State Senator, and so favorably 
were his associates impressed with his abilities at the 
first session of the Legislature that they looked to him 
as a party leader, and that he should head the State 
ticket at the following election. Accordingly he re- 
ceived the nomination for Governor at the hands 
of his party assembled in convention. He was 
elected, and so ix)pular was his administration that, in 
1842, he was again elected. During these years 
Michigan was embarrassed by great financial diffi- 
culties, and it was through his wisdom and sound judg- 
ment that the State was finally placed upon a solid 
financial basis. 

During the first year of Gov. Barr)''s first term, the 
University at Ann Arbor was opened for the reception 



114 



JOHN STEWARD BARRY. 



of students. The Michigan Central and Michigan 
Southern railroads were being rapidly constructed, and 
general progress was everywhere noticeable. In 1842, 
the number of pupils reported as attending the public 
schools was nearly fifty-eight thousand. In 1843, a 
State land office was established at Marshall, which 
was invested witli the charge and disposition of all 
the lands belonging to the State. In 1844, the tax- 
able property of the State was found to be over 
twenty-eight millions of dollars, the tax being at the 
rate of two mills on the dollar. The expenses of the 
State were only seventy thousand dollars, while the 
income from tlie railroads was nearly tliree hundred 
thousand dollars. At this time the University of 
Michigan had become so prosperous that its income 
was ample to pay the interest on the University debt ; 
and the amount of money which the State was able 
to loan the several progressing railroads was one 
hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Efforts were 
made to increase the efficiency of the common schools 
with good results In 1845, when Gov. Barry's sec- 
ond term expired, the population of the State was 
more than three hundred thousand. 

The constitution of the State forbade more than two 
consecutive terms, but he was called upon to fill the 
position again in 1850 — the only instance of the kind 
in the history of the State. He was a member of the 
Territorial Legislature, of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion, and afterward of the State House of Represent- 
atives. 

During Mr. Barry s third term as Governor the Nor- 
mal School was established at Ypsilanti, which was 
endowed with lands and placed in charge of a board 
of education consisting of six persons. A new con- 
stitution for the government of the State was also 
adopted and the '"Great Railway Conspiracy Case" 
was tried. This grew out of a series of lawless acts 
which had been committed upon the property of the 
Michigan Central Railroad Company, along the line 
of their road, and finally tlie burning of tlie de|X)t 
at Detroit, in 1850. 

At a setting of the grand jury of AVayne County, 
April 24, 185 I, 37 men of the 50 under arrest for this 
crime were indicted. May 20, following, the accused 
parties appeared at the Circuit Court of Wayne, of 
which Warner Wing was resident judge. The Rail- 
road Company em|)loyed ten eminent lawyers, in- 
cluding David Stuart, John Van Arman, James A. 
Van Dyke, Jacob M. Howard, Alex. D. Phraser, Dan- 
iel Goodwin and William Gray. Tlie defendants wore 
represented by six members of the State bar, led liy 
William H. Seward, of New York. The trial occupied 
four months, during vvliich time the plaintiffs exam- 
ined 246 witnesses in 27 days, and tlie defendants 
249 in 40 days. Mr. Van Dyke addressed the jury 
for the prosecution; William H. Seward for tlie 
defense. 

The great lawyer was convinced of the innocence 



of his clients, nor did the verdict of that jury and the 
sentence of that judge remove his firm belief thai his 
clients were the victims of purchased treachery, 
rather than so many sacrifices to justice. 

The verdict of " guilty " was rendered at 9 o'clock 
I'. .M., Sept. 25, 185 I. On the 26th the prisoners were 
put forward to receive sentence, when many of them 
protested their entire innocence, after which the pre- 
siding judge condemned 12 of the number to the fol- 
lowing terms of imprisonment, with hard labor, within 
the State's prison, situate in their county : Ammi 
Filley, ten years ; Orlando L. Williams, ten years ; 
Aaron Mount, eight years; Andrew J. Freeland, eight 
years; Eben Farnham, eight years; William Corvin, 
eight years; Richard Price, eight years; Evan Price, 
eight years; Lyman Champlin, five years; Willard 
W. Champlin, five years; Erastus Champlin, five 
years; Erastus Smith, five years. 

In 1840, Gov. Barry became deeply interested in 
the cultivation of the sugar beet, and visited Europe 
to obtain information in reference to its culture. 

He was twice Presidential Elector, and his last 
public service was that of a delegate to the National 
Democratic Convention held in Chicago in 1864. 

He was a man who, throughout life, maintained a 
high character for integrity and fidelity to the trusts 
bestowed upon him, whether of a public or a private 
nature, and he is acknowledged by all to have been 
one of the most efficient and popular Governors the 
Slate has ever had. 

Gov. Barry was a man cf incorruptible integrity. 
His opinions, which he reached by the most thorough 
investigation, he held tenaciously. His strong con- 
victions and outspoken honesty made it impossible for 
him to take an undefined position wlien a principle 
was involved. His attachments and prejudices were 
strong, yet he was never accused of favoritism in his 
administration of public affairs. As a speaker he was 
not remarkable. SoHdity, rather than brilliancy, char- 
acterized his oratory, which is described as argument- 
ative and instructive, but cold, hard, and entirely 
wanting in rhetorical ornament. He was never elo- 
quent, seldom humorous or sarcastic, and in manner 
rather awkward. 

Although Mr. Barry's educational advantages were 
so limited, he was a life-long student. He mastered 
both ancient and modern languages, and acquired a 
tliorough knowledge of histoiy. No man owed less 
to political intrigue as a means of gaining posi- 
tion. He was a true statesman, and gained public es- 
teem by his solid worth. His political connections 
were always with the Democratic party, and his opin- 
ions were usually extreme. 

Mr. Barry retired to private life after tlie beginning 
of the ascendency of the Republican party, and car- 
ried on his mercantile inisiness at Constantine. He 
died Jan. 14, 1870, liis wife's deatli having occurred a 
year previous, March 30, 1869. They left no children. 




^y^^^^ci 



GOVEJiiXORS OF MICHIGAN. 





■/Mm:^^^ 



f*^*;v- '1' -',i^>.''i"'r:,,\, "5* -v\^ V -o^'.v V -•*;** W --ifo. V '■A'i^ W -'/tvT'Sr 



.;^ii^lfi^if? |i^lj6if. 






i^"" ^' ■'/fV* "V *vis* 



'^^\;>iT<^y^l^P 





LPHEUS FELCH, the third 
Governor of Michigan, was 
born in Limerick, Maine, Sep- 
tember 28, 1806. His grand- 
father, Abijah Felch, was a sol- 
'^ dier in the Revolution ; and 
when a young man, having with 
others obtained a grant of land be- 
tween the Great and Little Ossipee 
Rivers, in Maine, moved to that re- 
gion when it was yet a wilderness. 
The father of Mr. Felch embarked in 
mercantile life at Limerick. He was 
the first to engage in that business in 
that section, and continued it until 
his death. The death of the father, 
followed within a year by the death of 
the mother, left the subject of this sketch, then three 
years old, to the care of relatives, and he found a 
home with his paternal grandfather, where he re- 
mained until his death. Mr Felch received his early 
education in the district school and a neighboring 
academy. In 182 1 he became a student at Phillips 
Exter Academy, and, subsequently, entered Bowdoin 
College, graduated with the class of 1827. He at 
once began the study of law and was admitted to 
practice at Bangor, Me., in 1830. 

He began the practice of his profession at Houlton, 
Me., where he remained until 1833. The severity 
of the climate impaired his health, never very good, 
and he found it necessary to seek a change of climate. 
He disfX)sed of his library and started to seek 
a new home. His intentior^ w^s to join his friend, 



Sargent S. Prentiss, at Vicksburg, Miss., but on his 
arrival at Cincinnati, Mr. Felch was attacked by 
cholera, and when he had recovered sufficiently to 
permit of his traveling, found that the danger of the 
disease was too great to pemiit a journey down the 
river. He therefore determined to come to Michi- 
gan. He first began to practice in this State at Mon- 
roe, where he continued until 1843, when he removed 
to Ann Atbor. He was elected to the State Legisla- 
ture in 1835, and continued a member of that body 
during the years 1836 and 1837. While he held this 
office, the general banking law of the Stale was enact- 
ed, and went into o[)eration. After mature delibera 
tion, he became convinced that the proposed system 
of banking could not prove beneficial to the public 
interests ; and that, instead of relieving the people 
from the pecuniary difficulties under which they were 
laboring, it would result in still further embarrass- 
ment. He, therefore, opposed the bill, and pointed 
out to the House the disasters which, in his opinion, 
were sure to follow its passage. The public mind, 
however, was so favorably impressed by the measure 
that no other member, in either branch of the Legisla- 
ture, raised a dissenting voice, and but two voted with 
him in opposition to the bill. Early in 1838, he was 
appointed one of the Bank Commissioners of the 
State, and held that office for more than a year. Dur- 
ing this time, the new banking law had given birth to 
that numerous progeny known as "wild-cat" banks. 
Almost every village had its bank. The country was 
flooded with depressed "wild-cat" money. The ex- 
aminations of the Bank Commissioners brought to 
light frauds at every point, which were fearlessly re- 



ii8 



ALPHEUS FELCH. 



ported to the Legislature, and were followed by crim- 
inal prosecutions of the guilty parties, and the closing 
of many of their institutions. The duties of the of- 
fice were most laborious, and in 1839 Mr. Felch re- 
signed. The chartered right of almost every bank 
had, in the meantime, been declared forfeited and 
the law repealed. It was subsequently decided to 
be constitutional by the Supreme Court of the State. 
In the year 1842 Governor Felch was appointed 
to the office of Auditor General of the State; but 
after holding the office only a few weeks, was com- 
missioned by the Governor as one of the Judges of the 
Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resig- 
nation of Judge Fletcher. In January, 1843, he was 
elected to the United States Senate for an unexpired 
term. In 1845 he was elected Governor of Michigan, 
and entered upon his duties at the commencement of 
the next year. In 1847 he was elected a Senator 
in Congress for six years ; and at once retired from 
the office of Governor, by resignation, which took 
effect March 4, 1847, when his Senatorial term com- 
menced. While a member of the Senate he acted on 
the Committee on Public Lands, and for four years 
was its Chairman. He filled the honorable iX)sition 
of Senator with becoming dignity, and with great 
credit to the State of Michigan. 

During Governor Felch's administration the two 
railroads belonging to the State were sold to private 
corporations, — the Central for $2,000,000, and the 
Southern for $500,000. The exports of the State 
amounted in 1846 to $4,647,608. The total capacity 
of vessels enrolled in the collection district at Detroit 
was 26,928 tons, the steam vessels having 8,400 and 
the sailing vessels 18,528 tons, the whole giving em- 
ployment to 18,000 seamen. In 1847, there were 39 
counties in the State, containing 435 townships ; and 
275 of these townships were supplied witli good libra- 
ries, containing an aggregate of 37,000 volumes. 

At the close of his Senatorial term, in March, 1853, 
Mr. Felch was appointed, by President Pierce, one of 
the Commissioners to adjust and settle the Spanish 



and Mexican land claims in California, under the 

treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo, and an act of Congress 
passed for that purix)se. He went to California in 
May, 1853, and was made President of the Commis- 
sion. The duties of this office were of the most im- 
[wrtant and delicate character. The interest of the 
new State, and the fortunes of many of its citizens, 
both the native Mexican population and the recent 
American immigration ; the right of the Pueblos to 
their common lands, and of the Catholic Church to 
the lands of the Missions, — the most valuable of the 
State, — wereinvolved in the adjudicationsof this Com- 
mission. In March, 1856, their labors were brought 
to a close by the final disposition of all the claims 
which were presented. The record of their proceed- 
ings, — the testimony which was given in each case, 
and the decision of the Commissioners thereon, — 
consisting of some forty large volumes, was deposited 
in the Department of the Interior at Washington. 

In June of that year. Governor Felch returned to 
Ann Arbor, where he has since been engaged piinci- 
pally in legal business. Since his return he has 
been nominated for Governor and also for U. S. Sen- 
ator, and twice for Judge of the Supreme Court. But 
the Democratic party, to which he has always been 
attached, being in the minority, he failed of an elec- 
tion. In 1873 he withdrew from the active practice 
of law, and, with the exception of a tour in Europe, 
in 1875 has since led a life of retirement at his home 
in Ann Arbor. In 1877 the University of Michigan 
confened upon him the degree of LL. D. For 
many years he was one of the Regents of Michigan 
University, and in the spring of 1879 was appointed 
Tappan Professor of Law in the same. Mr. Felch is 
the oldest surviving member of the Legislature from 
Monroe Co., the oldest and only surviving Bank Com- 
missioner of the State, the oldest surviving Auditor 
General of the State, the oldest surviving Governor of 
the State, the oldest surviving Judge of the Supreme 
Court of Michigan, and the oldest surviving United 
States Senator from the State of Michigan. 



GO VERNORS. 



121 







^^ 






l» ©IHEE?JI,¥o I 






4-SJ- 





ILLIAM L. GREENLY 
(lovernor of Michigan for the 
year 1847, was born at Hamil- 
ton, Madison Co., N. Y., Sejit. 
18,1813. He graduated at Un- 
■1/ ion College, Schenectady, in 
1 83 1, studied law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1834. In 
1836, having removed to Michi- 
gan, he settled in Adrian, where 
he has since resided. Tlie year 
following his arrival in Michigan 
he was elected State Senator and 
served in that capacity until 1839. 
In 1845 he was elected Lieut. Gov- 
ernor and became acting Governor 
by the resignation of Gov. Felch, 
who was elected to the United 
States Senate. 
The war with Mexico was brouglit 
to a successful termination during Gov. Greenly 's 
administration. We regret to say that there are only 
few records extant of the action of Michigan troops 
in the Mexican war. That many went there and 
fought well are points conceded ; but their names and 
nativity are hidden away in United States archives 



and where it is almost imjxjssible to find them. 

The soldiers of this State deserve much of the 
credit of the memorable achievements of Co. K; 3d 
Dragoons, and Cos. A, E, and G of the U. S. Inf. 
The two former of these companies, recruited in this 
State, were reduced to one-third their original num- 
l)er. 

In May, 1846, the Governor of Michigan was noti- 
fied by the War Department of the United States to 
enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readi- 
ness for service whenever demanded. At his sum- 
mons 13 independent volunteer companies, 1 1 of 
infantry and two of cavalry, at once fell into line. Of 
the infantry four companies were from Detroit, bear- 
ing the honored names of Montgomery, Lafayette, 
Scott and Brady upon their banners. Of the re- 
mainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee County three, 
St. Clair, Berrien and Hillsdale each one, and Wayne 
County an additional company. Of these alone the 
veteran Bradys were accepted and ordered into ser- 
vice. In addition to them ten companies, making the 
First Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, springing 
from various parts of tlie State, but embodying to a 
great degree themateri.al of which the first volunteers 
was formed, were not called for until October follow- 
ing. This regiment was soon in readiness and pro- 
ceeded by orders from Government to the seat of war. 



■.'"'J^^K 






■^M 


), 




\ 


;} - 


■i 








»«*• * 



^^^^-^-^^y^Z^-t^CCy'^A^ /^ Ct.ayVd.yC-V^'t-t^ 



GO VEMNORS. 



I2T 




^'^k 




I ep:ip^^oditus piisoii]. i 



*:;S-#^:;g-'*^:::5-s^;::?"f>^':s<i»g!s« 






HE HON. EPAPHRODI- 
TUS RANSOM, the Seventh 
Governor of Michigan, was a 
native of Massachusetts. In 
that State he received a col- 
legiate education, studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar. 
Removing to Michigan about 
the time of its admission to the 
Union, he took up his residence 
at Kalamazoo. 

Mr. Ransom served with marked 
. ability for a number of years in the 
State Legislature, and in 1837 he was apjxiinted As- 
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1843 he 
was promoted to Chief Justice, which office he re- 
tained until 1845, when he resigned. 

Shortly afterwards he became deeply interested in 
the building of plank roads in the western pwrtion of 
the State, and in this business lost the greater portion 
of the property which he had accumulated by years 
of toil and industry. 

Mr. Ransom became Governor of the State of 
Michigan in the fall of 1847, and served during one 
term, performing the duties of the office in a truly 
statesmanlike manner. He subsequently became 
President of the Michigan Agricultural Society, in 
which position he displayed the same ability that 



shone forth so prominently in his acts as Governor. 
He held the office of Regent of the Michigan Univer- 
sity several times, and ever advocated a liberal policy 
in its management. 

Subsequently he was appointed receiver of the 
land office in one of the districts in Kansas, by Pres- 
ident Buchanan, to which State he had removed, and 
where he died before the exjiiration of his term of 
office. 

We sum up the events and affairs of the State un- 
der Gov. Ransom's administration as follows: The 
Asylum for the Insane was establised, as also the 
Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Both of 
these institutes were liberally endowed with lands, 
and each of them placed in charge of a board of five 
trustees. The appropriation in 1849 for the deaf and 
dumb and blind amounted to $81,500. On the first 
of March, 1848, the first telegraph line was com- 
pleted from New York to Detroit, and the first dis- 
patch transmitted on that day. The following figures 
show the progress in agriculture : The land reixirtcd 
as under cultivation in 1848 was 1,437,460 acres; of 
wheat there were produced 4,749,300 bushels; other 
grains, 8,197,767 busiiels; wool, 1,645,756 pounds; 
maple sugar, 1,774,369 pounds ; horses, 52,305 ; cat- 
tle, 210,268; swine, 152,541; sheep, 6to,534; while 
the flour mills numbered 228, and the lumber mills 
amounted to 730. 1847, an act was passed removing 
the Legislature from Detroit to Lansing, and tem|X)- 
rary buildings for the use of the Legislature were im- 
mediately erected, at a cost of $12,450. 



'm 





GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



»»9 




((#' (5i {?r/ 1:, ^ 'S p xVif 









SpSS'iFif^^ ... 



-^ 



-Js-4-5fi-j<S- 




OBERT McCLELLyVND, 
LCiovernor of Michigan from 
Jan. I, 1852,10 March 8, 1853, 
was born at Greencastle, Frank- 
^^J lin Co., Penn., Aug. i, 1S07. 
Among his ancestofs were several 
officers of rank in the Revolution- 
ary war, and some of his family con- 
B\\^ nections were distinguished in tlie 
war of 1812, and that with Mexico. 
His father was an eminent physician 
and surgeon who studied under Dr. 
Benj. Rush, of Philadelphia, and 
practiced his profession successfully 
until six months before his dcatli, at 
the age of 84 years, .'\lthough Mr. 
McClelland's family had been in good circum- 
stances, when he was 17 years old he was thrown 
ujxjn his own resources. After taking the usual i)rc- 
liminary studies, and teaching school to obtain tlie 
means, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, 
Penn., from which he graduated among the first in 
his class, in 1829. He then resumed teaching, and 
having completed the course of study for the legal 
profession, was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg, 
Penn., in 1831. Soon afterward he removed to the 
city of Pittsburgh, where he practiced for almost a 
year. 

In 1833, Mr. McClelland removed to Monroe, in 




the Territory of Michigan, where, after a severe ex- 
amination, he became a member of the bar of Michi- 
gan, and engaged in practice with bright prospect of 
success. In 1835, a convention was called to frame 
a constitution for the proposed State of Michigan, of 
which Mr. McClelland was elected a member. He 
took a prominent part in its deliberations and ranked 
among its ablest debatl;rs. He was apfXiinted the 
first Bank Commissioner of the State, by Gov. Mason, 
and received an offer of the Attorney Generalshii), but 
declined both of these offices in order to attend to his 
professional duties. 

In 1S38, Mr. McClelland was elected to the State 
Legislature, in which he soon became distinguished 
as the head of several imixsrtant committees, Speaker 
pro tempore, and as an active, zealous and efficient 
member. In 1840, Gen. Harrison, as a candidate for 
the Presidency, swept the country with an overwhelm- 
ing majority, and at the same time the State of Michi- 
gan was carried by the Whigs under the fwpular cry 
of " Woodbridge and reform " against the Democratic 
party. At this time Mr. McClelland stood among the 
acknowledged leaders of the latter organization ; was 
elected a member of the State House of Representa- 
tives, and with others adopted a plan to regain a lost 
authority and prestige. 

This party soon came again into jxjwer in the State, 
and having been returned to the State Legislature M.'. 
McClelland's leadership was acknowledged by his 
election as Si)eaker of the House of Representatives 



1^0 



ROBERT McClelland. 



in 1843. Down to this time Micliigan liad consti- 
tuted one congressional district. Tiie late Hon. Jacob 
M. Howard had been elected against Hon. Alpheus 
Felch by a strong majority ; but, in 1 843, so thoroughly 
had the Democratic party recovered from its defeat 
of 1840 that Mr. McClelland, as a candidate for Con- 
gress, carried Detroit district by a majority of about 
2,500. Mr. McClelland soon toc'c a prominent po-:i 
tion in Congress among the veterans of that body. 
During his first term he was placed on Committee on 
Corrmerce, and organized and carried through what 
were known as the "Harbor bills." The continued 
confidence of his constituency was manifested in his 
election to the 29th Congress. At the opening of this 
session he had acquired a National reputation, and so 
feTorably was he known as a parlimentarian that his 
name was mentioned for Speaker of the House of Rep- 
iesentatives. He declined tie offer in favor of J. W. 
Davis, of Indiana, who was elected. During this ternr 
he became Chairman of Committee on Commerce, in 
which position his reports and advocacy ofimportant 
measures at once attracted public attention. The 
members of this committee, as an evidence of the es- 
teem in which they held his services and of their 
personal regard for him, presented him with a cane 
'vhich he retains as a souvenir of the donors, and of 
his labors in Congress. 

In 1847, Mr, McClelland was re-elected to Con- 
fess, and at the opening of the 3olh Congress be- 
came a member of the Committee on Foreign Rela- 
tions. While acting in this capacity, what was known 
as the " French Spoliation Bill" came under his spe- 
cial charge, and his management of the same was such 
as to command universal approbation. While in 
Congress, Mr, McClelland was an advocate of the 
nght of petition as maintained by John Q. Adams, 
when the petition, was clothed in decorous language 
and presented in the proper manner. This he re- 
garded as the citizens'coustitutional right which should 
not be impaired by any doctrines of temporary expe- 
diency. He also voted for the adoption of Mr. Gid- 
dings's bill for the abolisliing of slavery in the District 
of Columbia Mr. McClelland was one of tlie few 
Democrats associated with David Wilmot, of Penn- 
sylvania, in bringing forward the celebrated "Wilmot 
Proviso," with a view to prevent further extension of 
slavery iii new territory which might be acquired by 
ihe United States. He and Mr. Wilmot were to- 
gether at the time in Washington, and on intimate 
and confidential terms. Mr. McClelland was in sev 
eral National conventions and in the Baltimore con- 
vention, which nominated Gen. Cass for President, 
in 1848, doing valiant service that year for the elec- 
tion of that distinguished statesman. On leaving 
Congress, in 1848, Mr. McClelland returned to the 
practice of his profession at Monroe. In 1850 a 
convention of the State of Michigan was called to 
revise the State constitution. He was elected a 



member and was regarded therein as among the ablest 
and most experienced leaders. His clear judgment 
and wise moderation were conspicuous, both in the 
committee room and on the floor, in debate. In 1850, 
he was President of the Democratic State convention 
which adopted resolutions in sup|X)rt of Henry Clay's 
famous compromise measures, of which Mr. McClel 
land was a strong advocate. He was a member of 
the Democratic National convention in 1852, and in 
that year, in company with Gen, Cass and Governoi 
Felch, he made a thorough canvass of the State 
He continued earnestly to advocate the Clay com- 
promise measures, and took an active part in the 
canvass which resulted in the election of Gen. Pierce 
to the Presidency. 

In 185 [, the new Stat2 constitution took effect and 
it was necessary that a Governor should be elected 
for one year in order to prevent an interregnum, and 
to bring the State Government into operatic '^ under 
the new constitution. Mr. McClelland was elected 
Governor, and in the fall of 1852 was re-elected for 
a term of two years, from Jan. i, 1853. His admin- 
istration was regarded as wise, prudent and concilia- 
tory, and was as popular as could be expected at a 
time when party spirit ran high. There was really 
no opiMsition, and when he resigned, in March, 1853, 
the State Treasury was well filled, and the State 
otherwise prosperous. So widely and favorably ha& 
Mr. McClelland become known as a statesman that o?: 
the organizatien of thecabinet by Pn sident Pierce, in 
March, 1853, he was made Secretary of the Interior, in 
which capacity he served most creditably during four 
years of the Pierce administration. He thoroughly 
re-organized his department and reduced the expend- 
itures He adopted a course with the Indians which 
relieved them from the impositions and annoyances 
of the traders, and produced harmony and civilization 
among them. During his administration there was 
neither complaint from the tribes nor corruption among 
agents, and he left the department in perfect ordei 
and system. In 1867, Michigan again called a con 
vention to revise the State constitution. Mr. McClel- 
land was a member and here again his long experi- 
ence made him conspicuous as a prudent adviser, a 
sagacious parliamentary leader. As a lawyer he was 
terse and pointed in argument, clear, candid and im 
pressive in his addresses to the jury. His sincerity 
and earnestness, with which was occasionally mingled 
a pleasant humor, made him an able and effective 
advocate. In speaking before the people on political 
subjects he was especially forcible and happy. In 
1870 he made the tour of Europe, which, through his 
extensive personal acquaintance with European dip- 
lomates, he was enabled to enjoy much more than 
most travelers 

Mr. McClelland married, in 1837, Miss Sarah 
R. Sabin, of Williamstown, Mass. They have had 
six children, two of whom now survive. 



GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



'33 




i. 



ir> 



4-^ 






w 



*SKj«^"g*S!^«^;:s<t^':s*-s;s**"s«^;:;!f*S:g<«^;:s#*/S«^;S*s^ 






'o| NDREW PARSONS, Gover- 

m n( 



;^ 




■ "/^. 



nor of Micliigan from March 
8, 1853 to Jan. 3, 185s, was 
born in the town of Hoosick, 
County of Rensselaer, and 
State of New York, on the 22d 
■ - day of July, 1817, and died June 
6, 1855, at the early age of 38 
years. He was the son of John 
Parsons, born at Newburyport, 
(Mass., Oct. 2, 1782, and who was the 
sonof Andrew Parsons, a Revolutionary 
soldier, who was the son of Phiiieas 
Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, 
a descendant of Walter Parsons, born 
ill Ireland in 1290. 
Of this name and family, some one hundred and 
thirty years ago, Bishop Gilson remarked in his edi- 
tion of Camden's Britannia: "The honorable family 
of Parsons have been advanced to tlie dignity of 
Viscounts and more lately Earls of Ross." 

The following are descendants of these f.imilies : 
Sir John Parsons, born 1 481, was Mayor of Hereford; 
Robert Parsons, born in 1546, lived near Bridgewater, 
England. He was educated at Ballial College, Ox- 
ford, and was a noted writer and defender of the 
Romish faith. He established an English College at 
Rome and another at Valladolia. Frances Parsons, 
born in 1556, was Vicar of Rothwell, in Notingham; 
Bartholomew Parsons, born in 1618, was another 
noted memiier of the family. In 1634, Thomas Parsons 
was knighted by Ciiarles i. Joseph and Benjamin, 
brothers, were l)orii in Great Torrington, ICngland, 



and accompanied their father and others to New 
England about 1630. Samuel Parsons, born at Salis- 
bury, Mass., in 1707, graduated at Harvard College in 
1730, ordained at Rye, N. H.,Nov. 3, 1736, married 
Mary Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, of Boston, 
Oct. 9, 1739, died Jan. 4, 17S9, at the age of 82, in 
the 53rd year of his ministry. The grandfather of Mary 
Jones was Capt. John Adams, of Boston, grandson 
of Henry, of Braintree, who was among the first set- 
tlers of Massachusetts, and from whom a numerous 
race of the name are descended, including two Presi- 
dents of the United States. The Parsons have be- 
come very numerous and are found throughout New 
England, and many of the descedants are scattered 
in all parts of the United States, and especially in 
the Middle and Western States. Governor Andrew 
Parsons came to Michigan in 1835, at the age of 17 
years, and spent the first summer at Lower Ann 
Arbor, where for a few months he taught school which 
he was compelled to abandon from ill health 

He was one of the large number of men of sterling 
worth, who came from the East to Michigan when it 
was an infant State, or, even prior to its assuming 
the dignity of a State, and who, by their wisdom, 
enterprise and energy, have developed its wonderful 
natural resources, until to-day it ranks with the proud- 
est States of the Union. These brave men came to 
Michigan with nothing to aid them in the conquest 
of the wilderness save courageous hearts and strong 
and willing hands. They gloriously conquered, how- 
ever, and to them is due all honor for the labors 
so nobly performed, for the solid and sure foundation 
which they laid of a great Commonwealth. 



»34 



ANDREW F ARSONS 



In the fall of 1835, he explored the Grand River 
Valley in a frail canoe, the whole length of the river, 
from Jackson to Lake Michigan, and spent the following 
winter as clerk in a store at Prairie Creek, in Ionia, 
County, and in the spring went to Marshall, where he 
resided with his brother, the Hon. Luke H. Parsons, 
also now deceased, until fall, when he went to Shia- 
wasseCounty,then with Clinton County, andan almost 
unbroken wilderness and constituting one organized 
township. In 1837 this territory was organized into 
a county and, at the age of only 19 years, he (An- 
drew) was elected County Clerk. In 1840, he was 
elected Register of Deeds, re-elected in 1S42, and 
also in 1844. In 1846, he was elected to tiie Stale 
Senate, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1848, 
and elected Regent of the University in 1851, and 
Lieutenant Governor, and became acting Governor, 
in 1853, elected again to the Legislature in 1854, and, 
overcome by debilitated healtli, hard labor and the 
responsibilities of his office and cares of his business, 
retired to his farm, where he died soon after. 

He was a fluent and persuasive speaker and well 
calculated to make friends of his acquantances. He 
was always true to his trust, and the whole world 
could not persuade nor drive him to do what he con- 
ceived to be wrong. When Governor, a most power- 
ful railroad influence was brought to bear upon him, 
to induce him to call an extra session of the Legisla- 
ture. Meetings were held in all parts of the .State 
for tliat purpose. In some sections the resolutions 
were of a laudatory nature, intending to make him do 
their bidding by resort to friendly and flattering words. 
In other places the resolutions were of a demanding 
nature, while in others they were threatening beyond 
measure. Fearing that all these influences might 
/ail to induce him to call the extra session, a large 
sum of money was sent him, and liberal offers ten- 
dered him if he would gratify the railroad interest of 
the State and call the extra session, but, immovable, 
he returned the money and refused to receive 
any favois, whether from any jiarty who would at- 
tempt to corru'-t '>ini by buidalioiis, liberal offers, or 



by threats, and in a short letter to the people, after 
giving overwhelming reasons that no sensible man 
could dispute, showing the circumstances were not 
"extraordinary," he refused to call the extra session. 
This brought down the wrath of various parties upon 
his head, but they were soon forced to acknowledge 
the wisdom and the justice of his course. One of 
his greatest enemies said, after a long acquaintance : 
"thougii not always coinciding with his views I never 
doubted his honesty of purpose. He at all times 
sought to perform his duties in strict accordance, 
witii the dictates of his conscience, and the behests 
ofhisoath." The following eulogium from a jxjlitcal op- 
ponent is just in its conception and creditable to its 
author: "Gov. Parsons was a jwlitician of the Dem- 
ocratic school, a man of pure moral character, fixed 
and exemplary habits, and entirely blameless in every 
public and private relation of life. As a jx)litician he 
was candid, frank and free from bitterness, as an ex- 
ecutive officer firm, constant and reliable." The 
highest commendations we can pay the deceased is 
to give his just record, — that of being an honest man. 
In the spring of 1854, during the administration of 
Governor Parsons, the Republican party, at least 
as a State organization, was first formed in the United 
States "under the oaks" at Jackson, by anti-slavery 
men of both the old parties. Great excitement pre- 
vailed at this time, occasioned by the settling of 
Kansas, and the issue thereby brought uj), whether 
slavery should exist there. For the jiurposeof permit- 
ting slavery there, the " Missouri compromise " (whic'i 
limited slavery to the south of 36° 30') was re- 
repealed, under the leadership of Stephen A, Douglas. 
This was repealed by a bill admitting Kansas and 
Nebraska into the Union, as Territories, and those who 
were opposed to this repeal measure were in short 
called "anti-Nebraska" men. The epithets, "Ne- 
braska" and "anti-Nebraska," were temporally em- 
ployed to designate the slavery and anti-slavery 
parties, pending the desolution of the old Democratic 
and Whig parties ;ind the organization of the new 
Democratic and Republican parties of the jiresent. 




#"- 




00 VeRNORS of MICHIGAN. 



'37 




-^«. 








W^ 



m KiNSLRY S. BiNQHAM. 

"s 









INSLEY S. BINGHAM, 
^.j^'Overnor of Michigan from 
1855 fo 1859, and United 
States Senator, was born in 
CamilU'.s, Onondaga County, 
N. Y., Dec. 16, 1808. His 
father was a farmer, and his own 
early life was consequently de- 
voted to agricultural pursuits, but 
notwithstanding the disadvan- 
tages related to the acquisition 
of knowledge in the life of a farmer 
Wm '^"^ ™;inaged to secure a good aca- 
•^^^ demic education in his native State 
and studied law in the office of 
Cicn. James R. Lawrence, now of 
Syracuse, N. Y. In the spring of 
1833, he married an estimable lady 
who had recently arrived from Scot- 
land, and obeying the impulse of a 
naturally enterprising disposition, 
he emigrated to Michigan and 
purchased a new farm in company 
with his brother-in-law, Mr. Robert 
Worden, in Green Oak, Livingston County. Here, on 
the border of civilizalion, buried in the primeval for- 
est, our late student commenced the ardi:ous task of 
preparing a future home, clearing and fencing, put- 
ting up buildings, etc., at su.h :, rate that the land 



chosen was soon reduced to a high state of cultivation. 
Becoming deservedly prominent, Mr. Bingham was 
elected to the office of Justice of the Peace and Post- 
master under the Territorial government, and was the 
first Probate Judge in the county. In the year 1836, 
when Michiga:i 1 ecame a State, he was elected to the' 
first Legislature. He was four times re-elected, and 
Speaker of the House of Representatives three years. 
In 1 846 he was elected on the Democratic ticket, Re[)- 
resentative to Congress, and was the only practical 
farmer in that body. He was never forgetful of the 
interest of agriculture, and was in particular opi^osed 
to the introduction of " Wood s Patent Cast Iron 
Plow " which he completely prevented. He was re- 
elected to Congress in 1848, during which time he 
strongly opposed the extension of slavery in the 
territory of the United Stales and was committed to 
and voted for the Wilmot Proviso. 

In 1854, at the first organization of the Republican 
party, in consequence of his record in Congress as a 
Free Soil Democrat, Mr. Bingham was nominated 
and elected Governor of the State, and re-elected in 
1856. Still faithful to the memory of his own former 
occupation, he did not forget the farmers during his 
administration, and among other profits of his zeal in 
their behalf, he became mainly instrumental in the 
establishment of the Agricultural College at Lansing. 
In 1859, Governor Bingham was elected Senator in 
Congress and took an active part in the stormy <am- 
paign in the election of Abraliaiu Lincoln Hi. wit- 



'38 



KINSLEY S. BINGHAM. 



nessed the commencement of the civil war while a 
member of the United States Senate. After a com- 
paratively short life of remarkable promise and pub- 
lic activity he was attacked with appoplexy and died 
suddenly at his residence, in Green Oak, Oct. 5, 1861. 

The most noticable event in Governor Bingham's 
first term was the completion of the ship canal, at the 
Falls of St. Mary. In 1852, Angust 26, an act of 
Congress was approved, granting to the State of Mich- 
igan seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of land 
for the purpose of constructing a ship canal between 
Lakes Huron and Superior. In 1853, the Legislature 
accepted the grant, and provided for the appointment 
of commissioners to select the donated lands, and to 
arrange for building the canal. A company of enter- 
prising men was formed, and a contract was entered 
into by which it was arranged that the canal should 
be finished in two years, and the work was pushed 
rapidly forward. Every article of consumption, ma- 
chinery, working implements and materials, timber 
for the gates, stones for the locks, as well as men and 
supplies, had to be transported to the site of the canal 
from Detroit, Cleveland, and other lake ports. The 
rapids which had to be surmounted have a fall of 
seventeen feet and are about one mile long. The 
length of the canal is.less than one mile, its width one 
hundred feet, depth twelve feet and it has two locks 
of solid masonary. In May, 1855, the work was com- 
pleted, accepted by the commissioners, and formally 
delivered to the State authorities. 

The disbursements on account of the construction 
of the canal and selecting the lands amounted to one 
million of dollars ; while the lands which were as- 
signed to the company, and selected through the 
agency at the Sault, as well as certain lands in the 
Upper and Lower Peninsulas, filled to an acre the 
Government grant. The opening of the canal was 
an important event in the history of the improvement 
of the State. It was a valuable link in the chain of 
lake commerce, and particularly important to the 
interests of the Upper Peninsula. 

There were several educational, charitable and re- 
formatory institutions inaugurated and opened during 
Gov. Bingham's administrations. The Michigan Ag- 
ricultural College owes its establishment to a provision 
of the State Constitution of 1850. Article 13 says, 
" The Legislature shall, as soon as practicable, pro- 
vide for the establishment of an agricultural school." 
For the purpose of carying into practice this provision, 
legislation was commenced in 1855, and Ihe act re- 
quired that the school should be within ten miles of 
Lansing, and that not more than $15 an acre should 
be paid for the farm and college grounds. The col- 
lege was opened to students in May, 1857, the first of 
existing argricultural colleges in the United States 
Until the spring of i86i,it was under the control 
of the State Board of Education; since that time it 
has been under the management of the State Board 



of Agriculture, which was created for that purpose. 

In its essential features, of combining study and 
labor, and of uniting general and professional studies 
in its course, the college has remained virtually un- 
changed from tiie first. It has a steady growth in 
number of students, in means of illustration and 
efficiency of instruction. 

The Agricultural College is three miles east of 
Lansing, comprising several fine buildings; and there 
are also very beautiful, substantial residences for the 
professors. There are also an extensive, well-filled 
green-house, a very large and well-equipped chemical 
laboratory, one of the most scientific apiaries in the 
United States, a general museum, a meseum of me- 
chanical inventions, another of vegetable products, 
extensive barns, piggeries, etc., etc., in fine trim for 
the purposes designed. The farm consists of 676 
acres, of which about 300 are under cultivation in a 
systematic rotation of crops. 

Adrian College was established by the Wesleyan 
Methodists in 1859, now under the control of the 
Methodist Church. The grounds contain about 20 
acres. There are four buildings, capable of accom- 
modating about 225 students. Attendance in 1875 
was 179; total number of graduates for previous year, 
121 ; ten professors and teachers are employed. Ex- 
clusive of the endowment fund ($80,000), the assets 
of the institution, including grounds, buildings, furni- 
ture, apparatus, musical instruments, outlying lands, 
etc., amount to more than $137,000. 

Hillsdale College was established in 1855 by the 
Free Baptists. The Michigan Central College, at 
Spring Arbor, was incorporated in 1845 It was kept 
in operation until it was merged into the present 
Hillsdale College. The site comprises 25 acres, 
beautifully situated on an eminence in the western 
part of the city of Hillsdale. The large arid impos- 
ing building first erected was nearly destroyed by fire 
in 1874, and in its place five buildings of a more 
modern style have been erected. They are of brick, 
three stories with basement, arranged on three sides 
of a quadrangle. The size is, respectively, 80 by 80, 
48 by 7 2, 48 by 7 2, 80 by 60, 52 by 72, and they con- 
tain one-half more room than the original buildmg. 
The State Reform School. This was established 
at Lansing in 1855, in the northeastern \x)rtion of the 
city, as the House of Correction for Juvenile Of- 
fenders, having about it many of the features of a 
prison. In 1859 the name was changed to the State 
Reform School. The government and dicipline, have 
undergone many and radical changes, until all the 
prison features have been removed except those that 
remain in the walls of the original structure, and 
which remain only as monuments of instructive his- 
tory. No bolts, bars or guards are employed. The 
inmates are necessarily kept under the surveillance of 
officers, but the attempts at escape are much fewer 
than under the more rigid regime of former days. 




^tcr^J^^ ;W^^^--i^T>^^>^'"^-- 



GO VERXO/iS OF MICHIGAN. 



Ui 





OSES WISNER. Governor of 
|LMichigan from 1859(0 1S61, 
was born in Springport, Cayu- 
ga Co., N Y., June 3, 1815. 
_- His early education was only 
what could he obtained at a 
common sciiool. Agricultural labor 
and frugality of his parents gave 
him a physical constitution of unus- 
ual strength and endurance, which 
was ever preserved by temperate hab- 
its. In 1837 he emigrated to Michi- 
r^' gan and purchased a farm in Lapeer 
County It was new land and he at 
-"* once set to work to clear it and plant 
crops. He labored diligently at his 
task for two years, when he gave up 
the idea of being a farmer, and removed to Pontiac, 
Oakland Co. Here he commenced the study of law 
in the office of his brother, George W. Wisner, and 
Rufus Hosmer. In iS.^i he was admitted to the bar 
and establisiied liimself in his new vocation at the 
village of Lapeer. While there he was appix)inted 
by Gov. Woodbridge Prosecuting Attorney for tliat 
county, in which capacity he acquitted himself wtU 
and gave promise of that eminence he afterward at- 
tained in the profession. He remained at Lapeerbut 
a short time, removing to Pontiac, where he liecame 
a member of a firm and entered fully \\\xm tlie 
practice. 

In jxjlitics he was like his talented brother, a Whig 
of the Henry Clay stani]), but wiili a dec ided anti- 
slavery bias. His practice heromiiu; extensive, he 



took little part in politics until after the election of 
Mr. Pierce to the Presidency in 1S52, when he took an 
active part against slavery. As a lawyer he was a 
man of great ability, but relied less ujwn mere book 
learning than upon his native good sense. Liberal 
and courteous, was he yet devoted to the interest of 
his client, and no facts escaped his attention or his 
memory which bore upon the case. He was no friend 
of trickery or artifice in conducting a case As an ad- 
vocate he had few equals. When fully aroused by the 
merits of his subject his eloipience was at once grace- 
ful and powerful. His fancies supplied the most 
original, tlie most pointed illustrations, and his logic 
became a battling giant under whose heavy Mows the 
adversary shrank and withered. Nature had be- 
stowed \ipon him rare qualities, and his jjcwers as a 
popular orator were of a high order. 

On the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 
1854, repealing the Missouri coinpromise andoi)ening 
the Territories to slaveiy. he was among the foremost 
in Michigan to denounce the shamful scheme. He 
aciivcly participated in organi^iTig and consolidating 
the elements opposed to it in that State, and was a 
member of the |)opular gatheting at Jackson, in July, 
1854, which was the first formal Republican Conven- 
tion held in the United States. At this meeting the 
name " Re[)ublican " was adopted as a designation of 
the new |)arty consisting of Anti-slavery, Whigs, 
Liberty men, l-'ree Soil Democrats and all others op- 
posed to the extension of slavery and fivorab'e to its 
expulsion from the Territories and the District of 
Columbia. At this convention Mr. ^\'. was nrged to 
accept the nomination for Attornev Genetal «f the 



1^2 



MOSES lyiSNKH. 



Slate, but declined. An entire State ticket was nom- 
inated and at tlie annual election in November was 
elected by an average majority of nearly 10,000. 
Mr. W. was enthusiastic in the cause and brought to 
its support all his personal influence and talents. In 
his views he was bold and radical. He believed from 
the beginning that the political jxjwer of the slave- 
holders would have to be overthrown before quiet 
could be secured to the country. In the Presidential 
canvass of 1856 he supported the Fremont, or Re- 
publican, ticket. At the session of the Legislature of 
1857 he was a candidate for United States Senator, 
and as such received a very handsome support. 

In 1858, he was nominated for Governor of the 
State by the Republican convention that met at De- 
troit, and at the subsequent November election was 
chosen by a very large majority. Before the day of 
the election he had addressed the people of almost 
every county and his majority was greater even than 
that of his popular predecessor, Hon. K. S. Bingham. 
He served as Governor two years, from Jan. i, 1859, 
lo Jan. I, 1861. His first message to the Legislature 
was an able and statesman-like production, and was 
read with usual favor. It showed that he was awake 
to all the interests of the State and set forth an en- 
lightened State jxjlicy, that had its view of the rapid 
settlement of our uncultivated lands and the devel- 
opment of our immense agricultural and mineral re- 
sources. It was a document that reflected the highest 
credit w\xii\ the author. 

His term having expired Jan. i, 186 1, he returned 
;o his home in Pontiac, and to the practice of his 
profession. There were those in the State who 
counselled the sending of delegates to the peace con- 
ference at Washington, but Mr. W. was opposed to all 
such tennwrizing expedients. His counsel was to 
send no delegate, but to prepare to fight. 

After Congress had met and passed the necessary 
.egislation he resoUed to take part in the war. In 
the spring and summer of 1862 he set to work to 
raise a regiment of infantry, chiefly in Oakland 
County, where he resided. His regiment, the 22d 
Michigan, was armed and equipped and ready to 
march in September, a regiment whose solid quali- 
ties were afterwards proven on many a bloody field. 
Col. W's. commission bore the date of Sept. 8, 1862. 
Before parting with his family he made his will. His 
regiment was sent to Kentucky and quartered at 



Camp Wallace. He had at the breaking out of the 
war turned his attention to military studies and be- 
came proficient in the ordinary rules and discipline. 
His entire attention was now devoted to his duties. 
His treatment of his men was kind, though his disci- 
pline was rigid. He possessed in an eminent degree 
the spirit of command, and had he lived he would 
no doubt have distinguislied himself as a good 
officer. He was impatient of delay and chafed at 
being kept in Kentucky where there was so little 
prospect of getting at the enemy. But life in camp, 
so different from the one he had been leading, ana 
his incessant labors, coupled with that impatience 
which was so natural and so general among the vol- 
unteers in the early part of the war, soon made their 
influence felt upon his health. He was seized with 
typhoid fever and removed to a private house near 
Lexington. Every care which medical skill or the 
hand of friendship could bestow was rendered him. 
In the delirious wanderings of his mind he was dis- 
ciplining his men and urging them to be prepared for 
an encounter with the enemy, enlarging upon the jus- 
tice of their cause and the necessity of their crush- 
ing the Rebellion. But the source of his most poig- 
nant gnet was the prospect of not being able to come 
to a hand-to-hand encounter with the "chivalry." 
He was proud of his regiment, and felt that if it could 
find tlie enemy it would cover itself with glory, — a 
distinction it afterward obtained, but not until Col. W. 
was no more. The malady baffled all medical treat- 
ment, and on the 5th day of Jan., 1863, he breathed 
his last. His remains were removed to Michigan and 
interred in the cemetery at Pontiac, where they rest 
by the side of the brave Gen. Richardson, who re- 
ceived his mortal wound at the battle of Antietam. 
Col. ^V. was no adventurer, although he was doubtless 
ambitious of military renown and would have striven 
for it with characteristic energy. He went to the war 
to defend and uphold the principles he had so much 
at heart. Few men were more familiar than he with 
the causes and the underlying principles that led to 
the contest. He left a wife, who was a daughter of 
Gen. C. C. Hascall, of Flint, and four children to 
mourn his loss. Toward them he ever showed the 
tenderest regard. Next to his duty their love and 
welfare engrossed his thoughts. He was kind, gen- 
erous and brave, and like thousands of otheis he 
sleeps the sleep of the martyr for his cojntry. 




"^ (L4n-^^ 






GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



'45 





^«^!i__^-««aatt^ § 












USTIN BLAIR, Governor 
of Michigan from Jan. 2, 
1 86 1, to Jan. 4, 1865, and 
kown as the War tlovcrnor, is 
and illustration of the benifi- 
cent influence of rcpubHcan in- 
stitutions, having inherited neith- 
er fortune nor fame. He was born 
in a log cabin at Caroline, Tomp- 
kins Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1818. 
His ancestors came from Scot- 
land in the time of George I, and 
for many generations followed the 
pursuit of agriculture. His father, 
George Blair, settled in Tompkins 
County in 1S09, and felled the trees and erected the 
first cabin in the county. The last 60 of the four- 
score and four years of his life were spent on that 
spot. He married RhodaBlackman, who now sleeps 
with him in the soil of theold homestead. Thefirst 
17 years of his life were spent there, rendering his 
father what aid he could upon the farm. He then 
spent a year and a half in Cazenovia Seminary ])re- 
paring for college ; entered Hamilton College, in 
Clinton, prosecuted his studies until tiie middle of 
the junior year, when, attracted by the fame of T)r. 
Noit, he changed to Union College, from whicli he 
graduated in the class of 1839. Upon leaving col- 
iege Mr. Blair read law two years in the office of Sweet 
& Davis, Owego, N Y., and was admitted to jjractice 
iB id4i, and the same year moved to Michigan, locat- 



ing in Jackson. During a lemiwrary residence in 
Eaton Rapids, in 1842, he was elected Clerk of Eaton 
County. At the close of the official term he returned '.u 
Jackson, and as a Whig, zealously esjx)used the cause 
of Henry Clay in the campaign of 1844. He was chosen 
Representative to the Legislature in 1845, at which 
session, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, he 
rendered valuable service in the revision of the gen- 
eral statutes ; also made an able report in favor of 
abolishing the color distinction in relation to the elec- 
tive franchise, and at the same session was active in 
securing the abolition of capital punishment. In 1848 
Mr. Blair refused longer to affiliate with the Whig 
party, because of its refusial to endorse in convention 
any anti-slavery sentiment. He joined the Free-soil 
movement, and was a delegate to their convention 
which nominated Van Buren for President that year. 
Upon the birth of the Republican party at Jackson, 
in 1854, by the coalition of the Whig and Free-soil 
elements, Mr. Blair was in full sympathy with the 
movement, and acted as a member of the Committee 
on Platform. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney 
of Jackson County in 1852; was chosen State Senator 
two years later, taking his seat with the incoming Re- 
publican administration of 1855, and holding the 
position of parliamentary leader in the Senate. He 
was a delegate to the National Convention which 
nominated Abraham Lincoln in i860. Mr. Blair 
was elected Governor of Michigan in i860, and re- 
elected in 1862, faithfully and honorably discharging 
the arduous dutias of the office during that most mo- 



146 



AUSTIN BLAIR. 



mentous and stormy period of the Nation's life. Gov. 
Blair possessed a clear comprehension of the perilous 
situation from the inception of the Rebellion, and his 
inaugural address foreshadowed the prompt executive 
policy and the administrative ability which charac- 
terized his gubernatorial career. 

Never perhaps in the history of a nation has a 
brighter example been laid down, or a greater sacri- 
fice been made, than that which distinguished Mich- 
igan during the civil war. All, from the " War Gov- 
ernor," down to the poorest citizen of the State, were 
animated with a patriotic ardor at once magnificiently 
sublime and wisely directed. 

Very early in icS6i tlie coming struggle cast its 
shadow over the Nation. Governor Blaiv, in his mes- 
sage to the Legislature in January of that year, dwelt 
very forcibly upon the sad prospects of civil war; and 
as forcibly pledged the State to support the principles 
of the Republic. After a review of the conditions 
of the State, he passed on to a consideration of the 
relations between the free and slave Stales of the 
Republic, saying: " While we are citizens of the State 
of Michigan, and as such deeply devoted to her in- 
terests and honor, we have a still prouder title. We 
are also citizeas of the United States of America. By 
this title we are known among the nations of the earth. 
In remote quarters of the globe, where the names of 
the States are unknown, the flag of the great Republic, 
the banner of the stars and stripes, honor and protect 
her citizens. In whatever concerns the honor, the 
prosperity and the perpetuity of this great Govern- 
ment, we are deeply interested. The people of Mich- 
igan are loyal to that Government — faithful to its con- 
stitution and its laws. Under it they have had peace 
and prosperity; and under it they mean to abide to 
the end. Feeling a just pride in the glorious history 
of the past, they will not renounce the equally glo- 
rious hopes of the future. But they will nilly around 
the standards of the Nation and defend its integrity 
and its constitution, with fidelity." The final para- 
graph being: 
" I recommend you at an early day to make maiii- 



fest to the gentlemen who represent this State in the 
two Houses of Congress, and to the country, that 
Michigan is loyal to the Union, the Constitution, and 
the laws and will defend them to the uttermost ; and 
to proffer to the President of the United States, the 
whole military power of the State for that purpose. 
Oh, for the firm, steady hand of a Washington, or a 
Jackson, to guide the ship of State in this perilous 
storm ! Let us hope that we will find him on the 4th 
of March. Meantime, let us abide in the faith of our 
fathers — ' Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, 
now and forever.' " 

How this stirring appeal was responded to by the 
people of Michigan will be seen by the statement 
that the State furnished 88,1 1 1 men during the war. 
Money, men, clothing and food were freely and abun- 
dantly suijplied by this State during all these years of 
darkness and blood shed. No State won a brighter 
record for her devotion to our country than the Pen- 
insula State, and to Gov. Blair, more than to any 
other individual is due the credit for its untiring zeal 
and labors in the Nation's behalf, and for the heroism 
manifested in its defense. 

Gov. Blair was elected Representative to the 
Fortieth Congress, and twice re-elected, to the Forty- 
first and Forty-second Congress, from the Third Dis- 
trict of Michigan. While a member of that body he 
was a strong supporter of reconstruction measures, 
and sternly opposed every form of repudiation. His 
speech upon the national finances, delivered on the 
floor of the House March 21, 186S, was a clear and 
convincing argument. Since his retirement from Con- 
gress, Mr. Blair has been busily occupied with his ex- 
tensive law practice. Mr. Blair married Sarah L. 
Ford, of Seneca County N. Y., in February, 1849. 

Their family consists of 4 sons — George H., a postal 
clerk in the railway mail service; Charles A., partner 
with his father; Fred. J. and Austin T., at home. 

Governor Blair's religion is of the broad type, and 
centers in the "Golden Rule." In 1883, Gov. Blair 
was noinnatcd for Justice of the Suiirenie Court 
of the State by tin; Republican puty, but wns dcfeate<i: 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



149 









sq^£.^ 




ENRY ROWLAND CRAPO, 

Governor of Michigan from 
'1865 to 1869, was born May 
24, 1804, at Dartmouth, Bris- 
tol Co., Mass., and died at 
Flint, Mich., July 22, 1869. 
He was the eldest son of Jesse 
and Phoebe (Rowland) Crapo. 
Ris father was of French descent 
and was very poor, sustaining his 
) family by the cultivation of a farm in 
Dartmouth township, which yielded 
I nothing beyond a mere liveliiiood. 
Ris early life was consequently one 
of toil and devoid of advantages for 
intellectual culture, but his desire for 
an education seemed to know no bounds. The in- 
cessant toil for a mere subsistence upon a compara- 
tively sterile farm, had no charm for him ; and, longing 
for greater usefulness and better things, he looked for 
them in an education. Ris struggles to secure this 
end necessitated sacrifices and hardships that would 
have discouraged any but the most courageous and 
persevering. Re became an ardent student and 
worker from his boyhood, though the means of carry- 
ing on his studies were exceedingly limited. Re 
sorely felt the need of a dictionary; and, neither having 
money wherewith to i)urchase it, nor being able to 
procure one in his neighborhood, he set out to compile 
one for himself. In order to acquire a knowledge of 
the English language, he copied into a book every 
word whose meaning he did not comprehend, and 
upon meeting the same word again in the newspapers 
and bogHs, whiclj came into |iis hands, froiij the 



context, would then record the definition. Whenever 
unable otherwise to obtain the signification of a word 
in which he had become interested he would walk 
from Dartmouth to New Bedford for that purpose 
alone, and after referring to the books at tlie library 
and satisfymg himself thoroughly as to its definition, 
would walk back, a distance of about seven miles. 
the same night. This was no unusual circumstance. 
Under such difficulties and in this manner he com- 
piled quite an extensive dictionary in manuscrip*- 
which is believed to be still in existence. 

Ever in pursuit of knowledge, he obtained posses- 
sion of a book upon surveying, and applying himself 
diligently to its study became familiar with this art. 
which he soon had an opportunity to practice. The 
services of a land surveyor were wanted, and he was 
called upon, but had no compass and no money with 
which to purchase one. A compass, however, he 
must and would have, and going to a blacksmith shop 
near at hand, upon the forge, with such tools as he 
could find in the shop, while the smith was at dinner, 
he constructed the compass and commenced life as a 
surveyor. Still continuing his studies, he fitted him- 
self for teaching, and took charge of the village school 
at Dartmouth. When, in the course of time and un- 
der the pressure of law, a high school was to be 
opened, he passed a successful examination for its 
principalship and received the appointment. To do 
this was no small task. The law required a rigid 
examination in various subjects, which necessitated 
days and nights of study. One evening, after con- 
cluding his day's labor of teaching, he traveled on foot 
to New Bedford, some seven or eight miles, called 
upon the preceptor of Friend's Academy and passed 



«5o 



HENR Y 110 WLA NB CRAPO. 



a severe examination. Receiving a certificate that 
he was qualified, he waliied back to his home the 
same night, liighly elated in being jjossessed of the 
acquirements and re<iuirements of a master of the 
high school. 

In 1832, at the age of 28 years, he left his native 
town and went to reside at New Bedford, where he 
followed tlie occupation of land surve)or, and oc- 
casionally acted as an auctioneer Soon after becom- 
ing a citizen of this place, he was elected Town Clerk, 
Treasurer, and Collector of ta-\es, wliich office he held 
until the municipal government was changed, — about 
fifteen years, — when, upon the inauguration of the city 
government, he was elected Treasurer and Collector 
of taxes, a position which he held two or three years. 
He was also Justice of the Peace for many years. 
He was elected Alderman of New Bedford ; was 
Chairman of Council Committee on Education, and 
as such prepared a report upon which was based the 
order for the establishment of the free Public Library 
of New Bedford. On its organization, Mr. Crapo was 
chosen a member of the Board of Trustees. This 
was the first free public library in Massachusetts, if 
not in the world. The Boston Free Library was es- 
tablished, however, soon afterwards. While a resident 
in New Bedford, he was much interested in horticul- 
ture, and to obtain the land necessary for carrying out 
his ideas he drained and reclaimed several acres of 
rocky and swampy land adjoining his garden. Here 
he started a nursery, wliich he filled with almost every 
description of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, 
flowers, etc. In this he was very successful and took 
great pride. He was a regular contributorto the New 
England Horticultural Journal, a position he filled 
as long as he lived in Massachusetts. As an indica- 
tion of the wide rci)utation he acquired in that field 
of labor, it may be mentioned that after his death an 
affecting eulogy to his memory was pronounced by the 
President of the National Horticultural Society at its 
meeting in Philadelphia, in 1869. During his resi- 
dence in New Bedford, Mr. Crajx) was also engaged 
ia the whaling business. A fine barque built at Dart- 
mouth, of which he was part owner, was named the 
"H. H. Crapo" in compliment to him. 

Mr. C. also took part in the State Militia, and for 
several years held a commission as Colonel of one of 
the regiments. He was President of the Bristol 
County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Secretary of 
the Bedford Connnercial Insurance Company in New 
Bedford; and while an officer of the municipal gov- 
ernment he com piled and published, between the years 
1S36 and 1845, five numbers of the New Bedford 
Directory the first work of the kind ever published 
there. 

Mr. C. removed to Michigan in 1856, having been 
induced to do so by investments made principally in 
pine lands, first in 1837 and subsequently in 1856. 
He took up his residence in the city of Flint, and en- 



gaged largely in the manufacture and sale of lumber 
at Flint, Kentonvilie, Holly and Detroit, becoming 
one of the largest and most successful business men 
of the State. He was mainly instrumental in the 
construction of the Flint & Holly R. R., and was 
President of that corporation unlil its consolidation 
with the Flint & Pere Marquette R. R. Company. 
He was elected Mayor of that city after he had been 
a resident of the place only five cr six years. In 
1862 he was elected State Senator. In the fall of 
1864 he received the nomination on the Republican 
ticket for Governor of the State, and was elected by a 
large majority. He was re- elected in 1866, holding 
the office two terms, and retiring in January, i86g, 
having given the greatest satisfaction to all parties. 

While serving his last term he was attacked with a 
disease which terminated his life within one year 
afterwards. During much of this time he was an in- 
tense sufferer, yet often wliile in great pain gave his 
attention to public matters. A few weeks previous 
to his death a successful surgical operation was per- 
formed which seemed rajjidly to restore him, but he 
overestimated his strengtli, and by too much exertion 
in business matters and State affairs suffered arelapse 
from which there was no rebound, and he died July 
i^', 1869. 

In the early jiart of his life, Gov. Crapo affiliated 
with the Whig [larty in politics, but became an active 
member of the Republican party after its organization. 
He was a member of the Christian (sometimes called 
the l)iscii)les') Church, and took great interest in its 
welfare and prosperity. 

Mr. C. married, June 9, 1825, Mary A. Slocum, 
of Dartmouth. His marriage took place soon after 
he had attained his majority, and before his struggles 
with fortune had been rewarded with any great meas- 
ure of success. But his wife was a woman of great 
strength of character and possessed of courage, hope- 
fulness and devotion, qualities which sustained and 
encouraged her husband in the various pursuits of 
his early years. For several years after his marriage 
he was engaged in teaching school, his wife living 
with her parents at the tiine, at whose home his two 
older children were born. While thus situated he 
was accustomed to walk home on Saturday to see 
his family, returning on Sunday in order to be readv 
for school Monday morning. As the walk for a good 
part of the time was 20 miles each way, it is evitleiit 
that at that period of his life no cimimon obstacles 
deterred him from performing what he regarded 
as a duty. His wife was none the less consci- 
entious in her sphere, and with added responsibilities 
and increasing requirements she labored faithfully 
in the perfo'inance of all her duties. They had 
ten children, one son and nine daughters. His son, 
Hon. A\'m. W. Crapo, of New Bedford, is now an 
honored Representative to Congress from the First 
Congressiptial J)i5trict of Massachusetts. 







7 ?i 'M.-"^ n 




^i^S-i^t-^ Oy <^Cx^oC^>iy--h- 



goi'/-:rnors of micjiigan. 



'!).< 









ENRY P. BALDWIN, Gov- 
ernor of Michigaa from Jan. 
*4, 1869, to Jan. I, 1873, is a 
lineal descendant of Nathan- 
iel Baldwin, a Puritan, of Buck- 
inghamshire, England, who set- 
tled at Milford, Conn., in 1639. 
His father was John Baldwin, 
a graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege. He died at North Provi- 
dence, R. I., in 1826. His 
paternal grandfather was Rev. 
Moses Baldwin, a graduate of 
Princeton College, in 1757, and the 
first who received collegiate hon- 
ors at that ancient and honored institution. He died 
at Parma, Mass., in 18 13, where for more than 50 
years he had been pastor of the Presbyterian Churcli. 
On his mother's side Governor B. is descended from 
Robert Williams, also a Puritan, who settled in Ro.x- 
burj', Mass., about 1C38. His mother was a daughter 
of Rev. Nehemiah Williams, a graduate of Harvard 
College, who died at Brimfield, Mass., in 1796, where 
for 21 years he was pastor of the Congregationalist 
Church. The subject of this sketcli was born at 
Coventry, R. I., Feb. 22, 1814. He received a New 
England common-school education until tlie age of 
12 years, when, both his parents having died, he be- 
came a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He re- 
mained there, employing his leisure hours in study, 
until 20 years of age. 

At this early period Mr. B. engaged in business on 
his own account. He made a visit to the West, in 
1837, which resulted in his removal to Detroit in the 
spring of i8-?8. Here he established a mercantile 
house which has been successfully conducted until 
the present time. Although he successfully conducted 



a large business, he has ever taken a dee)) interest in 
all things affecting the prosperity of the city and 
State of his adoption. He was for several years a 
Director and President of the Detroit Young Men's 
•Society, an institution with a large library desigi-.ed 
for the benefit of young men and citizens generally. 
An Episcopalian in religious belief, he has been 
prominent in home matters connected with that de- 
nomination. The large and nourishing parish of St. 
John, Detroit, originated with Governor Baldwin, who 
gave the lot on which the parish edifice stands, and 
also contributed the larger share of the cost of their 
erection. Governor B. was one of the foremost in 
tJie establishment of St. Luke's Hospital, and has 
always been a liberal contributor to moral and relig- 
ious enterprises whether connected with his own 
Church or not. There have been, in fact, but few 
public and social improvements of Detroit during the 
past 40 years with wliich Governor B.'s name is not 
in some way connected. He was a director in the 
Michigan State Bank until the ex|)iration of its char- 
ter, and has been President of the Second National 
Bank since its organization. 

In i860, Mr. Baldwin was elected to the State 
Senate, of Michigan ; during the years of i86i-'2 he 
was made Chairman of the Finance Committee, a 
member of Committee on Banks and Incorporations 
Chairman of the Select Joint Committee of the twa 
Houses for the investigation of the Treasury Depart- 
ment and the official acts of the Treasurer, and of 
the letting of the contract for the improvement f>f 
Sault St. Mane Ship Canal. He was first elected 
Governor in 1868 and was re-elected in 1870, serving 
from 1S69 to 1872, inclusive. It is no undeserved 
eulogy to say that Governor B.'s happy faculty of es- 
timating the necessary means to an end — the knowing 
of how mucli effort or attention to bestow \\\k>\-\ the 
thing in hand, has been tlie secret of the uniform 



IfA 



HENR Y P. BALD WIN. 



success that has attended his efforts in all relations 
of life. The same industry and accuracy that dis- 
tinguished him prior to this term as Governor was 
manifest in his career as the chief magistrate of the 
State, and while his influence appears in all things 
with which he has had to do, it is more noticeable in 
the most prominent position to which he was called. 
With rare exceptions the important commendations 
of Governor B. received the sanction of the Legislat- 
ure. During his administration marked improve- 
ments were made in the charitable, penal and reforma- 
tory institutions of the State. The State Public School 
for dependent children was founded and a permanent 
commission for the supervision of the several State 
institutions. The initiatory steps toward building the 
Eastern Asylum for the Insane, the State House of 
Correction, and the establishment of the State Board 
of Health were recommended by Governor B. in his 
message of 1873. The new State Capitol also owes 
its origen to him. The appropriation for its erection 
was made upon his recommendation, and the contract 
for the entire work let under this administration. 
Governor B. also appointed the commissioners under 
whose faithful supervision the building was erected in 
a manner most satisfactory to the people of the State. 
He advised and earnestly urged at different times 
such amendments of the constitution as would per- 
mit a more equitable compensation to State officers 
and judges. Thelawof 1869, and prior also, permitting 
municipalities to vote aid toward the construc- 
lion of railroads was, in 1870, declared unconstitu- 
tional by the Supreme Court. Many of the munici- 
palities having in the meantime issued and sold their 
bonds in good faith. Governor B. felt that the iionor 
and credit of the State were in Jeopardy. His sense 
of justice impelled him to call an e.xtra session of the 
Legislature to propose the submission to the people a 
constitutional amendment, authorizing the payment 
of such bonds as were already in the hands of hoiia- 
fidc holders. In his special message he says : "The 
credit of no State stands higher than that of Michigan, 
and the people can not afford, and I trust will not 
consent, to have her good name tarnished by the repu- 
diation of either legal or moral obligations." A spe- 
cial session was called in March, 1872, principally for 
the division of the State into congressional districts. 
A number of other important suggestions were made, 
however, ard as an evidence of tlie Governor's la- 
borious and thoughtful care for the financial condition 



of the State, a series of tables was prepared and sub- 
mitted by him showing, in detail, estimates of receipts, 
expenditures and appropriations for the years 1872 to 
1878, inclusive. Memorable of Governor B.'s admiur 
istration were the devastating fires which swept over 
many portions of the Northwest in the fall of 187: 
A large part of the city of Chicago having been re- 
duced to ashes, Governor B. promptly issued a proc- 
lamation calling upon the people of Michigan for 
liberal aid in behalf of the afflicted city. Scarcely had 
this been issued when several counties in his State 
were laid waste by the same destroying element. 
A second call was made asking assistance for the suf- 
fering people of Michigan. The contributions for 
these objects were prompt and most liberal, more than 
§700,000 having been received in money and supplies 
for the relief of Michigan alone. So ample were 
these contributions during the short period of abou' 
3 months, that the Governor issued a proclamation 
expressing in behalf of the people of the State grate- 
ful acknowldgment, and announcing that further 
aid was unnecessary. 

Governor B. has traveled extensively in his own 
country and has also made several visits to Europe 
and other portions of the Old World. He was a pas- 
senger on the Steamer Arill, which was captured and 
bonded in the Carribean Sea, in December, 1862, by 
Capt. Semmes, and wrote a full and interesting ac- 
count of the transaction. The following estimate of 
Governor B. on his retirement from office, by a leading 
newspaper, is not overdrawn: "The retiiing message 
of Governor B., will be read with interest. It is 
a characteristic document and possesses the lucid 
statement, strong, and clear practical sense, which 
have been marked features of all preceding documents 
from the same source. Governor B. retired to private 
life after four years of unusually successful adminis- 
tration amid plaudits that are universal throughout the 
State. For many years eminent and capable men 
have filled the executive chair of this State, but in 
painstaking vigilance, in stern good sense, ingeruine 
public spirit, in thorough integrity and in practical 
capacity, Henry P. Baldwin has shown himself to be 
the peer of any or all of them. The State has been un- 
usually prosperous during his two terms, and the State 
administration has fully kept pace with the needs of 
the times. Tlie retiring Governor has fully earned 
the public gratitude and confidence which he to-day 
imssesses to such remarkable decree, ' 



GO VERNORS OF ^MICHIGAN. 



'57 




JOHN J. BAeiLEl' 







""^ife 



^ 




OHN JUDSON BAGLEY, 
II^Governor of Michigan from 
1 87 3 to 1877, was born in 
Medina, Orleans Co., N. Y., 
July 24, 1832. His father, John 
Bagley, was a native of New 
Hampshire, his mother, Mary M. 
Bagley, of Connecticut. He at- 
tended the district school of Lxjck- 
port, N. Y., until he was eight years 
old, at which time his father moved 
to Constantine, Mich., and he at- 
tended the common schools of that 
village. His early ex[)erience was 
like that of many country boys whose 
parents removed from Eastern States 
to the newer jwrtion of the West. 
.^ His father being in very jxjor circum- 
ifi'ifl Stances, Mr. B. was obliged to work 
as soon as he was able to do so. 
Leaving school when 13 years of age 
he entered a country store in Constan- 
tine as clerk. His father then re- 
moved toOwosso, Mich.,and he again 
engaged as clerk in a store. From 
early youth Mr. B. was extravagantly fond of reading 
and devoted every leisure moment to the perusal of 
such books, papers and periodicals as came within 
his reach. In 1847, he removed to Detroit, where he 
secured employment in a tobacco manufactory and 
remained in this position for about five years. 

In 1853, he began business for himself in the man- 
ufacturing of tgbaccQ. His establishment has become 



one of the largest of the kind in the West. Mr. B. 
has also been greatly interested in other manufactur- 
ing enterprises, as well as in mining, banking and in- 
surance corporations. He was President of the 
Detroit Safe Company for several years. He was one 
of the organizers of the Michigan Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company of Detroit, and was its President from 
1867 to 1872. He was a director of the Amer- 
ican National Bank for many years, and a stock- 
holder and director in various otlier corporations. 
Mr. B. was a member of the Board of Education two 
years, and of the Detroit Common Council the same 
length of time. In 1865 he was ap[)ointcd by Gover- 
nor Cra])0 one of the first commissioners of the 
Metropolitian police force of the city of Detroit, serv- 
ing six years. In November, 1872, he was elected 
Governor of Michigan, and two years later was re- 
elected to the same office, retiring in January, 1877. 
He was an active worker in the Republican party, and 
for many years was Chairman of tlie Republican 
State Central committee. 

Governor Bagley was quite liberal in his religious 
views and was an attendant of the Unitarian Church. 
He aimed to be able to hear and consider any new 
thought, from whatever source it may come, but was not 
bound liy any religious creed or formula. He held 
in respect all religious opinions, believing that no one 
can be injured by a firm adherence to a faith or de- 
nomination. He was married at Dubuque, Iowa, Jan. 
j6, 1855, to Frances E. Newberry, daughter of Rev. 
Samuel Newberry, a pioneer missionarj' of Michigan, 
who took an active part in the early educational mat- 
ters of the State and in the establishment of its ex- 
cellent system of education, It was principally 



•S8 



JOHN J. BAGLEY. 



through his exertions that the State University was 
founded. Mr. B.'s family consists of seven children. 
As Governor his administration was charac- 
terized by several iniixirtant features, chief among 
which were his efforts to improve and make popular 
tlie educational agencies of the Slate by increasing 
the faculty of the University for more thorough in- 
struction in technical studies,by strengthening the hold 
of the Agricultural College u^xsn the public good will 
and making the general change which has manifested 
itself in many scattered primary districts. Among 
others were an almost complete revolution in the 
inanagement of the penal and charitable institutions 
of the State; the passage of the liquor-tax law, taking 
the place of the dead letter of prohibition; the estab- 
lishing of the system of dealing with juvenile offend- 
ers through county agents, which has proved of great 
good in turning the young back from crime and plac- 
ing the State in the attitude of a moral agent ; in se- 
curing for the militia the first time in the histoi-y of 
Michigan a systematized organization upon a service- 
able footing. It was u^xju the suggestion of Gov. B. 
in the earlier part of his administration that the law 
creating the State Board of Health, and also tlie law 
creating a fish commission in the inland waters of the 
State, were passed, both of which have proved of great 
benefit to the State. The successful representation 
of Michigan at the Centennial Exhibition is also an 
honorable part of the record of Gov. B.'s adminis- 
tration. 

As Governor, he felt that he represented the State 
— not in a narrow, egotistical way, but in the same 
sense that a faithful, trusted, confidential agent rep- 
resents his employer, and as the Executive of the 
State he was her "attorney in fact." And his intelli- 
gent, thoughtful care will long continue the pride of 
the people he so much loved. He was ambitious — 
ambitious for place and power, as every noble mind 
is ambitious, because these give opiX)rtunity. How- 
ever strong the mind and {X)werful the will, if tliere 
be no ambition, life is a failure. He was not blind to 
the fact that the more we have the more is required 
of us. He accepted it in its fullest meaning. He 
had great hopes for his State and his country. He had 
his ideas of what they should be. With a heart as 
broad as humanity itself; with an intelligent, able and 
cultured brain, the will and the ]X)wer to do, he 
asked his fellow citizen to give him the opportunity to 
labor for them. Self entered not intg the calculation, 



His whole life was a battle for others; and he entered 
the conflict eagerly and hopefully. 

His State papers were models of compact, busi- 
ness-like statements, bold, original, and brimful of 
practical suggestions, and his administrations will long 
be considered as among the ablest in this or any 
other State. 

His noble, generous nature made his innumerable 
benefactions a source of continuous pleasure. Liter- 
ally, to him it was " more blessed to give than to 
receive." 

His greatest enjoyment was in witnessing the com- 
fort and happiness of others. Not a tithe of his char- 
ities were known to his most intimate friends, or even 
to his family. Many a needy one has been the recipi- 
ent of aid at an opportune moment, who never knew 
the hand that gave. 

At one time a friend had witnessed his ready re- 
sponse to some charitable request, and said to him: 
"Governor, you give away a large sum of money ; aboul 
liow much does your charities amount to in a year.'' 
H'" turned at once and said: "I do not know, sir; I 
do not allow myself to know. I hope I gave more 
tliis year than I did last, and hope I shall give mori- 
next year than I have this." This expressed his idea 
of charity, that tlie giving should at all times be tree 
and sjontaneous. 

During his leasure hours from early life, and espe- 
cially during the last few years, he devoted much time 
to becoming acquainted with the best authors. Biog- 
ra|)hy was his delight ; the last he read was the "Life 
and Woik of John Adams," in ten volumes. 

In all questions of business or public affairs he 
seemed to have the iMwer of getting at the kernel of 
the nut in the least possible time. In reading he 
would spend scarcely more. time with a volume than 
most persons would devote to a chapter. After what 
seemed a cursory glance, he would have all of value 
the book contained. Rarely do we see a business 
man so familiar with the best English authors. He 
was a generous and intelligent patron of the arts, and 
his elegant home was a study and a pleasure 
to his many friends, who always found there a 
hearty welcome. At Christmas time he would spend 
days doing the work of Santa Claus. Every Christmas 
eve he gathered his children about him and, taking 
the youngest on his lap, told some Christmas stor)', 
closing the cntev'ainniciit with "The Night Before 
Chrislmas," or Dickens's "Christmas Carol." 




f^>-<-->) 







GOVERNORS OF MJCIIIGAN. 



161 







i -vcj2£i2/®^«s"*""*<f ' '-' <r<^i^' 




^:|e^c«»*^»>'^^w^^i/3W)*v~a^itf» ' 




HARLES M. CROSWELI., 
3} Governor of Michigan from 
" Jan. 3, 1877 to Jan. i, 1881, 
was l)orn at Newburg, Orange 
County, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1825. 
He is the only son of John and 
Sallie (Hicks) Croswell. His 
father, who was of Scotch-Irish 
e.xtraction, was a [laper-nuiker, 
and carried on liiisiness in New 
York City. His ancestors on 
his mother's side were of Knicker- 
bocker descent. The Croswell 
family may be found connected 
with prominent events, in New York 
and Connecticut, in the eaity exis- 
tence of the RepuDlic. Harry Oos- 
well, during the administration of 
President Jefferson, published a pa- 
per called tiic lialaiue, and was 
prosecuted for libeling the President 
under the obnoxious Sedition Law. 
He was defended by the celebrated 
Alexander Hamilton, and the decis- 
is, jf the case establised the important ruling that 
tht trutii niiglit be shown in cases of libel. Another 
member of the family was Kdwin Croswell, the fam- 
ous editor of the Albany Ari;us ; also. Rev. William 
Croswell, noted as a divine and ixiet. 

When Charles M. Croswell was seven years of age, 
his father was accidentally drowned in the Hudson 
River, at Newburg ; and, within three months preced- 
ing that event, his mother and only sister had died, — 
thus leaving him the sole surviving member of the 
family, without fortune or means. Upon the death 



of his father he went to live with an uncle, who, in 
1837, emigrated with him to Adrain, Michigan. At 
si,\teen years of age, he commenced to learn the car- 
penter's trade, and worked at it very diligently for 
four years, maintaining himself, and devoting his si)are 
lime to reading and tiie ac(iuirement of knowledge. 
In 1846, he began the study of law, and was ai)- 
pointed Deputj Clerk of Lenawee County. The du- 
ties of this office he performed four years, when he 
was elected Register of Deeds, and was re-elected 
in 1852. In 1854, hetook part in the first movements 
tor the formation of tlie Republican party, and was a 
member and Secretary of the convetion held at Jack- 
son in that year, which put in the field the first Re- 
publican State ticket in Michigan. In 1855, he 
tcirnied a law partnersiiip with the present Chief-Jus- 
tice Cooley, which continued until the removal of 
Judge Cooley to Ann Arbor. 

In 1862, Mr. Croswell was appointed City Attorney 
of Adrian. He was also elected Mayor of the city 
in the spring of the same year; and in the fall was 
chosen to reijresent Lenawee County in the State 
Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1864, 
anil again in 1866, during each term filling the i)osi- 
tions above mentioned. Among various rejiorts made 
by him, one adverse to the re-establishment of the 
death penalty, and another against a proinasition to 
pay the salaries of State officers and judges in coin, 
which then commanded a very large premium, may 
be mentioned. He also drafted the act ratifying the 
Thirteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution, 
for the abolishment of slavery, it being the first 
amendment to the instrument ratified by Michigan. 
In 1863, from his seat in the State Senate, he de- 
livered an elaborate speech in favor of the Proclama- 



CHARLES M. CRO SWELL 



tion of Emancipation issued by President Lincoln, 
and of his general policy in the prosecution of the 
war. This, at the request of his Republican associ- 
ates, was afterwards puljlished. In 1867, lie was 
elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, 
and chosen its presiding officer. This convention 
was composed of an aljle body of men ; and though, 
in the general distrust of constitutional changes 
wliich for some years had been taking possession of 
the people, their labors were not accepted by the pop- 
ular vote, it was always conceded that the constitu- 
tion they proposed had been prepared with great care 
and skill. 

In 1868, Mr. Croswell was chosen an Elector on 
the Republican Presidential ticket; in 1872, was 
elected a Representative to the State Legislature 
from Lenawee County, and was chosen Speaker of 
the House of Representatives. At the close of the 
session of that body his abilities as a parliamentarian, 
and the fairness of his rulings were freely and form- 
ally acknowledged by his associates ; and he was pre- 
sented with a superb collection of their portraits 
handsomely framed. He was, also, for several years. 
Secretary of the State Board for the general supervis- 
ion of the charitable and penal institutions of Michi- 
gan ; in which position, his propositions for the amel- 
ioration of the condition of the unfortunate, and the 
reformation of the criminal classes, signalize the be- 
nevolence of his nature, and the practical character 
of his mind. 

In 1876, the general voice of the Republicans of 
the State indicted Mr. Croswell as their choice for 
Gove/nor; and, at the State Convention of the party 
in August of the same year, he was put in nomination 
by acrlamation, without the formality of a ballot. At 
the election in November following, he was chosen to 
the high position for which he had been nominated, 
by a very large majority over all opposing candidates. 
His inaugural message was received with general 
favor; and his career as Governor was marked with 
the same qualities of head and heart that hiive ever 
distinguished him, both as a citizen and statesman. 



Governor Groswell has always prepared his ad- 
dresses with care; and, as his diction is terse, clear, 
and strong, without excess of ornament, and his de- 
livery impressive, he is a popular speaker; and many 
of his speeches have attracted favorable comment in 
the public prints, and have a permanent value. He 
has always manifested a deep interest in educational 
matters, and was for years a member and Secretary of 
the Board of Education of Adrain. At the formal 
opening of the Central School building in that city, 
on the 24th day of April, 1869, he gave, in a public 
address, an " Historical Sketch of the Adrian Public 
Schools." 

In his private life. Governor Croswell has been as 
exemplary as in his public career he has been suc- 
cessful and useful. In February, 1852, he was mar- 
ried to a daughter of Morton Eddy, Lucy M. Eddy, 
a lady of many amiable and sunny qualities. She 
suddenly died, March 19, i868, leaving two daugh- 
ters and a son. Governor Croswell is not a member 
of any religious body, but generally attends the Pres- 
byterian Church. He pursues the profession of law, 
but of late has been occupied mainly in the care of his 
own interests, and the quiet duties of advice in 
business difficulties, for which his unfailing pru- 
dence and sound judgment eminently fit him. Gov- 
ernor Croswell is truly ix)pular, not only with those of 
like political faith with himself, but with those who 
differ from him in this regard. 

During Gov. Croswell's administration the public 
debt was greatly reduced; a policy adopted requiring 
the State institutions to keep within the limit of ap*- 
propriations; laws enacted to provide more effectually 
for the punishment of corruption and bribrery in elec- 
tions; the State House of Correction at Ionia and the 
Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac were opened 
and the new capital at Lansing was completed and 
occupied. The first act of his second term was to pre- 
side at the dedication of this building. The great riot 
at Jackson occured during his administration, and it 
was only bv his promptness that great distruclion of 
both life and property was prevented at that time. 



GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



'65 




IkU'M'.j.jt.^ . 




^■^««^'w^i3' 



•;-SpV"r"V"*'*T%n"+"+"Tr'?%'"+" Y%"'+' %'"+'¥T'-f'T ¥ ¥4' "^^^^ 






iHHm |], ^^^i\om^» 






,;.k»". 

h.-MiAjM i»ta..t.t^t-»t.,.t.wt.4A-».A 



^W^ 



^ 




'■«ir<t>,^^^- 







DAVID H. JEROME, Gover- 
^,>nor of from Jan. i, 1881, to 
Jan. I, 1883, was born at De- 
troit, Mich., Nov. !7, 1829. 
His parents emigrated to 
Michigan from Trumansburg, 
Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1828, 
locating at Detroit. His father 
died March 30, 183 1, leaving 
nine children. He had been 
twice married, and four of the 
children living at the time of his 
death were grown up sons, the off- 
spring of his first union. Of the 
five children by his second marriage, David H. was 
the youngest. Shortly after Mr. Jerome's death, his 
widow moved back to New York and settled in 
Onondaga County near Syracuse, where they remained 
until the fall of 1834, the four sons by the first wife 
continuing their residence in Michigan. In the fall 
of 1834, Mrs. Jerome came once more to Michigan, 
locating on a farm in St. Clair County. Here tlie 
Governor formed those habits of industry and ster- 
ling integrity that have been so characteristic of the 
man in the active duties of life. He was sent to the 
district school, and in the acquisition of tlie funda- 
mental branches of learning he displayed a precocity 
and an application which won for him the admiration 
of his teachers, and always placed him at the head 
of his classes. In the meantime he did chores on 
the farm, and was always ready with a cheerful heart 
and willing hand to assist his widowed mother. The 
heavy labor of the farm was carried on by his two 



older brothers, Timothy and George, and when 13 
years of age David received his mother's permission to 
attend school at the St. Clair Academy. While attend- 
ing there he lived with Marcus H. Miles, now de- 
ceased, doing chores for his board, and the following 
winter performed the same service for James Ogden, 
also deceased. The next summer Mrs. Jerome 
moved into the village of St. Clair, for the purix)se of 
continuing her son in school. While attending said 
academy one of his associate students was Sena- 
tor Thomas W. Palmer, of Detroit, a rival candidate 
before the gubernatorial convention in 1880. He 
com[)leted his education in the fall of his i6th year, 
and the following winter assisted his brotiier Timothy 
m hauling logs in the pine woods. The next summer 
he rafted logs down the St. Clair River to Algonac. 

In 1847, M. H. Miles beingClerkinSt. Clair Coun- 
ty, and Volney A. Ripley Register of Deeds, David 
H. Jerome was appointed Deputy to each, remaining 
as such during i848-'49, and receiving much praise 
from his employers and the people in general for the 
ability displayed in the discharge of iiis duties. He 
spent his summer vacation at clerical work on board 
the lake vessels. 

In i849-'5o, he abandoned office work, and for the 
proper development of his physical system spent 
several months hauling logs. In the spring of 1850, 
his brother "Tiff" and himself chartered the steamer 
"Chautauqua," and "Young Dave" became her mas- 
ter, k portion of the season the boat was engaged 
in the passenger and freight traffic between Port 
Huron and Detroit, but during the latter part was 
used as a tow boat. At that time there was a serious 
obstruction to navigation, known as the "St. Clair 
Flats," between Lakes Huron and Erie, over which 



1 66 



DA VI D H. JEROME. 



vessels could carry only about 10,000 bushels of grain. 
Mr. Jerome conceived the idea of towing vessels 
from one lake to tlie other, and put his plan into 
ojjeratioii. Tluoagh the intluence of practical men, — 
among tliem tlie subject of this sketch, — Congress 
removed tlie obstruction above referred to, and now 
vessels can jiass them laden with 60,000 or 80,000 
bushels of grain. 

During the season, the two brothers succeeded 
in making a neat little sum of money by the sum- 
mer's work, but subsequently lost it all on a contract 
to raise the "Gen. Scott," a ves'sel that had sunk in 
Lake St. Clair. David H. came out free from debt, 
but possessed of hardly a dollar of capital. In the 
spring of 185 i, he was clerk and acting master of the 
steamers "Franklin Moore" and "Ruby," plying be- 
tween Detroit and Port Huron and Goderich. The 
following year lie was clerk of tlio propeller "Prince- 
ton." running between Detroit and Buflalo. 

In January, 1853, Mr. Jerome went to California, 
oy way of the Isthmus, and enjoyed extraordinary 
success in selling goods in a new place of his selec- 
tion, among the mountains near Marysville He re- 
mained there during tlie summer, and located the 
Live Yankee Tunnel Mine, which has since yielded 
millions to its owners, and is still a paying investment. 
He i)lanned and put a tunnel 600 feet into the mine, 
but when the water supply began to fail with the dry 
season, sold out his interest. He left in the fall of 
1S53, and in December sailed from San Francisco for 
New York, arriving at his home in St. C'lair County, 
about a year after his departure. During his absence 
his brother "Tiff" had located at Saginaw, ana in 
1854 Mr. Jerome joined him in his lumber o[ierations 
in the valley. In 1S55 the brothers bought Black- 
mer & Eaton's hardware and general supply stores, 
at Saginaw, and David H. assumed the management 
of the business. From 1855 to 1873 he was also ex- 
tensively engaged in lumbering operations. 

Soon after locating at Saginaw he was nominated 
for Alderman against Stewart \\. Williams, a rising 
young man, of strong Democratic principles. The 
ward was largely Democratic, but Mr. Jerome was 
elected by a handsome majority. When the Repub- 
iican party was born at Jackson, Mich., David H. 
Jerome was, though not a delegate to the convention, 
one of its "charter members." In 1862, he was com- 
missioned by Gov. Austin Blair to raise oive of the 



six regiments apportioned to the State of Michigan. 
Mr. Jerome immediately went to work and held 
meetings at various points. The zeal and enthusiasm 
displayed by this advocate of the Union awakened a 
feeling of ])atriotic interest in the breasts of many 
brave men, and in a short space of time the 23d 
Regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry was placed 
in the field, and subsequently gained for itself a bril- 
liant record. 

In the fall of 1862, Mr. Jerome was nominated by 
the Republican party for State Senator from the 26th 
district, Appleton Stevens, of Bay City, being his op- 
ponent. Tlie contest was very exciting, and resulted 
in tlie triumphant election of Mr. Jerome. He was 
twice renominated and elected both times by in- 
creased majorities, defeating George Lord, of Bay 
City, and Dr. Cheseman, of Gratiot County. On tak- 
ing his seat in the Senate, he was apix)inted Chair- 
man of the Committee on State Affairs, and was ac- 
tive in raising means and troops to carry on the war. 
He held the same position during his three terms of 
service, and introduced the bill creating the Soldiers' 
Home at Harper Hospital, Detroit. 

He was selected by Gov. Crapo as a military aid, 
and in 1865 was ap[X)inted a member of the State 
Military Board, and served as its President for eight 
consecutive years. In 1873, he was apiK)intcd by 
Gov. Bagley a member of the convention to prejiare 
a new State Constitution, and was Chairman of the 
Committee on Finance. 

In 1875, Mr. Jerome was appointed a member of 
the Board of Indian Commissioners. In I876 he was 
Chairman of a commission to visit Chief Joseph, the 
Nez Perce Indian, to arrange an amicable settlement 
of all existing difficulties. The commission went to 
Portland, Oregon, thence to the Blue Hills, in Idaho, 
a distance of 600 miles up the Columbia River. 

At the Republican State Convention, convened at 
Jackson in August, 1880, Mr. Jerome was placed in 
the field for nomination, and on the 5 th day of the 
month received the highest honor the convention 
could confer on any one. His opiwnent was Freder- 
ick M. Hollow.av of Hillsdale County, who was sui>- 
jwrted by the Democratic and Greenback parties. 
The State was thoroughly canvassed by both parties, 
and when the jiolls were closed on the evening of 
election day, it was found that Daviil H. Jerome had 
been selected by the voters of tlie Wolverine State to 
occupy the highest jxDsition within their gift. 







Q^cTL-io^ 9ir i 




COVERXORS OF MICHIGAN 



169 





JOSIAH W. BEGfEi 



^ 






>" ® 



3 =^*''"l^'s('^s'-«^ 





^ ■ i.T^Tffll OSIAH W. BEGOLE, the 
• m^liresent (1883), Ciovernor of 
I?) Michigan was born in Living- 
ston, County, N. Y., Jan. 20, 
1815. His ancestors were of 
French descent, and settled at 
-^ an early period in the State of 
Maryland. His grandfather, Capt. 
Bolles, of that State, was an offi- 
cer in the American army during 
il the warof the RevoUition. .\bout 
the beginning of the present cent- 
ury both his grandparents, having 
)ecome dissatisfied with the insti- 
tution of slavery, although slave- 
holders themselves, emigrated to 
Livingston County, N. Y., then 
a new country, taking with them a 
number of their fomier slaves, who 
volunteered to accompany them. 
His father was an officer in l!ie 
American army, and served during 
the war of 18 12. 
Mr. B. received his early education in a log school- 
house, and subsequently attended the Temple Hill 
Academy, at Gencseo, N. Y. Being the eldest of a 
family of ten children, whose parents were in moder- 
ate though comfortable circumstances, he was early 
taught haljits of iudus'ry, and when 21 years of age, 
being ambitious to better liis condition in life, he re- 
solved to seek his fortune i;i the far West, as it was 



then called. In August, 1836, he left the parental 
roof to seek a home in the Territory of Michigan 
then an almost unl)roken wilderness. He settled in 
Genesee County, and aided with his own hands iu 
building some of the early residences in what is now 
known as the city of Flint. There were but four or 
five houses where this flourishing city now stands 
when he selected it as his home. 

In the spring of 1839 he married Miss Harriet A. 
Miles. The marriage proved a most fortunate one, 
and to the faitliful wife of his youth, who lives to en- 
joy with him the comforts of an honestly earned com- 
petence, Mr. Begole ascribes largely his success in 
life. Immediately after his marriage he commenced 
work on an unimproved farm, where, by his jjerse- 
verance and energy, he soon established a good home, 
and at the end of eigliteen years was the owner of a 
well improved farm of five hundred acres. 

Mr. Begole being an anti-slavery man, became a 
member of the Re[)ublican party at its organization. 
He served his townsmen in various offices, and was 
in 1856, elected County Treasurer, which office he 
held for eight years. 

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he did not 
carry a musket to the front, but his many friends will 
bear witness that he took an active part iu recruiting 
and furnishing sujiplies for the army, and in looking 
after the interests of soldiers' funilies at home. The 
death of his eldest son near .'\llanta, Ga., by .1 Confed- 
rate bullet, in 1864, was the greatest sorrow of his life. 
When a few years Liter lie was a member in Congress 



170 



JOSIAH W. BEGOLE, 



Gov. Begole voted and worked for the soldiers' 
bounty equalization bill, an act doing justice to the 
soldier who bore the burden and heat of the day, and 
who should fare equally with him who came in at the 
eleventh hour. That bill was defeated in the House 
on account of the large appropriation that would be 
required to pay the same. 

In 1870, Gov. Begole was nominated by acclama- 
tion for the office of State Senator, and elected by a 
large majority. In that body he served on the Com- 
mittees of Finance and Railroads, and was Chairman 
of the Committee on the Institute for the Deaf and 
Dumb and Blind. He took a liberal and public- 
spirited view of the importance of a new capitol 
building worthy of the State, and was an active mem- 
ber of the Committee that drafted the bill for the 
same He was a delegate to the National Republi- 
can Convention held at Philadelphia in 1872, and 
was the chosen member of that delegation to go to 
Washington and inform Gen. Grant and Senator 
Wilson of their nominations. It was while at that 
convention that, by the express wish of his many 
friends, he was induced to offer himself a can- 
didate for the nomination of member to the 43d Con- 
gress, in which he was successful, after competing for 
the nomination with several of the most worthy, able 
and experienced men in the Sixth Congressional Dis- 
trict, and was elected by a very large majority. In 
Congress, he was a member of the Committee on 
Agricultural and Public Expenditures. Being one of 
the 17 farmers in that Congress, he took an active 
part in the Committee of Agriculture, and was ap- 
pointed by that committee to draft the most impor- 
tant report made by that committee, and upon the 
only subject recommended by the President in his 
message, which he did and the report was printed in 
records of Congress ; he took an efficient though an 
unobtrusive part in all its proceedings. 

He voted for the currency bill, remonetization of 
silver, and other financial measures, many of which, 
though defeated then, have since become the settled 
policy of the country. Owing to the position which 
Mr. Begole occupied on these questions, he became a 
"Greenbacker." 

In the (jubernatorial election of 1882, Mr. Begole 
was the candidate of both the Greenback and Dem- 
ocratic parties, and was elected by a vote of 154,269, 
the Republican candidate, Hon. David H. Jerome, 



receiving 149,697 votes. Mr. Begole, in entering 
upon his duties as Governor, has manifested a spirit 
that has already won him many friends, and bids fair 
to make his administration both successful and pop- 
ular. 

The very best indications of what a man is, is what 
his own townsmen think of him. We give the fol- 
lowing extract from the Flint Globe, the leading Re- 
publican paper m Gov. Begole's own county, and it, 
too, written during the heat of a political campaign, 
which certainly is a flattering testimonial of his ster- 
ling worth : 

" So far, however, as Mr. Begole, the head of the 
ticket, is concerned, there is nothing detrimental to 
his character that can be alleged against him. He 
has sometimes changed his mind in politics, but for 
sincerity of his beliefs and the earnestness of hispur^ 
pose nobody who knows him entertains a doubt. He 
is incapable of bearing malice, even against his bit- 
terest political enemies. He has a warm, generous 
nature, and a larger, kinder heart does not beat in 
the bosom of any man in Michigan. He is not much 
aiven to making speeches, but deeds are more signif- 
icant of a man's character than words. There are 
many scores of men in all parts of the State where 
Mr. Begole is acquainted, who have had practical 
demonstrations of these facts, and who are liable to 
step outside of party lines to show that they do not 
forget his kindness, and who, no doubt, wish that he 
was a leader in what would not necessarily prove a 
forlorn hope. But the Republican party in Michigan 
is too strong to be beaten by a combination of Demo- 
crats and Greenbackers, even if it is marshaled by so 
good a man as Mr. Begole." 

This sketch would be imperfect without referring 
lo the action of Mr. B. at the time of the great calamity 
that in 1881 overtook the people of Northeastern 
Michigan, in a few hours desolating whole counties 
by fire and destroying the results and accumulations 
of such hard work as only falls to the lot of pioneers. 
While the Port Huron and Detroit committees were 
quarreling over the distribution of funds, Mr. Begole 
wrote to an agent in the "ibumt district " a letter, from 
which we make an extract of but a single sentence : 
" Until the differences between the two committees 
are adjusted and you receive your regular supplies 
from them, draw on me. Let no man suffer while I 
have money." This displays his true character. 




/l6<..4.^-£^6^^?Wz^-'Z^ 



GOVEKNOItS OF MICHIGAN. 



173 





'MsiM,':^^ 



I ^,-_^^77 i^rf -rfl I 



iti '"''■■i"'''iiii> "'-• Ai'^''^ A'^^"' A^"^"^ A"^"^' A'-^"-^ tSt^^'-'^-^'^'^'^''^'^ ~-"'> j^v /,- j. v <^ a v^ ta^ ^ ^" -^.^ vv<^^ J 







-' o<.5o" 



" USSELL A.ALGER,Govenior 
of Michigan for the term com- 
mencing Jan. 1, 1885, was 
bom in Lafaj'ette Township, 
Medina Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 
^y 1836. Having lived a tem- 
'cT' perate life, he is a comparative 
young man in appearance, and pos- 
sesses those mental faculties that are 
the distinguishing characteristics of 
roliust, mature and educated maii- 
iiood. When 1 1 j'ears of age both 
his parents died, leaving him Tvitha 
3'ounger brother and sister to sup- 
port and without any of the substan- 
tial means of existence. Lacking the opportunity of 
Ijctter employ nicut, he worked on a farm in Richfield, 
Ohio, for the greater part of each of the succeeding 
seven years, saving money enougli to defray his ex- 
penses at Richfield Academy during the winter 
terms. He obtained a very good English education, 
and was enabled to teach school for several subse- 
quent winters. Ill 1857 he commenced the study of 
law in the offices of Wolcott & Upson at Akron, re- 
maining until March, 18.59, when he was admitted 
to the bar by the Ohio Supreme Court. He then 
removed to Cleveland, and entered the law office of 
Otis & Coffinbury, where he remained several 
montiis. Here he continued his studies with in- 
creased zeal, and did nuuli general reading. Hard 
study and close connnenicnt t(j office work, however, 
began to tell on liis constitution, and failing health 
warned liim that he must seek other occupation. 



He therefore reluctantly abandoned the law and re- 
moved to Graml Rapids, Mich., to cng.age in the 
lumber business. 

When Micliigan was called upon to furnish troops 
for the war, Mr. Alger enlisted in the Second Mich. 
Cav. and was mustered into the service of the 
United States as Captain of Co. C. His record as 
a cavalry officer w^as brilliant and honorable to 
himself and his companj\ He participated in some 
of the fiercest contests of the rebellion and way 
twice wounded. His first injury was received ir 
the battle of Booneville, Miss., July 2, 18G2. 
His conduct in this engagement was so distin- 
guished that he was promoted to the rank oi 
Major. On the same occasion his Colonel, the 
gallant Phil. Sheridan, was advanced to the rank 
of Brigadier General. A few months later, on the 
ICtU of October, Major Alger became Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Sixth Mich. Cav., and was ordered 
with his regiment to the Army of the Potomac. 
After marked service in the early campaign of 1 8()3, 
he was again advanced, and on June 2 received his 
commission as Colonel of the Fifth Slicii. Cav. His 
regiment at this time was in Custer's famous Michi- 
gan cavalry brigade. On the Gth of Jul}' occurred 
the battle of Boonesltoro, Md. In this conflict he 
was again wounded. His health received a more 
than temporary impairment, and in October, 18G I, 
he was obliged to retire from the service. His 
career as a soldier included man}' of tlie most cele- 
brated contests of the war. He w:is an .active charac- 
ter in all the battles fought by the Army of the 



174 



RUSSELL A. ALGER. 



Potomac, from the time of the invasion of Mary- 
lanrt \>y Gen. Lee in 1803, up to the date of his 
retirement, with the excei^tion of those engagements 
which occurred while he was absent from dutj- on 
account of wounds. In all he took part in C6 bat- 
tles and skirmishes. At the close he was breveted 
Brigadier General and Major General for "gallant 
and meritorious services in the field." 

Aside from regular dutj', Gen. Alger was on 
private service during tiie winter of 18G3-4, receiv- 
ing orders personally from President Lincoln and 
visiting nearly all the armies in the field. 

Gen. Alger came to Detroit in 18G5, and since 
that time has been extensively engaged in the pine 
timber business and in dealing in pine lands. He 
was a member of the well-known firm of ]Moore <fe 
Alger until its dissolution, when he became head of 
the firm of R. A. Alger ik Co., the most extensive 
pine timber operators in the West. Gen. Alger is 
now president of the corporation of Alger, Smith & 
Co., which succeeded R. A. Alger it Co. He is also 
president of the Manistique Lumbering Company 
and president of the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena 
Railroad Companj', besides being a stockholder and 
director of the Detroit National Bank, (he Peninsu- 
lar Car Company and several other large corpor- 
ations. 

AVhile always an active and influential Republi- 
can, Gen. Alger has never sought nor held a sal- 
aried office. He was a delegate from the First Dis- 
trict to the last Republican National Convention, 
but aside from this his connection with politics has 
not extended beyond the duties of ever}' good cit- 
izen to his party and his country'. 

Gen. Alger is now forty-nine years of age, an 
active, handsome gentleman six feet tall, living 
the life of a busj- man of affairs. His military 
bearing at once indicates his army life, and although 
slenderly built, his square shoulders and erect 
carriage give the casual observer the impression 
that his weight is fully 180 pounds. He is a firm, 
yet a most decidedly pleasant-appearing man, with 
a fine forehead, rather a prominent nose, an iron- 
gitiy moustache and chin whiskers and a full head 
of black hair sprinkled with gray. He is usually 
attired in the prevailing style of business suits. His 
fjivorite di'ess has been a high buttoned cutaway 



frock coat, with the predominating cut of vest and 
trousers, made of firm gr.aj' suiting. A high collar, 
sm.all cravat, easy shoes and white plug hat com- 
plete his personal apparel. He is very particular 
as to his appearance, and alwaj's wears neat clothes 
of the best goods, but slums any display of jewelr}' 
or extravagant embellishment. He is one of the 
most approachable men imaginable. No matter 
how busy he may be, he always leaves his desk to 
extend a cordial welcome to every visitor, be he of 
high or low situation. His affable manners delight 
his guests, while his pleasing face and bright, dark 
eyes ahv.a^-s animate his he.arers. 

Gen. Alger is a hard worker. He is always at his 
office proraptlj^ in the morning and stays as long as 
anything remains that demands his attention. In 
business matters he is alwaj's decided, and is never 
shaken or disturbed bj' any reverses. He has the 
confidence of his associates to a high degree, and al. 
his business relations are tempered with those little 
kindnesses that relieve the tedium of routine office 
life. Although deeply engrossed i:i various busi- 
ness pursuits. Gen. Alger has yet found time for 
general culture. He owns a large libr.ary and his 
stock of general information is as complete as it is 
reliable. His collection of paintings has been se- 
lected with rare good taste, and contains some of 
the finest jiroductions of modern artists. His team 
of bays are perhaps the handsomest that grace the 
roads of Detroit, and usually lead the other outfits 
when their owner holds the reins. 

Gen. Alger has an interesting family. His wife 
was Annette H. Henry, the daughter of W. G. 
Henr}', of Grand Rapids, to whom he was married 
April 2, 18G1. She is a slender woman of fair com- 
plexion, bright and attractive, and a charming host- 
ess. She is gifted with many accomplishments and 
appears quite young. There are six children. Fay. 
a lively brunette, and Caroline A., who is rather tall 
and resembles her mothei', have completed r, course 
at an Eastern seminar}', and during the past year 
traveled in Europe. The remaining members of 
the family are Frances, aged 13; Russell A., Jr., 
aged 1 1 ; Fred, aged 9, and Allan, aged 3. All are 
lirlgiit and promising children. Gen. Alger makes 
his home at his handsome and large new residence on 
Fort street, at the corner of P'irst street, Detroit, 





^(L^- 



/'^^^d.^^i^^-eyC^^^^- 





GOVERNORS OF MICIIIOAN. 



77 








VRUS GRAY LUCK, the 
present Governor of Michi- 
gan, combines in his ciianic- 
ter the substantial traits of 
the New England ancestry 
of his father, and the chival- 
rous and hospitable elements 
peculiar to the Southerners, which 
came to him fmm his mother's side of 
the liouse. Tlie New Englanders, act- 
ive in the cause of American libertj', 
after this desired result was accom- 
plished, turned their attention to the 
growth and development of tiie 
country which their noble daring had 
constituten independent of foreign rule. Tlie pri- 
vations they endured and the struggles from which 
they had achieved victory built up in them those 
qualities which in the very nature of events could 
not be otherwise than transmitted to their posterity', 
and this jrosterity comjjrises a large number of the 
men who to-day, lilvc the sul)jcct of tliis history, 
are making a record of wliich their descendants will 
be equally proud. 

Gov. l^ucc was born in Windsor, Ashtabula Co., 
Ohio, July 2, 1824. His father was a native of 
Tolland, Conn., served as a soldier in the War of 
1812, and soon after its close emigrated from New 
England and settled on the Western Reserve in 
Northern Ohio. His mother, who in her girlhood 
was Miss Mary Gray, was born in Winchester, A'a. 
Her faliicr, tinctured with Abolitionism, found his 
home in the Old Dominion l)ecoming unconifoiLa- 
ble as an abiding-|jlace at that time, and accord- 
ingly, with ills wife and family of young children, 



he also migrated, in 181,"), to the wilds of Northern 
Ohio. There the parents of our subject, in 181!), 
were united in marriage, and continued residents of 
Ashtaliuia County until 18;5G. Tiiere also were 
born to them six sons, Cj'rus G. of this sketch being 
the second. 

The incidents in the early life of Gov. Luce were 
not materially different from those of other boys 
living on the farms in that new country. lie was 
taught to work at anything necessary for him to do 
and to make himself useful around the pioneer 
homestead. When twelve j-ears of age his parents 
removed further West, this time locating in Steu- 
ben County, Ind. This section of country was still 
newer and more thinly settled, and without recount- 
ing the particular hardships and privations which the 
family experienced, it is suflicient to say that but few 
enjoyed or suffered a greater varietj'. Markets were 
distant and difficult of access, the comforts of life 
scarce, and sickness universal. Young Luce, in com- 
mon witii other boys, attended school winters in the 
stereotypcMl log school-house, and in summer as- 
sisted in clearing away the forests, fencing the 
fields and raising crops after the land was improved. 
He attended three terms an academy located at On- 
tario, Ind., and his habit of reading and oliservation 
added essentially to his limited school privileges. 

When seventeen years of age the father of our 
subject erected a cloth-dressing and wool-carding 
estaljiisiiment, where Cyrus (i. acquired a full 
knowledge of this business and subsequently hud 
charge of the factory for a period of seven ycais. 
In the meantime he had become interested in local 
politics, in which he displayed rare judgment and 
sound conunon sense, and on account of whii'h, in 
1818, he was nominated by the Whigs in a di.strict 
composed of the counties of DcKaib and Steuben 
for Representative in the State Legislature. IW' 
made a vigorous canvass but was defeated by eleven 
majority. This incident was but a transient bub- 
ble on the stream of bis life, and that same year 



178 



CYRUS GRAY LUCE. 



Mr. Luce purchased eighty acres of wild land near 
Gilead, Branch Co., Mich., the improvement of 
which he at once entered upon, clearing away the 
trees and otherwise making arrangements for the 
establishment of a homestead. In August, 1849, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Diclcinson, 
of Gilead, and the 3'oung jicople immediately' com- 
menced housekeeping in a modest dwelling on tlie 
new farm. Here they resided until the death of the 
wife, which took place in August, 1882. Mrs. 
Luce was the daughter of Obed and Experience 
Dickinson, well-to-do and higlilj' respected residents 
of Gilead. Of her union with our subject there 
were born five children, one now deceased. 

In Novv^mbcr, 1883, Gov. Luce contracted a sec- 
ond marriage, with Mrs. IMaiy Tliompson, of Bron- 
son, this State. He continued on the same farm, 
which, however, by subsequent purchase had been 
considerably extended, until after his election to the 
offlce of which he is now the incumbent. In the 
meantime lie has iiad a wide and varied experience 
in public life. In 1 8 j2 he was elected to represent his 
township in the County Board of Supervisors, and 
two years later, in 18.54, wasclected Representative to 
the first Republican Legislature convened in the State 
of Michigan. He served his township altogether 
eleven j'cars as a member of the Board of Supervisors. 
In 18.58 he was elected County Treasurer of Branch 
County and re-elected in 18G0. In 1864 he w5s 
given a seat in the State Senate and re-elected in 
186G. In the spring of 1867 he was made a member of 
the Constitutional Convention to revise the Consti- 
tution of the State of Michigan, and in all of the 
positions to which he has been called has evidenced 
a realization of the sober responsibilities committed 
to his care. To the duties of e.ach he gave the most 
conscientious care, and lias great reason to feel pride 
and satisfaction in the fact that during his service 
in both Houses of the Legislature his name appears 
upon every roll-call, he never having been absent 
from his jiost a day. 

In .Till}-, 1879, Mr. Luce was appointed State Oil 
Inspector by Gov. Cros well, and rc-appointcd by 
Gov. Jerome in 1881, serving in this capacity three 
and one-half j'cars. In the management of the 
duties of this odlcc he is entitled to great credit. 
The office was not sought by hira, but the Governor 



urged him to accept it, claiming that the otfice was 
the most difficult he hail to fill, and was one which 
required first-class executive ability. He organized 
the State into districts, appointed an adequate force 
of deputies and no more, secured a reduction of the 
fees by nearly one-half, and in ever}' way managed 
the affairs of the office so efficiently and satisfac- 
torily that above all expenses he was enabled to 
pay into the State Treasury during his management 
$32,000.49. 

In August of the year 1886 Mr. Luce was nom- 
inated by the Republicans in convention assembled 
at Grand Rapids, for the office c>f Governor of 
Michigan by acclamation, and on the 2d of Novem- 
ber following was elected by a m.ajority of 7,432 
over his chief competitor, George L. Yaple. In 
1874 he became an active member of the farm- 
ers' organization known as the Grange. Believing 
as he dues that agriculture furnishes the basis of 
National prosperity, he was anxious to contribute to 
the education and elevation of the farming com- 
munity, and thus availed himself of the opportuni- 
ties offered by this organization to aid in accom- 
plishing this result. For a period of .seven years he 
was Master of the State Gr.ange but resigned the 
position last November. Fidelity to convictions, 
close application to business, whether agricultural or 
affairs of State, coupled with untiring industry', are 
his chief characteristics. As a farmer, legislator 
executive officer, and manager of county as well as 
State affairs, as a private as well as a public citizen, 
his career has all along been marked with success 
No one can point to a spot reflecting discredit ir 
his public career or private life. He is a m.an of 
the people, and self-made in the strictest sense. His 
wliole life has been among the people, in full sym- 
pathy with them, and in their special confidence and 
esteem. 

Personally. Gov. C.yrus G. Luce is high-minded, 
intellectual and affable, the object of nianj' 
and warm friendships, and a man in all respects 
above reproach. To the duties of his high position 
he has brought a fitting dignitj', and in all the re- 
lations of life that conscientious regard to duty of 
which we often read but which is too seldom seen, 
especiall}' among those having within their hands 
the interests of State and Nation. 





''ot-Hyv^x^ /a /T^P-r^a^n^^^ 



GOVERNORii OF MICHIGAN. 



lit 





2=s«— ■ 









-♦■^-1- 



EDWIN B. WINANS, 
ho began his duties as 
iovernor of Michigan, 
January 1, 1891, is a sou 
j«!;3E^ .^!=5»i!Ksr-j^w»vi-t jf the Empire State, of 
y^^^ ^^*^ ^ which his parents also were 
' ~- .^^ natives. From German ancestry on 
.^^ the father's side, he derives tiie in- 
€ f y2>'£? stincts of frujTality and careful con- 
sideration of ways and means, and 
tiiese are strengthened by the sub- 
stantial traits of the Puritan fore- 
fathers of his mother. Both lines 
have transmitted to him the love 
of country and home that has led 
thousands into untrodden wilds where they might 
secure that which would be for the future good of 
tliemselves and posterity. 

John and Eliza (Way) Winans removed from 
New York to this State in 18.31, and settled on a 
farm in Livingston County, where the boyhood of 
Gov. Winans was passed. He was about eight 
years old at the time of the removal, having been 
born at Avon, Livingston County, N. Y., May IG, 
182G. Up to the age of eighteen years lie attended 
the district school, and he then entered Albion 
College, from which he was graduated in 18;)0. 
The excitement attendant upon the discovery of 




gold in California had not died out, and youjig 
Winans felt a strong desire to visit the coast and 
try his fortune in the mines. He decided in favor 
of the overland route, crossed the plains in safet}'. 
and spent the ensuing eight years in seeking the 
precious metal — a quest that was fairly successful. 

Returning to Livingston Countj-, this State, Mr. 
Winans bought land and eng.^gcd in general farm- 
ing. He has retained the farm as his home through 
all the changes various official positions have 
brought him, and joyfully returned to it whenever 
his faithful disciiarge of public dut}' would allow. 
His estate now includes four hundred acres of land 
under a high state of cultivation and improved 
with buildings of the best construction and modern 
design. In connection with general farming Gov. 
Winans has given considerable attention to raising 
stock of high grades, and his understanding of 
agriculture in its various departments is broad and 
deep. He believes that his success in political life 
is largely due to his thorough identiBcatioii with 
the agricultural interests of the State and no doubt 
he is right. 

The public career of Gov. Winans began in 1860, 
when he was elected to represent his county in the 
State Legislature. lie served two consecutive 
terms, covering the period from 18C0 to 18G5. In 
18G7 he w.as a member of the Constitutional Con- 



J2 



EDWIN B WINANS. 



vention of the State, and in 1876 be was elected 
Probate Judge of Livingston County for a term 
of four years. The nest important position occu- 
pied hy Gov. Winans was that of Congressman dur- 
ing the Forty-eighth and Fort3'-ninth Congresses, 
representing the Sixth District. It was always his 
lot to be nominated for office when the Democratic 
party was decidedly in the minority, but such were 
his personal characteristics and his reputation as 
one interested in the welfare of that great class, 
the farmers, that in every case he made a successful 
race. When he was put up for Congress the oppo- 
sition had a majority in the district of three thou- 
sand votes, but he was elected by a plurality of 
thirty. While in Congress he took an active part 
in all measures tending to the public good and 
served on the Committees on Agriculture and Pen- 
sions. In the fall of 1891 his name headed the 
Democratic ticket and he was elected Governor of 
the State. 

In his private life Gov. Winans has been as ex- 
emplary as in his public career he has been useful 
and influential. He is a consistent member of the 
Episcopal Church and in his religious faith and 
practice has the close sympathy of his wife, who 
belongs to the same society. His marriage was 
solemnized in Hamburg, Livingston Count}', in 
1855, his bride being Miss Elizabeth Galloway, who 



was born and reared on the farm she still calls home, 
as it was bought of her father by Gov. Winans. 
She is a daughter of George and Susan (Haight) 
Galloway, who are numbered among the early 
settlers of Livingston County, whither they came 
from New York. She is an educated, refined woman, 
whose mental attainments and social qualities fit 
her for the position which she occupies as hostess 
of tlie Gubernatorial mansion. Governor and Mrs. 
Winans have two sons, George G , who is now act- 
ing as his father's private secretary, and Edwin B., 
Jr., a graduate of West Point. 

Gov. Winans has in former years shown himself 
capable of close application to the duties which lay 
before him, and his judicious decisions and wise 
course when attempting to bring about a worthy 
object, are well known to those who are acquainted 
with the history of the State. Although it is often 
said that it is scarcelj' safe to judge of a man until 
his career is closed, yet Gov. Winans has acted his 
part so well thus far in life that he is confidently 
expected to add to the credit that already belongs 
to the great commonwealth of Michigan, and which 
to a certain extent lies in the hands of those who 
have been and are its chief executives. Among his 
personal characteristics are those of a love of truth, 
justice and progress, and a cordial, kind!}' spirit 
which makes warm friends and stanch adherents. 












®1 




Clinton and Shiawassee Counties, 



MICHIGAN. 







pii^^^^ 








8l, 








int:"roduqt"ory.» 





^«4^^»s>^ 




^'J^'^3 

-^k"^^ 



]HE time has arrived when it 
becomes the duty of the 
people of this county to per- 
petuate the names of their 
pioneers, to furnish a record 
of their early settlement, 
and relate the story of their 
progress. The civilization of our 
day, the enlightenment of the age 
and the duly that men of the pres- 
ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
themselves and to their posterity, 
demand that a record of their lives 
and deeds should be made. In bio- 
graphical history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to 
enliven the mental faculties, and 
to waft down the river of time a 
safe vessel in whicli the names and actions of the 
{">eopie who contriljuted to raise this country from its 
|)riniitive state may be preserved. Surely and ra|)idly 
the great and aged men, who ni tlieir |)riine entered 
the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
heritage, are passing to their graves. The mnnber re- 
maining wlio can relate the incidents of the first days 
)f settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
actual necessity e.\ists for the collection and preser- 
vation of events without delay, before all the early 
settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time. 

'!"o be forgotten lias been tiie great dread of mankind 
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enougli, 
in spite of liieir iiest works and the most earnest 
elTorts of their friends to perserve the memory of 
their live-;. Tiie ine.ins employed to prevent oblivion 
and to ])er|)etuate their memory has been in propor- 
tion to the .unount of intelligence they possessed. 
'I'h : pyranii'ls of Kgv pt were luiilt to perpetuate the 
names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
mations m.ide by the archeologists of Egy|)t from 
buried Menphis indicate a desire of those people 



to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. 
The erection of the great obelisks were for the same 
purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
great achievements and carry them down the ages. 
It ii also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling 
up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea — 
to leave something to show that they had lived. All 
these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
treme, give but a faint idea of tlie lives and charac- 
ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; 
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
bling into dust. 

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
a full history — immutaijle in that it is almost un- 
limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and 
this is tiirougli the art of printing. 

To the present generation, however, we are in- 
debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
of local biography. By this system every man, though 
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, 
through the coming ages. 

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
d.cn or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- 
tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
by a record of this kind. 

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- 
lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we 
think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to 
wait until they are dead, or until those who know 
tliem are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to 
i)ul)lish to the world the history of those whose livei" 
are unworthy of public record. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



191 




-♦ ^»*<^ 



lOBERT M. STEEL. The very name of 
Robert M. Steel inspires the people of 
iii \y Clinton County with admiration at Ills suc- 
^P eess. He is the most extensive property 
owner and the wealthiest man of the county, and 
the present l)usiness prosperity of St. .John's is due 
to liim more largely tlian to any other man who 
has lived iiere. He iias large interests on the 
Pacilic Coast and his name is known in many 
parts of tiie United States, as he lias had large con- 
tracts in raih'oad and bridge-buiiding work and has 
won many a bloodless victory over opposing ele- 
ments and material forces. It lias been well said 
tliat •' peace lias its victories as well as war " and 
Mr. Steel, when affairs are viewed in this light, is 
fully as deserving of praise as those who have led 
hosts to victory on bloody battle-lields. 

Mr. Steel, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, 
is of Scotch parentage, his direct progenitors havi-ig 
come to America in 1830. Tiicy settled in \vr- 
mont, where the father, William Steel, was engaged 
in contracting and building. In Craftsbury, tiiat 
.State, he of whom we write was born October "21, 
1833. He received an academic education in his 
native State and after having olHaincd u thorough 
training as a carpenter and joiner fmm his father, 
he went to Toronto when of age and was employed 
ns time-keeper on the Grand Trunk Riiilroad, 



After t\vo months he was appointed foreman on 
the road that was building between Toronto and 
Sarnia and held the [jo-'^ition fifteen months. He 
then entered into partnership with his (Mnployers — 
Messrs. Hayden & Ross, who had taken a contract 
to lay the superstructure on the Detroit & Mil- 
waui<ee Road. In 1856 he removed to St. .lolin's, 
as the most convenient point from which to carr^' 
on his work. The contract was completed in tiie 
fall of 1858 and the next year be took one to Ia3' 
the superstruclion on the Grand Trunk from 
Detroit to Port Huron. At the same time he was 
interested with W. A. Stearn it Co., in building a 
road from Three Rivers, Canada, to Arlhaska, a 
distance of thirty-eight miles. Both contracts 
were completed in December, 1859. 

In September, 18(;2. Mr. .Steel with his former 
partner, Mr. Ross, entered into a contract under 
the firm name of Ross, Steel it Co., to build the 
Kansas Pacilic Railroad of three hundred and sixty 
miles. The firm had one hundred miles located and 
twenty-five miles giaded when the company dis- 
posed of their franchise to Mr. Samuel llallct and .1. 
C. Fremont. Mr. Steel then entered into parlncr- 
shi[) with I'^llithorpe it Adams, under Ihelirni name 
of Ellithor()c, A<lams it Steel, and engaged in build- 
ing stone bridges, etc., for the city of Leavenworth. 
He subsequently rebuilt the Hannibal it St. ,Ioe 



192 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Railioad, in whk-li work lie was engaged until 
December, 1869. In 1867 be made an individual 
contract with James F. .lu^- to build tlie accretions 
for tiie Union Depot for the Burlington & Missouri 
River and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
ro.ads in Burlington, Iowa. This contract was com- 
pleted in the fall of 1868, by working niglit and 
day. In 1870, Mr. Steel contracted to build ninety 
miles of the St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad, 
which was completed in November, 1871. The 
next January he took a contract to build the Cairo & 
Vincennes Road through two counties — a distance 
of one hundred and sixty-eight miles, with the cul- 
verts and bridges, and within the twelvemonlli the 
work was finished. 

In 1873, Mr. Steel contracted to build the super- 
sti-uctiou of forty miles on the Paducah i& Mem- 
phis Railroad and completed it in thirty-five days. 
In May, 187.5, Mr. George Masson of Toronto, 
Canada, made a contract to build seventy miles of 
railwaj' between the Great Western of Canada on 
the south and the AV^ellingion, Grey & Bruce on 
tke north, to be open for traffic, the following 
January. Mr. Steel became sub-contractor for 
thirty-five miles of this line, with fencing for the 
whole, this necessitating a post and board fence one 
hundred and forty miles long. He completed his 
contract and it was declared satisfactory in every 
particular and he was congratulated by Mr. Masson, 
the chief engineer. Besides his extensive railroad 
contracts, Mr. Steel was connected with the Govern- 
ment work at Chicago, Calumet, Ludington, Man- 
istee and Frankfort. 

Mr. Steel was the originator of the St. John's 
Manufacturing Comjiany, is the principal stock- 
holder and President. He is a Director and holds 
the largest individual interest in both the St. John's 
National and Clinton County Savings Banks of St. 
John. He is President of the Whijiple Harrow 
Company of St. John, the St. John's Evaporator it 
Produce Companj', Electric Light, Heat &■ Power 
Company, an<l Mutual Gas Company of St. John. 
He is a partner in the retail furniture establishment 
of R. M. Steel & Co., of which D. G. Steel, repre- 
sented in this work, is manager. He also has an 
interest in the hardware firm of Nixon & Co. and 
in the millinery firm of J. T, Cole (Sj Co. He is 



Piesident of the St. John's Mercantile Company. 
In 1887 he ouilt the Steel Hotel in St. John's at a 
cost of *0.5,000. which is not only a credit to the 
city but is one of the finest hotel biiil;tings in the 
State. He h.as valuable real estate interests here, 
owning about one-sixth of the town site and a valu- 
able improved farm of three hundred acres within 
the corporate limits. He also has farm lands in 
different parts of the county and State. 

Mr. Steel has still larger interests in the West 
than here. In 1879 he began contracting on the 
coast and thus became interested in different enter- 
prises. He owns a stock ranch in Oregon where 
he has from eight hundred to one thousand head 
of horses, imported and graded, and on the coast 
the half circle A brand is well known. He has also 
an individual lialf of the town site at Huntington, 
Ore., and with his son George is largely interested 
in the Island City jMevcanlile and Milling Comi)an}' 
and has a controlling interest in four or five stores 
and two tlouring mills there. They also own the 
town site of Uillguard and have stores there. Mr_ 
Steel also owns a one-fourth interest in six valu- 
able co))i)er mines, several ()lacer mines (gold) and 
a large mining ditch in Idaho. He is a stock- 
holder in the Merchants' National Bank in Port- 
land and is interested in other banks in the State, 
being President of the First National in Island 
City, the Wallona National of Enterprise and the 
La Grande National of La Grande, and Vice-Presi 
dent of the First National of Union. 

Three thousand acres of land in Gratiot County' 
and an equal amount in Isabella County are in- 
cluded in the real-estate holdings of Mr. Steel. 
He is President of the First National Banks of 
Ovid, Mt. Pleasant, St. Louis and Itlmca, and of the 
Mt. Pleasant Manufacturing Comi)any and Ithaca 
Milling Company. Notwithstanding his extensive 
business interests, which to an ordinary individual 
would be more than sufficient to occupy every 
moment, ho finds time to enjoy the intercourse of 
one of the most prominent social orders and is a 
Knight Templar of St. John's Commander}'. He 
also keeps well informed regarding the events that 
are transpiring, the discoveries that are being 
made and the improvements that are taking place 
in science and art, and studies the political question 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



i;t3 



tliorougblj'. He votes tbe Kepul)lican ticket. In 
1848 he spent a year abroad, visiting England, 
Ireland and Scotland. He was married Mart'li 13, 
1860, to Miss Carrie A. Hyatt, daughter of James 
M. Hyatt of New York, and lias three children. 



■<rM^'^:- 



1^^ US. HANNAH MARSHALL, a venerable 
/// \\\ and esteemed resident of Greenbush Town- 
I 1ft ship, Clinton County, is a native of Huron 
*' County, Ohio, and was born November 7. 

1829. She is a daughter of William W. and Nancy 
(Strong) Watros. Her parents were natives of 
New York, and her father served as a soldier in 
the War of 1812. Of their children the following 
survive: .Joseph who resides in Norwalk, Ohio; 
Franklin a resident of New London, Ohio; Mary, 
Mrs. Hi.iraan, now a widow of Huron County, 
Ohio; Washington, in Norwalk, Ohio; Mrs. Mar- 
shall; Wealthy, in Eaton Count}'; Hester A., wife 
of J. Reynolds of Huron County, Ohio. 

Mrs. Marshall's early home and training were in 
Huron County, Ohio, and there after taking her 
education in the district schools, she prepared for 
teaching, which work she carried on for some three 
(erms. She was then married October 7, 18.52, to 
Henr}' S. Marshall, who was born in Westchester 
County, N. Y., in 1827. This gentleman was a son 
of Seth and Phijcbe Marshall, and he emigrated lo 
Ohio when a young man and was there married. 
His childhood and youth received the benefit of 
the usual advantages which were tlien offered to 
the young, but the greater part of his education 
has been what he has acquired himself. 

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall lliore 
were born six children, five of whom are living. 
namely: George, Frank, Lewie, Almira M. (a teacher 
in Clinton County) and Denton. The parents of 
this household emigrated to Clinton County, this 
State in 18G0, and coming to Greenbush Townsiili), 
Gnally settled upon ihe farm where the widow now 
resides. Mr. Marshall was a hard working and in- 
dustrious man, and by his own efforts, aided by his 
boys, he made his farm what it is to-day. lie 



started in life empty handed and accuuuilatcd a 
handsome property, all the result of his life work. 
He was n kind and affectionate husband and father 
and his death was an irreparable loss to his house 
hold. His fellow-citizens also felt the blow, as by 
his death they lost a jniblic spirited and enterpiis- 
ing man from their midst. He was one who en- 
joyed the universal confidence and esteem of h's 
fellow-men. He was a Rei)ul)lican in politics and 
deeply' interested in all movements which look to 
the [)rogre8sof the county in either social or public 
ways and was well known for his honesty and in- 
tegrity, being esteemed ''a man among men." He 
died February 14, 1880. 

Mrs. Marshall still resides on the home farm and 
owns one-third interest in the estate of eighty 
acres. Her husband was a soldier in the Civil War 
and received his honorable discharge before the 
date of expiration of his service, on account of a 
wound which he received in the Battle of the 
Wilderness. Mrs. Marsiiall is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Chun-ii and iier naturally fine 
qualities and Christian character command the 
esteem of all who know licr. 



OHN A. W^ATSON. Prominent among in- 
telligent and prosperous stock-raisers and 
well known in political circles of Clinton 
County, is the gentlemen whose name ap- 
pears at the head of this sketch. Ills beautiful 
farm with its elegant improvements forms one of 
the most attractive features of Duplain Township, 
and the fine grades of stock which he raises, at- 
tract the attention of every intelligent visitor. He 
was born in the township where he now presides, 
July 21, 1844. His parents, William B. and ll;ir- 
riet F. (Faxon) Watson, were born, the foiiiu^r in 
Bucks County, Pa., and the latter in Batavia. (ii'iic- 
see County, N. Y. His superior parentagt? :ind 
home training were of intestimable value lo the 
youth, who was thus given a preparation in life 
superior to that of most of his comrades In the 
West. 

The father of our subject was by piofession a 



194 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



physician and a graduate of the University of 
Pennsylvania, who came to Michigan in the fall of 
183y and located on the place where his son now 
resides near the center of Duplain Townshi(). A 
select school education was given the boy as well as 
good practical business training. His mother was 
a graduate of Le Roy Seminary, at Le Roy, N. Y. 
and she gave him careful instruction in his early 
life, for which she was well adapted, as she had 
been a teacher before her marriage. His early life 
was [)assed on the old liome^tead and when his 
father died, August 20, 1871, he took charge of 
the estate and properly and carried it on suc- 
cessfully. 

Having now reached the years of maturity, Mr. 
Watson sought a companion togovvith him through 
life and on April 19, 187G, he entered into the 
matrimonial slate with Lizzie Webb of Walerbury, 
Conn. Her father William Webb is the well-known 
manufacturer of brass goods, the head of the 
business known as the American Cap and Flask 
Company. One child, a son^William B.^ — who 
was born .lanuarj' 19, 1883, is the fruit of this 
union. He is at home with his parents at whose 
hands he is receiving the education suited to his 
years, and his future is one of the great promise. 

Mr. Watson has a place of four hundred acres, 
mostly under cultivation, upon which he and his 
father made the clearing and placed the improve- 
ments. Three hundred acres of this is under the 
plow and the houses and barns are both handsome 
and spacious, and show the hand of a thorough and 
systematic farmer. Besides cultivating a large 
share of his land he is a large breeder of sheep, 
making a specialtj' of fine wool sheep. He breeds 
Clydesdale horses and Short- horn cattle and also 
raises large crops of wheal. He has a sugar camp of 
about one thousand hard maples from which he 
makes a great quantity of maple sugar and more 
largely manufactures maple syrup. 

The |)olitical atHliations of this gentleman are 
Willi the Republican party and he has always been 
actively engaged in forwarding its interests. He is 
generally conspicuous as a delegate at the various 
county and Stale conventions where his opinion 
has great weight and his judgment is respected. 
He is a member of the Stock and Wool Growers 



Association and is identified with the Masonic 
order. lie is a man of broad experience and has 
not been contented to sit down at his own fireside 
and know lillle or nothing of what is going on in 
the world about him. He has spent a good deal 
of time in traveling and has visited many parts of 
our country being familiar with the prominent 
cities and points of interest both in the East and 
the West. In his earl}' days in Clinton County he 
was familiar wilh the Indians and found among 
them the playmates of his childhood. He looks 
back with interest to those ])ioneer days and feels 
that that experience was one of the many which 
have enriched his life. 



• ' *3- 



E^ 




s^\ ELDEN S. MINER, one of the most 
|)opuIar citizens of Corunna City, and the 
prosecuting attorney for Shiawassee 
County, was born in Osceola, Livingston 
County, this .Stale. His father, Ezra, was a native 
of Steuben County, N. Y., and his father's father, 
also Ezra by name, was born in Connecticut, and 
took i)nrt in the War of 1812. He was a sailor on 
the high seas for twenty years and then settled on 
a farm in New York which he improved and culti- 
vated. He came to Michigan in his later days, to 
spend them willi his son at Osceola and died at the 
age of eighty years. The father of this aged 
gentleman was Seth Miner, a native of Connecticut 
and a Revolutionary soldier who was taken prisoner 
early in the War and was in prison six years. 
Being thus lost to his famil}' for so long thej* be- 
lieved him dead and his brothers took possession 
of his propert}'. 

The father of our subject was a farmer, who 
came to Michigan in 183G when he was twenty-one 
years old and located in Ilarlland Township, 
Livingston County, where he bought unimproved 
land and devoted himself to his cultivation. At 
different times he resided in Cohocta and Conway 
and now lives in Handy, Livingston County. He 
has been a large landowner and is a public-spirited 
man. His wife bore the maiden name of Annie 
M, Skidmore. She was born near Springwater, 



PORTRAIT AND 15IOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



195 



Livingston Coiintj-. N. Y., and is the daughter of 
Benjamin Skidmore, a faimor in that county, and 
afterward an early settler in Lapeer Coiintv, to 
ivhich lie came in 1836. lie followed farming 
there and afterward in Livingston County, and 
died at the very advanced of ninety-two years, lie 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. 

Of the seven children of the parental family our 
suliject is the lifth, being born June 5. 1851. His 
mother who is still living at the age of sixty-live 
i'ears is a devout member of the Church of the 
United Brethren. This son grew n|) in Coliocla 
and Conwa}" Townships, in Livingston Count^^, till 
he reached the age of seventeen j'ears, having had 
the advantages of the common district schools. 
When seventeen years old he came to Corunna 
with his parents and entered the high school, where 
he graduated in 1875 after which he engaged in 
teaching for three terms. He began the study of 
law under a preceptor and in the fall of 1876, 
entered the Department of Law of the University 
of Michigan, taking work also under Judge Kinney 
of Ann Arbor. In 1878 he took examination be- 
fore the Michigan Supreme Court at Lansing and 
was admitted to the bar of the State. 

The young lawyer now began practice, May 3, 
1878, at Corunna, where he has continued ever 
since, with the exception of the j'ear which he 
spent at Flushing. At the time he went to that 
citj' he resigned his offlce of Circuit Court Com- 
missioner and in the fall of 1880 he was re-elected 
to that position for two years. In 1888 he re- 
ceived twelve hundred majority over his opponent 
in the contest for the ollice of Prosecuting Attornej' 
for .Shiawassee County-, and was re-elected to the 
same office in 1890, by a large majority, even con- 
sidering the famous land slide of Republican votes 
to the Democratic ticket. Besides his profes- 
sional and official duties be has had some con- 
siderable dealings in real estate. 

June 5, 1879, was the wedding day of Selden S. 
Jliner and Kilie Junes, the daughter of Charles 
Jones, a teacher and a native of Wjishtena Count3', 
who was doubly ori)haned while still a little child. 
The marriage took place at Bancroft, Shiawassee 
County. Four children have resulted from this 
union, namely: Wilman, Maude, Harold and Leon. 



Mr. Miner has served the city of Corunna as 
Mayor one term and Supervisor of the Second 
Ward for three terms and is President of the 
Sciiool Board. He is identified with several of the 
social orders, is a Mason — having attained the de- 
gree of Royal Arch Mason, and a member of tlu; 
Knights of the Maccabees. His enterprise and 
public spirit make him a prominent man in Re- 
publican circles, and lie is always a delegate to the 
county Conventions and generally to those of the 
Slate. 




ON. ROWLAND S. VAN SCOV, deceased, 
a pioneer and an honored citizen of Clin- 
ton County for more than fifty years, was 
^; born in the town of Kent, Dulcliess County, 
N. Y., November 22, 1811. Ilia father, Rowland 
Van Scoy, was probably a native of New York and 
served in the War of 1812 and died of camp fever 
soon after the expiration of his service, at the age 
of twenty four years. The grandfather of our 
subject was a wealthy farmer in the Km[)ire State, 
whose ancestors were from Holland. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Rachael Drew, a native of New York and a rel- 
ative of the late Daniel Drew, who became many 
times a millionaire through his speculations on 
Wall Street. By her first husband she was the 
mother of two sons and a daughter, onl3' one of 
whom, Isaac Van Sco}', of Cayuga Countj', N. Y., 
survives. She re-nnrried and had nine children by 
her second husband. Her death occurred a few 
years ago at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. 

Mr. Van Scoy was born three months after his 
father's death, at the home of his grandfather, with 
whom he lived until old enough to look out for 
himself. His education was obtained in the com- 
mon district schools of his day. He was an apt 
pupil and an industrious student and gained sulli- 
cienl knowledge to enable him to teach school. 
His efforts in this direction weie successful and he 
found no trouble in getting employment as a 
teacher. He taught six terms in all. Wlien In; 
was thirteen years old he hired out for nine months, 
at $3 a month, to work on a farm. He fulfilled the 



196 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



contract to the letter and saved every cent of the 
|t27 thus earned. He coiitiiuied tu work out dur- 
ing summers and atlendod scbool during winters 
until he was aljle to teach. 

Mr. Van Scoy was united in maniagc Septem- 
ber I'J, 183!). witii Miss Ruth liisseli, wlio was a 
native of New York State and born in 1814. In 
April, 1839, soon after his marriage, he came West 
and pushed into tiie wild forests of Michigan, lo- 
cating in De Witt Township, Clinton County, 
where he purchased eighty acres of land from the 
Government. He was the first to locate in that 
part of the county and ids neighbors for a time were 
few and far between. He located not far from 
where Lansing, the then unthought of capital of 
the State, now stands. For three years after his 
settlement there he had purchased all iiis groceries 
and necessaries of life in Detroit. lie cut his way 
through the forest to where he located and built a 
small shanty whicli he afterward replaced with a 
comfortable log house. 

This young man had just enough mone}- to pay for 
the land he purchased at aljout ^3 an acre. His team 
consisted of a 3oke of oxen which he bought in De- 
troit and he made most of his household furniture. 
The forests abounded in wihl game but he found 
no time for hunting. His mind was occupied with 
matters that were destined to largely- determine his 
future. Our subject aimed to clear ten acres of 
land each year in addition to what he sometimes 
hired done. His cows pastured in the great forest 
surrounding his home and many a time, wlule huni- 
ing for them in the evening, he lost his way and 
on one occasion he failed to find his way and was 
obliged to sleep in the woods over night. He pur- 
chased more land as soon as his means would per- 
mit, as be always made it a rule not to purchase 
land until he was able to pay half the purchase 
money in cash. His specialty was raising wheat, 
which he sold to make payments on his land, and 
by adding to his possessions from time to time, he 
l)ecame the possessor of four hundred acres, which 
he cleared and brought to a high state of cultiva- 
tion. 

Mrs. Van .Scoy died February 9. 18.')-2. She was 
a woman of strong religious convictions and a 
member of the Baptist Church. The union resulted 



in the birth of two children, namely : Rachael, now 
Mrs. McPherson and the mother of two sons, who 
was born June 29, 1840, and is living ne.ir her 
father, and Caroline, born September 23. 1M2. 
She is the wife of William Heck, a wealthy and 
prominent farmer of Essex Township. Mr. \nn 
Scoy contracted a second marriage with Angeline 
Bisscll, which was celebrated Ma}' 6, 1852. She 
survives him and lives in a bea\iliful home left I)}' 
her husband. 

In the spring of 1854 Rowland S. Van 8003' dis- 
posed of his farm in De Witt Township and re- 
moved to Essex Township, where he purchased one 
hundred acres on section 9, being a part of what 
was known as Benedict's Plains. During the fall 
he made another inirciiase and the following year 
another, and so on from time to time until he 
owned one of the finest and most productive tracts 
of land to Ite found anywhere in this or any other 
section of the State. This magnificent estate com- 
prises nearly nineteen hundred acres of land, 
equipped with all the modern improvements. His 
late residence is one of the most attractive and im- 
posing in the count\ . His barns and other out- 
buildings are 01 a substantial character and always 
kept in the best repair. 

Mr. Van Scoy died October 14, 1890. in the sev- 
enty' -sixth year of his age. He was during his en- 
tire life an active, energetic man. Early in life he 
united with the Presbyterian Church, but later, 
there being no church of his first choice, he at- 
tended all churches and gave liberally of his means 
toward the su|)port of the Gospel. He was also a 
cheerful and liberal giver to all benevolent causes 
of worthy character and he was especially kind to 
the poor. He was truh' a just man and did what 
he believed to be right at all times and under all 
circumstances. Politically he was a Republican 
an<l held various oflices of responsibility' and trust. 
He was Supervisor of lOssex Township many years 
and also of De Witt Township while a resident 
there. He served as Justice of the Peace and filled 
other local odices with entire satisfaction. 

Mr. \'an Scoy represented his district in the 
State Legislature from 1871 to 1875, being re- 
elected in 1873. During his terras as Representa- 
tive he was always found in his seat in the legisla- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAniJCAL ALBUM. 



197 



live halls, ready for the business uf llie hour. 
One of his rules of life was (jrotuptness uiid he w:is 
never known to shirk a (lul3'. Socially he was a 
momher of the Masonic and (Jranuje fraternities 
lie took an active inleresl in the success of the lat 
ter and lectured frequently for the order. He 
was Sl.aster of the local Granuje for ten years con- 
tinuously and was recruiting ollicer at the time of 
his death. lie was a self-made man, a great reader^ 
and possessed a broad knowledge of the leading is- 
sues of the day. 

About ten years ago this gentleman purchaseil 
the bank at Maple Rapids and conducted that in- 
stitution upon a safe and sound l)asis until his 
death. IIi' was truly a farmer by occu|ialiou but 
he was an able linaneier as well and was regarded 
with the utmost confidence and esteem by all who 
knew him. lie was a man of the strictest integ- 
rity and always m.adt- liis word as good as his bond. 
Mr. Van Scoy's estate is valued at about |il;)0,On(). 
the result of iiis life's labors. He accumulated it 
slowly by honest toil. He was strictly lem|ierate 
in all things and regular in his hal)ils <jf life. His 
success was due to his sound morals and close ap- 
plication lo business and as an e\aiiii)le is well 
worthy of emulation. 



H, 



W;^ILLIAM .lOHN MURl'HY. The gentle- 
man of whom we write and who was born, 
^ „ August 27, 1857, in Oakland County, this 
State owns a very fine farm on section IG, Owosso 
Township. He is the third child in a family of 
five. His father, John Murphj'. deceased, was born 
August 15, 182G, at The Spring, County Wexford, 
Ireland, and was married at Templeton, the same 
county, Febru.ary 8, 1852, to Miss Mary Breen, who 
survives him and who was also born in County 
Wexford August 31, 1827. She was the d.-iugliter 
of Morris and Marj* (Lcary) Breen. 

The spring of 1852 was a severe one in Ireland, 
the crops having failed the previous year and many 
people really suffering for the barest necessities of 
life. Thousands emigrated from the Hmerald Isle 
to a land that promised them both freedom and 



plenty and among the many came the (.arents of 
our subject. They settled in Oakland County, this 
State, near Orchard Lake where the father earned 
his living as a laborer for four years when the 
family removed to Shiawassee County, securing the 
land which afterward became their home. In the 
spring of 1856 our subject's father bouglit cighly 
acres in company wiih his wife's brother, James 
Breen and soon after bought the entire amount. 
Her brother was killed at Detroit, where he had 
been an engineer for the I'nion Kerry Company 
from Detroit to Windsor; he was killed instantlj-. 
Kighly and one-half acres have since been added 
to the number of acres first purchased. 

In his earlier days our subject's father spent 
much of the time on liie water as a coaster and 
fisheimau, their home in County Wexford l)eing 
directly (>n the coast. After a sickness covering 
about three years Mr. Murphy died Novend)er 1, 
1887. He was highly resi)eeled and deei)ly lamented. 
He was a iKiiil-working man and made a most at- 
tractive lionie for his family with first class im- 
provements. He left quite a family whose names 
are as follows: James, who died at the .age of 
twenty-seven of consumption, worked at home on 
the farm until tlie List; .Mary Kllen, William John, 
Julia Ann and Katie who died in infancy. Mar}' 
Ellen married Lawrence Terrill and died at An- 
trim, Shiawassee County, this State, February 20, 
1891. Julia married Patrick Rurns of Sciota 
Township, Shiawassee County and died Mav 17, 
1889, only two weeks after her marriage, while on 
her wedding journey. Our subject has had charge 
of the farm on which he lives for a number of 
years. His father's sickness incapacitated him 
from all care for three years before liis death. 

Jlr. Murjjhy w-as married April 24, 1888, lo 
Miss Maii;gie Maroney, daughter of Edward and 
Joana Maroney. One little child, a bright boy of 
two years of age, named John, gladdens their 
household. William Murphy- as well :is his father, 
is an ardent Democrat. They are members of the 
Catholic Church. .'\Ir. Mur()h}' is a pushing, vigor- 
ous farmer and stands high in the community as a 
man of intelligence and abilitj'. His mother bears 
the loss of nearly all her family with resignation 
and is one of the class of noble women who have 



198 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



done so much, enduring hardships and privations 
incident to early settlement without a murmur and 
who deserves great credit and praise for her devo- 
tion and attention. 



-•j:^- 



<;fjOHN E. JAYNE, druggist at DeWitt, Clin- 
ton County, and proprietor of the Universal 
Heave Remedj', was born in Jackson Count}', 
this State, June 15, 1840. Henry Jayne, 
the father of this gentleman, was born in New York 
State in 180G and the grandfatlier, Samuel, of 
Scot';h-Irish descent was born in New Jersey. He 
was a farmer and a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War and our subject has in his possession the gun 
which this ancestor carried through the period of 
conflict. He removed to New York State about 
tlie year 1800 and died there at the age of ninety 
si.K years. The father of our subject was reared 
upon this New York farm and came to Michigan 
in 1836, traveling by water to Detroit, where he 
bouglit a yoke of oxen and followed the Indian 
trails to Jackson County. 

Here Mr. J.a3-ne was one of the first pioneers, 
and took a farm of one hundred and forty acres 
from the Government. He built a log cabin and 
cleared up the farm and after living on it for twenty- 
five years, sold it and established a general store 
and afterward a drug store at Grass Lake. He 
came to DeWitt in 1866 and established a grocery 
store, but devoted himself a part of the time to 
farming. He also was in business in Lansing for 
some time and now having retired from active 
life, lives with his daughter, Mrs. Lawrence. He 
is a Democrat in his political views. 

Mrs. Jayne bore the maiden name of .Sarah John- 
son and she w.as born in Yates Count}-, N. Y., in 
I.SIO. Of her five children three grew to matur- 
ity, namely: Elizabeth, (Mrs. Halbert) ; John, and 
Ella, (Mrs. Lawrence). .She has ever taken an 
active interest in church matters, having been a 
member of the Congregational Church for forty- 
five years. Her father, born in New Jersey, re- 
moved to a farm in New York in early life, and 
came to Washtenaw County in 1836. He took up 



a farm there of two hundred and forty acres and 
operated the first sawmill in the county, dying there 
at fifty-nine years of age. He had reared twelve 
children and was of (Jerman descent. 

The subject of this sketch remained upon the 
farm until he was twelve years old and attended 
the pioneer schools, which were furnished with 
slab benches having pin legs. When twelve 3'ears 
old he moved into the vilhige of Grass Lake and 
attended school the^'e and also at Lvoui. When he 
was eighteen years old he entered the telegrapli 
office and learned thai art. He worked as operator 
at different |)laces along llie Michigan Central R lil- 
waj' and also on the Alton and St. Louis Railway 
and on the Illinois Central. 

When the war broke out young Ja3ne hired him- 
self to the Government as operator under Capt. 
Bruch, and was sent to Stanford. Kj'., and then 
sent out on a raiding party lo take the dispatches 
sent Ijy the rebels. He tapped the rebel telegraph 
lines, took their messages and goini; to Knoxville, 
Tenn., became detacliecl from his nic!i liy Uie rebels 
in an encounter, and had to walk nil the way back 
lo Kentucky, traveling entirely liy niglit. He had 
only two and one-half biscuits as rations for four 
days and three nights, and the journey lasted for 
eigliteon days, during which he saw other hard 
times and came near starving. After this experi- 
ence he was laid up with the tj'phoid fever for six 
weeks and he was taken home by his father and 
wife. After recovering his health he returned to 
Lebanon Junction, Ky., and remained there for 
two years in the (iovcrnnient employ. 

During his service in Kentucky Jlr. .laync had 
some hair-ljreadth cscajies. At one time while his 
wife was spending some time with him the tele- 
graph otHce was attacked b}' a force of guerrillas. 
He hastily secreted himself in the attic and [luUed 
up the ladder after hira. The guerrillas could not 
find him, but finding his wife ordered her to reveal 
his whereabouts, drawing revolvers upon her where 
she stood. She told them that he had lle<l. 'i'hcy 
fired many shots into the attic, but he protected 
himself behind a brick cliimnry. Another episode 
was when he was riding a mule and he jumped 
from its back and ran into the woods and escaped 
the rebels who were after him. At another lime at 



UORTEAIT AND BIOC-RAPHICAL ALBUM. 



199 




Knosville he had his horse sliot from under him | 
and ran for two miles under fire but was not 
touched. 

After the war Mr. Jaync farmed in DeWitt 
Township for several 3'ears and carried on dealings 
in real-estate, after which he came to the village 
and ran a general merchandise store for three years, 
and then bought out his father's drug store. Ilis 
patent horse medicine called the Universal Heave 
Remedy is a remarkable remedial agency which is 
good for man and beast. It is a comiiound from 
sixteen ingredients and he has sold and is now 
selling great quantities of it. 

The marriage of our subject on Christmas Daj', 
1861, united him with Elizabeth M. Parks, who 
was born in LooniTownship, .Tackson County, Mich., 
May 4. 1830. Their two children, Lottie K. and 
Gertie B. are botli at home. He is a Democrat in 
his political views anil for four years tilled the 
ollice of Dei)uty .Sjioiiff un<ler Mr. Collins. He is 
a member of the Masonic order having joined it 
at Eii/.ibcthtown, Ky., dining the war. and also 
belongs to the Chapter and Conuuander^- at Lansing. 
He was one of tiie organizers of the Lodge here 
and helped to build the iiall wliicli belongs to the 
order. He owns his frame store and owes no man 
a dollar. He has eight}' acres of land in Dakota, 
and eighty-four acres in Cheboygan County, Mich. 



'iRCHIBALD C. COOPEK. The original 
(@SI of this sketch w.as born March 12, 1809, in 
l4i Wa.shington County-, N. Y. His parents 
were George and Susan(Hamilton) Cooper. 
The former was from Ireland and the latter of 
Scotch birth and parent.age. Both were brought to 
America when children. Jane Serepta Castle, the 
wife of our subject, was born near Rochester. Mon- 
roe County, N. Y., May 24, 1820, and was married 
to Archibald Cooper, May 12, 1842, in Benning- 
ton Township. JNIr. Cooper came to Shiawassee 
County in 1840, having come from Waterford, 
Oakland County. He had lived in Michigan one 
year before. He w:is a carpenter by trade and 
worked at that in connection with his farm. He 



owned new land on section 1, Bennington Town- 
ship, having purchased two hundred and twenty- 
nine acres of Mr. Hunt, of Pontiac. His family 
have ever since lived on the farm. The death of 
the original of this sketch occurred August 10, 
1876. 

Mr. Cooper and wife made welcome to their home 
a large family. The eldest of these, Lemuel C, 
who lives in Bennington; Duane, in Caledonia; 
George Archibald who makes his home on the 
homestead; .lennj', who married Edwin O. Place, 
lives near Owosso; Delia, who is now Mrs. Pres- 
ton Reynolds and who resides in Shiawassee Town- 
ship; John who is still at the old homestead; Sabina 
who married William Lewis and resides in Shia- 
wassee Town9hii>; William, who is in Caledonia 
Township, and Mar}' Susan, now Mrs. C. .S. Wat- 
son, of Bancroft. The eldest of the family, Lem- 
uel C. Cooper, who owns a farm on section 2. 
Bennington Township, was born on the honiesttad 
on section 1, August 3, 18-13. Ilis parents, Arclii 
bald C. and Jane (Castle) Cooper, settled in Ben- 
nington, coining there from Pontiac. His mother 
is still living with her son John on the old home- 
stead. His father had previously married at the 
age of twenty-one a Miss Jane Conger who liied in 
Oakland County, leaving two children. They are 
Hamilton, who lives in Russell County, Kan., and 
Harriet, who is the widow of R. Holman, of 
Owosso. The second wife presented him with nine 
children, the elflest of whom was married April 
24, 1874, to Miss Sarah Beers, daughter of -Vbcl 
and Catherine (Banks) Beers. She was born Feb- 
ruary, 1818, in Connecticut. Mr. Cooper was a 
teacher, having taught from 1863 to 1871. l\lr. 
Cooper began to improve his present farm in 1867. 
Tlie original purchase was eighty acres, luit he has 
added to it from time to time until it now contains 
one hundred and thirty-three acres. Lemuel C, 
the present proprietor of the farm, is now engaged 
in breeding Short-horn cattle. His flock of sheep 
is also noted for being a very fine one. He also 
has many hogs. 

Mr. L. C. Cooper was Supervisor for a perit)d of 
nine years. He has held nearly all the oflices in 
the township during the past twenty-two years and 
is an iniportant factor in the community. He with 



200 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 



his wife Iiave a family of tbrec children — Frank L. 
who is sixteen yeavs of age, Katie M., fifteen and 
Gracie B., seven. In polilics Sir. Cooper is a Re- 
publican. Mrs. Cooper is a member of tlie Epis- 
copal Church. His farm is a very beautiful place, 
having upon it good buildings with all modern 
improvements. He is an intelligent man, inherit- 
ing tlie best qualities from a good old family. 




fc^lLLlAM WELHUSEN. Among the Ger- 
man-American citizens who are doing 
good work in Clinton County is the above 
named, who owns and operates a farm of 120 acres 
in Bingham Townsliii). The property lias been his 
home since his early childhood, when his parents 
emigrated from the Fatherland and took up tlieir 
residence here. He was reared to farm life, in 
which his father spent his days, and is one of the 
most intelligent and successful agriculturists in the 
vicinity. He seems to possess all the qualities 
necessary to secure prosperity in this line of work, 
being industrious, thrifty and observing, noting 
every change in the condition of the soil and in 
climatic influences, and quick to take advantage of 
e.ach. 

John Welhusen, father of our subject, crossed 
the Atlantic in 1862 and for four years made his 
home in Lockport, N. Y., working out by the 
month, lie then came to this State and became a 
permanent resident of Clinton County. For nine 
months after his arrival he worked for J. R. Hale, 
then bought a tract of unimproved land on section 
22, Bingham Township. He cut the first stick 
of timber from tlie forest that covered tlie land, 
and after iiuilding a log house continued the work 
of improvement. At the time of his decease, 
which occurred in 1878, when he was but forty- 
eight years old, he was the possessor of 120 acres 
and had his affairs on a sound Bnancial basis. He 
was a member of the Luliicran Cliurch, >/ith which 
his widow is connected. She bore the maiden 
name of Sophie Luver, and she also was born in 
the Fatherland. She has been devoted to her 



home and the inteiests of her family, and by her 
economy and prudence has done much toward ad- 
vancing their worldly affairs. She has two children 
William and Fredricka, the latter now the wife of 
John Luther. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was 
born in the northern part of Prussia, January 30, 
1860, aid was but two years old when his parents 
came to America. When old enough to begin his 
school life he entered the district school and con- 
tinued his studies until he was fourteen 3'ears old 
when he was laid up with a broken leg, caused by 
the kick of a horse. For several weeks he was 
confined to the house and when he recovered be 
was put to work on the farm. Since his father's 
death he has had charge of the estate, a part of 
which lias come into his possession. He was mar- 
ried November 19, 1884, to Bessie Sclineiderwind. 
formerly' of Wisconsin. His wife is an excellent 
housekeeper and an intelligent, kindly lady, who 
has many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Welliusen have 
two children — Elsie and Jessie, whose charming 
ways brighten the home. 

Although Mr. Welliusen had not a liberal school- 
ing, he has made such use of the avenues of infor- 
mation that are open to all progressive men that 
he is well informed on general topics, and particu- 
larly so on those in which he takes sjiecial interest 
by reason of the bent of his mind or their connec- 
tion with his work. In politics he is a sound Re- 
publican. He has been chosen Drain Commissioner 
of Bingham Township and is discharging the du- 
ties which belong to that office in a manner in- 
dicative of his desire for the improvement of the 
county and the increased prosperity of tiie cora- 
nmuitj'. 



%i 



INFIELD SAMUEL CARSON. The fine 
^/#/ farm on section 11, Owosso Township, 
^^p^ Shiawassee County, is owned and con- 
ducted by Mr. Carson, who was born May 16, 
1847, in Seneca County, Ohio. His parents were 
Henry and Agnes Rachel (Hamilton) Carson. The 
younger of their two sons, James Filson, died 
February 11, 1886. Our subject's father was a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



201 



native of Harrison County, Ohio, where he was 
born January 9, 1822. His i)arents were Col. 
Samuel and Elizabeth ( Willoutjhby) Carson and 
his fatiicr, great-grand father of our subject, was 
John Carson, a Revolutionary soldier. Col. Samuel 
Caison eomraaiided a regiment of riflemen from 
Ohio iu the War of 1812. About the j'ear 1S2C 
he moved to Seneca County, Ohio, then a frontier 
count}-, where he reared a family, of which our 
subject's father was the third child. The children 
are as follows: Robert, J. W., Hurrison H., Ann 
who (lied in Wisconsin, Oeorge who lives in 
SagMiaw County, Samuel, T. B., Hannah, Sarah 
and Margaret. Of these five are still living. 

The father of the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch was married to Agnes Rachel Hamilton 
May 21, 1846, and in October, 1850 the family 
came to Michigan. They were married in Hardin 
Count}-, Ohio, where she h.ad been a seamstress. 
He was then in charge of a gang of men on the 
railwa}', supplying material and building trestles 
for bridges and overseeing the woodwork. In 
1850 lie purchased the land where his family now 
lives, three miles northwest of Owosso, and devoted 
much time to selling land. He showed great skill 
iu tracing the titles and original ownership of 
Government land, being a natural surveyor and 
woodman. Land-buyers estimated highly his 
knowledge of woodcraft and consulted him in re- 
gard to the amount of timber that could l)o taken 
off a tract of land. 

The childhood home of our subject was the 
headquarters for all new comers. Ills father was 
hospitable in the extreme, an almost necessary 
quality in those days when hotels were so few and 
far between. The old gentleman was formerly a 
Democrat but after the war he became a Repub- 
lican. At the very outset of the war he enlisted as 
Corporal In Company G, Third Michigan Cavalry, 
and was frequently given detailed service. On 
one occasion when the advance guard w.as about to 
be cut off from the main body of troops he volu- 
nteered to notify them to return, the command 
having taken a detour. After a hard ride of si.\ 
hours he succeeded in bringing them in but at the 
expense of killing his horse and injuring himself to 
such an extent that he never fully recovered, hav- 



ing suffered thereby partial paralysis of the hip. 
That he had stamina is proven by the fact that al- 
though he w.as suffering intensely, he did not leave 
the command for hospital attention. A pension 
was awarded him after his death. He served until 
June 9, 1865, when he was honorably discharged 
by general order. He participated in the battle at 
Corinth and was one of the regiment of scouts 
under Col. J. K. Misner under whom T. \'. Quack- 
enbush w.is Captain. 

After the war Mr. Carson took an active [)art in 
political campaigns and was frequently called upon 
to make stump speeches which were always effec- 
tive because of his originality and gift of language. 
He was a member of the Methodist Church of 
which body he was an ordained Elder. At an earl}' 
period after coming to the State he was licensed to 
exhort and conducted services at the log meeting 
houses that dotted the countryside. He was a 
zealous worker in ever thing relating to the Church. 
The honor was paid him of being made Chaplain 
of the Grand Army Post, and he enjoyed the plea- 
sure of attending the Post on February 23, 1887, 
at meeting of the G. A. R. which was held in 
Owosso at which time a tremendous storm burst 
over the cit}' terrifying and bewildering the many 
people who had convened to be present at the Post 
meeting. On his way home the road being w.ashed 
by the river which had overflowed, Mr. Carson's 
horse went over the bank almost in front of his 
own house. His wife being alarmed by his non- 
a))i)earance, sent her son to seek for him, but his 
body was not found until eight days after the storm 
when the ice vvas broken by dynamite and a short 
distance below the house the horse and bugg)' 
were found,and the body about sevent}' rods farth- 
er down under a block of Ice that had been over- 
looked. His obsequies were conducted b}' (^\iack- 
enbush Post of Owosso and be wf.s buried at Oak 
Grove cemetery. 

Our subject was married December K?, 1868 to 
Miss Emily Owen, who was born in l^icking County, 
Ohio. Her i)arents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Night- 
sir) Owen were both from New Jersey. They 
originally settled in Clinton County in 1856 and 
18G3 came to Owosso Township where her jiareuts 
died within two weeks of each other at quite an 



202 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have a very 
interesting family. Their names are Inez L., who 
is twenty-one years of age; Wilbur H., nineteen; 
Lena Agnes fifteen; Libby Edna, thirteen. Inez 
was graduated with honors at tlie Owosso High 
Scliool where all the children are students. Mr. 
Carson has had entire charge of the f.arm which he 
own.'i for sixteen years. It consists of one hundred 
twenty acres of good, arable land, the greater part 
of it under a high state of cultivation. 

Our subject has been prominently connected 
with educational matters in his vicinity, having 
been three j'ears elected to the Board of Education. 
Although a Republican in politics, Mr. Carson is 
strongl}' in sympath}' with the Prohibitionists. He 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
His great interest in educational matters and his 
effects to secure better facilities for the district 
schools in the county are evinced by the many 
papers which he has written on the subject and 
which are widely current in this State. 




home 
Mich. 



f/:._^ ON. SAMUEL S. WALKEH, the organizer 
*^ and Chairman of the Michigan Mortgage 
Company, and one of the keenest men, in- 
tellectually, in Clinton County, makes his 
at Old Mission, Grand Traverse County, 
He was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua 
County, N. \'., .lune 11, 1841. His father, Hon. 
Alva H. Walker, was born in Foster, R. I., Feb- 
ruary 15, 1802. He was the son of -lohn Walker, 
of Rhode Island, who was in the War of 1812. 

His grandfather early removed to Western 
New York and settled near Fredonia in 1805. The 
father of our subject became identiScd as a mer- 
chant with the business of that village and re- 
mained one of its leading citizens until his re- 
moval to Michigan in 1855. He was early identi- 
lii'd with the educational interests of his home and 
for many years was a Trustee and Treasurer of the 
celebrated academy at Fredonia, which has re- 
cently been absorbed by the State Normal School 
there. He was deeply interested in public affairs, 
and w.as elected to the Senate of New York in 1853, 



receiving the almost unanimous vote of the District 
and serving in the Senate for two sessions. His 
first Michigan home was in Detroit, but in 1861 
he removed his family to St. John's and entered 
into business with the late Mr. Teachout. He 
was a member of the Constitutional Convention 
of Michigan, which met in Lansing in 1867, and 
was President of the village of St. John's for a 
number of years. He was a consistent member of 
the Presbyterian Church while in New York and of 
the Congregational Church at St. John's, contrib- 
uting by his means, counsel, and influence to its 
many good works. He died in St. John's, April 
3, 1891. 

The Walker famil}' descended from the North 
of England, the earliest member of it known in 
this countrjr, William Walker, being a sailor and 
private during the Revolutionary War, sailing 
with the celebrated John Paul Jones. The mother 
of our subject was Minerva Snow, daughter of 
Dr. Samuel Snow, of Booneville, Oneida Countj', 
N. Y. Dr. .Snow w.as born in Connecticut and 
there became a practicing physician. He after- 
ward removed to Sackett's Harbor, and after liv- 
ing at Booneville, spent his last days in Fredonia. 
Minerva (Snow) Walker still survives at the age 
of eighty-one years. 

The subject of this sketch had his education 
lirst in the district schools and then in the famous 
Fredonia Academy'. After coming to Detroit in 
1855, he continued his preparation for college. 
In 1857 he entered the literar}- department of the 
University of Michigan and after four 3ears took 
his diploma in the spring of 1861 with the degree 
of Bachelor of Science. He returned to St. John's 
and engaged with his father in merchandising, but 
in .January, 1865, opened a private bank which 
was changed that same fall to the First National 
Bank at St. John's. He continued as Cashier of 
this institution and as a dealer in real estate for 
about twelve years. In 1877 he sold his interest 
in the bank and turned his attention more entirely 
to real-estate loans and mortgages. In 1888 he 
organized tlic Michigan Mortgage Company, in 
which he is Chairman of the Board and Business 
manager. He is a born financier and has a thous- 
and and one schemes for the promotion of business 





C/l f-y^yuy 




^J^M..<:,A^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



205 



in which he is remarkably successful. His fine resi- 
dence is .in orn.iment to tlie city ami he is well- 
liked by those who have dealings with hiin. He 
has a beautiful summer home and productive farm 
on Grand Traverse Hay, at Old Mission. He has 
four hundred acres of fine lan<l and the place is 
known as "Water's Edge." He also has a fine 
farm here. 

Mr. W.ilker is a stock-holder in the State Bank 
and was one of its organizers. He is also Vice- 
president of the .State Hank at Carson Cit^' aud a 
Director in the Charlevoix Savings Bank. He 
also helped to organize the St. Louis aud Ovid 
Banks, and was eng.igeil in the spoke factor}' 
while it was in existence. He is also interested in the 
Durand Land Compan}' and w.as its first President. 
He also has mining interests in Colorado. Por 
twelve j-ears he was a member of the School Board 
and he is wide-awake to the educational needs of 
the cit}'. He was Trustee and President of tlie 
village of St. John's as long as he was willing to 
add these responsibilities to his heavy business 
cares. In 1874, he w.is elected to repres(:nt this 
county in the Michigan Legisl.ature, being the only 
Republican elected in the county that year. He 
served on various committees as Chairman and 
member, and is considered a leader among Repub- 
licans in that vicinity. He and his family are at- 
tached to the Eijiscop.al Cluirch where they find 
their religious home. From 1876 till 1882 he was 
a member of the Hoard of Regents of the Univer- 
sity of Michigan and is now Treasurer of the So- 
ciety of the Alumni of that institution. Alto- 
gether he is one of the most interesting cliaracters 
of this thriving city, and one to whom every one 
looks for help in any enterprise whi<'li is designed 
for its prosperity. 

Mr. Walker's marriage in 1864 to Miss Mary M. 
Chapin, daughter of Volney Chapin, a well-known 
manufacturer of Ann Arbor, united him with a 
prominent family and added .still more to his in- 
fluence in the community. His wife was born in 
Ann Arbor aud educated there. For further de- 
tails in regard to the hislor^- of this family the 
reader will refer to the biography of Volney A. 
Chapin, the ne|)hew of this lady. 

Three children have blessed this home, all of 



whom are being liberally educated. The two old- 
est, Susie and Louie, have both attended the Uni- 
versitj' at Ann Arbor, while Minnie w.os sent Fast 
to take advantage of the (Inc educational advan- 
tages which are afforded at Houghton Seminary, 
Clinton, N. Y. 



<^ LBFUT T. NICHOLS, Cashier of the 
i gg/ZJI I First National Hank of Corunna, is one of 

'/I II) the well-known financiers of Shiawassee 
(^ County, and his portrait presented on the 
opposite page shows the lineaments of a gentleman 
very ]irominent in his section of country. He 
was horn in Farmington Township, Oakland 
County, August 30, IS.S'i. and comes of ohl East- 
ern stock, whose blue blood is shown in the nat- 
ural courtes}' and ease of manner of the descend- 
ants. His paternal grandfather was Nathan 
Nichols, a native of Berkshire County, M.ass., and 
one of the early settlers in Ogden, N. Y. He 
cleared a farm there, on which his son Truman, 
father of our subject, was born and reared. In 
1836 Grandfather Nichols came to this State and 
the remnant of his days were spent in Oakland 
County; he was a solilier in the War of 1812. 
Truman Nichols w.as married in Monroe County, 
N. Y., in September, 1831, and with his bride joined 
the tide of emigration to the wilds of Michigan. 
They traveled on a canal-boat to Buffalo, crossed 
on the ''Henr^' Clay" to Detroit, and hireil a team 
to lake them to Oakland Count}^ 

Mr. Nichols lioughl eighty acres of land pay- 
ing the Government price of ^1.2,") per acre, and 
had i?10 left, with whicU he bought a heifer. He 
began chopping and clearing, putting up a log 
shanty in which to shelter his family. He threshed 
wheat for other settlers with a Hail, receiving for 
his labor one-tenth of the grain. Tlie country 
was full of Indians, and .it the time of the Black 
Hawk outbreak the neighbors went to Detroit for 
safety. Mr. Nichols remained on his farm, treat- 
ing the savages kindl}', and was not molested by 
them. He hewed out two farms from the wilder- 
ness an<l finally had three hundrt<l ami twenty 



206 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



acres of land well fitted for habitation. In tlie 
early days he went to Detroit for sup|)lies, and 
bought of Zach Chandler, aftenvard Michigan's 
famous Senator. He was one of the originators 
of tiic Baptist Cburcli in Farmington, which was 
the third organized in the State. His wife, who 
v/as a native of Brockport, N. Y., bore the maiden 
name of Hannah M. Allen. She is still living in 
F'arraington, which has been her home for aixty 
years, and she is now seventy-eight years old. 
She belongs to the same family from which Ethan 
Allen, the famous Green Mountain boy, sprang. 

The family of which our subject is the eldest 
comprises four sons and one daughter. As he 
was born on the old farm which was then |tartl.y 
cleared, his earliest recollections are of a wild 
region still tiie haunt of deer and wolves. When 
old enough to attend school he had two miles to 
go and hril nothing better than slab benches on 
whicli to sit. As the country became belter set- 
tled, the schools were improved, and before he 
was twenty years old he had .acquired a very good 
education. He then began teaching and a part of 
his work was done in the district where he liim- 
self had been a pupil. Ere long he attended the 
Normal school in Ypsilanti about a twelvemonth, 
but in two different terms, and he then returned 
to tiie liomestead and bought ninety acres of tlie 
old farm. He put u)) a building and engaged in 
the sale of general merchandise in liie village of 
Farmington, at the same time operating his farm, 
and in the course of time he became the owner of 
one hundred and forty acres. During the war he 
was enrolling ollicer and otherwise worked for the 
Union cause. 

In 18G5, when the First National liank of Cor- 
unna was organized, Mr. Nichols beanie a stock- 
holder and Director and in 1S71 he was elected 
Cashier. He then disposed of his interests in 
Farmington and removed to Corunna, and has 
been in constant discharge of the duties of his 
bank oHice except during six months when he was 
incapacitated by illness. No other Cashier in Shi- 
wassee County has had so long a term of service 
in that capacity. Mr. Nichols is interested in real 
estate and in agricultural work in and near the 
county seat. For twenty j-ears he has been Notary 



Public, and for eighteen years has been a member 
of the School Board and is now Treasurer. He 
has been one of the Board of Aldermen, serving 
more than fifteen years, and in 1889-90, was 
Mayor of the city. For two jears he was Treas- 
urer of the Shiwassee Count}- Mutual Fire Insur- 
ance Compan}-. In every position to which he 
has been called, whether of a financial nature or 
municipal relation, he has been honest and faith- 
ful and his reputation is firmly established. 

In Farmington, Oakland Count}', in 1855, Mr. 
Nichols was married to Miss Angeline E. Mills, a 
native of that place, who has been as faithful to 
the duties whicli lay before her as her husband 
has been to his. They have two children, Ella 
M. and Harr}- G., both at home. Mr. Nichols is 
Pa.st Eminent Commander of the Knights Temp- 
lar, belonging to Corunna Cnmmandery, No. 21. 

He has been a fervid Republican since the party 
was organized, and has frequently been a delegate 
to county and State conventions. He attended 
the National Convention in Chicago as an alter- 
nate, when Gen. Garfield was nominated for the 
Presidency. On account of his parents' faith he 
has special interest in the Baptist church, and be- 
cause his wife is an Episcopalian he regards that 
denomination with considerable favor. He there- 
fore attends and supports both churches and he 
has contributed to the building fund of other 
societies. He is a courteous, accommodating and 
affable gentleman, and is greatly liked by those 
who enjoy his ac(juaintance. 



-^ 



^^T^ 







GEORGE 11. .HDD, merchant tailor at St. 
John's, Clinton Countj', has been established 
in business longer than any other man of 
this class in the place, and is by all odds the most 
[irominent. He keeps fine goods always on band, 
carrying even more than his trade will warrant, 
and employs on!}' first-class workmen, to whom he 
pays city prices. He is himself a practical work- 
man, and is, tlierefore quick to observe any slack- 
ness on the part of his cmplo^'es, and it is his 
ambition to keep up the reputation of his establish- 



1>0RTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



207 



ment, and ever3'thiiig turned out from the shop 
must be first-class in material and workmansliip. 
The reputation of Mr. .Tudd is that of having the 
finest merchant tailoring establishment in Clinton 
County, and it is doubtful if any similar place in 
the central part of the State excels his. 

The parents of our subject, Richard and Mary 
A. (Gayton) Judd, were born in Devonshire, Eng- 
land, and sailed from their native land the day 
after their marriage. They came at once to tliis 
State and made their home in Blint, where Mr. 
Judd engaged in such honorable emplojnient as he 
could. He soon bought a suburban lot and built 
a residence in the midst of a seven-acre tract, and 
he still lives in that locality. He is one of the 
oldest settlers of Flint now living. Mrs. Judd 
entered into rest in October, 1889. She was an 
Episcopalian and a devout church member. The 
children born to her were George II., Tliurza and 
Eliso. The older daughter is now Mrs. King, of 
Los Angeles, Cal., and the younger is the wife of 
T. A. Willctt, of Flint. 

The subject of tliis biographical sketch was born 
in Flint, November 18, 1852, and saw that city 
grow from a small village to a ph^ee of import- 
ance. He was educated there and [lursucd his 
studies until he was within a year of grml nation 
from the High School. He then began to acquire 
his trade, learning to sew with one man at Clio, 
and then taking up the regular trade of tailoring 
with C. J. Haas in Flint. He remained with that 
gentleman some years, becoming a practical cutter 
and fitter, and for a j-ear and a half he had charge 
of the cutting work. He spent two years as clerk 
in a general dry goods store in Flint, but then re- 
sumed his trade. In 1877 he came to St. John 'sand 
began in a moderate way. It was not long ere he 
had a good run of custom, as soon as he became 
known as a reliable workman, and his business has 
increased, compelling him to hire more and more 
assistance. He has accumulated properly, has some 
valuable real estate here, and occupies a residence 
that he built for his own use. 

The home of Mr. Judd is presided over by a 
lady who is a first-class housekeeper and an esti- 
mable woman. She bore the maiden name of Adah 
Bailey, was boru in Grand Rapids, and was married 



to our subject in St. John's, December 1, 1879. 
They have five children, who are named respect- 
ivel3', Thurza M., AVilliam H., George E., Ethel 
and Gayton. Mr. Judd was confirmed in the Epis- 
copal Churcii at Flint, and the family attend and 
support it. He casts his vote with the Demo- 
cratic party, but takes no greater interest in |joli- 
tics than is the duty of ever}' good citizen. 



^/RANK I. GODDARD is the owner of a fine 




farm, which attests to the success he has 
met with in prosecuting the labors of life. 
He combines with the cultivation of the soil con- 
siderable work as a stock-raiser, and has an honor- 
able place among those similarly employed in 
Clinton County. His lK>me is on section 30, 
{Jreenbush Township, and tiie estate he owns 
there consists of ninety-five and one-half acres of 
land. It is under thorough cultivation and is sup- 
plied with numerous and commodious farm build- 
ings, including a dwelling which is frequently in- 
vaded by the friends of himself and wife, whose 
social qualities and interest in those about them is 
recognized by all. 

Mr. (ioddaril is a Knickerbocker, having been 
born in Erie County, N. Y., .luly 4,1847. His 
parents were Riverus and Susan (I)illcr) Gt>ddard, 
natives of Connecticut and I'ennsylvania, respect- 
ively, and he has a brother and sister living, 
namely: Uriah (Joddard, whose home is in Mont- 
calm County, and Harriet, wife of Judson Ban- 
croft, of Greenbush Township. The father 
emigrated to Clinton County in the fall of 18G5 
and settled on a partially' cleared tract of land that 
is now owned by our subject. He continued the 
work that had been begun upon the place, im|)rov- 
ing its condition from 3 car to year, and lived upon 
it until his earthly life was ended, February 5, 
1878. His wife survived him but a few weeks, 
passing away April 1, of the same ^ear. She was 
a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Goddard 
voted with the Repulilican party and acled with 
the public-spirited and industrious classes. 



208 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Frank I. Goddartl has been engaged in farming 
from liis youth up. He was educated in the com- 
mon schools and in Ids mature j-ears lias gleaned 
knowledge from various sources, prineii)al!y from 
the public prints which are so accessible in these 
later decades. He was married in 1872 'o Adeline 
Allen, daughter of John and Rebecca Allen, now 
deceased, who were early settlers in Clinton 
County. Mr. floddard follows his father's exam- 
ple in voting the Rei)ul)lican ticket and in taking 
an interest in that which promises to be of general 
bonefit. lie is carrying on his farm work in an 
able manner and receives a satisfactory income as 
a reward for his efforts. 



/^EORGE II. BEDFORD. In scanning the 
{/[ __, record of the lives and enterprises of citi- 
^^[f zens of Shiawassee County it is pleasant to 
note the exercise of ability in every walk of life. 
Talent may be shown in many a calling which is 
considered by superficial obseivcrs to be merely 
mechanical. True artistic merit and talent may 
be discerned in the work of Mr. Uedford, a sign 
painter of Owosso. He is frequently called upon 
10 paint designs which require ability and during 
political campaigns, especially during the Presiden- 
tial canvass, he has a great run of business in paint- 
ino- banners and portraits of the candidates, as he 
has skill in attaining a likeness and gives unusual 
satisfaction in his work. 

Our subject was born in North Newburg, Shia- 
wassee County, February 9, 1850. He is the only 
son of Joseph H. and Mildred (Ilubbert) Bedford, 
both natives of England and early settlers of Shia- 
wasse County. The father emigrated to the United 
States when a single man and coming to this eount3' 
took up Government land and then returned to 
England for some eigiit years. During this time 
he was married, after which he returned to the 
United States and spent some time on his new farm 
and then built a store, one of the first at Newbcrg, 
and engaged in carrying on 'a general store, and 
merchant tailor business, having le.irncd the tailor's 
trade in the old country. When on a business trip 



to New York to purchase goods he was taken sick 
and died there in June, 1856, when our subject was 
a mere lad. His wife is still living and is now in 
her sixty-sixth year and makes her home with our 
subject. 

George H. Bedford is the eldest of the two chil- 
dren of his parents, his only sister being Ada M., 
the wife of Jerome E. Turner. This son attended 
school at Newberg. In settling up the father's 
estate much of the property was lost, thus throw- 
ing the boy u[)on his own resources at a tender 
age. He worked for four 3'cars upon a farm and 
then clerked in a store at Newberg and afterward 
joined a surveying party. 

Our subject now took up painting, learning to 
paint carriages, and followed this for about eight- 
een years, most of that time carrying on an inde- 
pendent business at Owosso. He then turniMl his 
attention to sign painting and finally made that his 
specialty, and during the campaign of 1888 painted 
many campaign banners and flags which were sent 
out all over the State. Ho is trul}' artistic and ex- 
tremely accurate, being able to dispense with the 
measurements usuall}' made by sign-painters. His 
shop is at No. 210 Exchange Street over the gas 
company's office. 

A neat and handsome residence on Ball Street 
was erected by Mr. Bedford in 188.3. Here he re- 
sides with his mother wlio has charge of his bacli- 
elor home. He is a highly respected and industri- 
ous citizen and bear a high reputation for integ- 
rity. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and has 
served one term .as Alderman in his ward. He is a 
member of Owosso Lodge No. 81, F. & A. M.,and 
also of Owosso Chapter No. 89, R. A. M. 



^ 



E^ 



ARRIE r E. CASTLE. The lady whose name 
heads this sketch is at present a resident of 
Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, C'al. 
She was born on the home farm in Oakland 
County, this State, February 7, 1824. She en- 
joyed the educational advantages common to the 
children of that day and in 1875 she declared her 
independence of conventionality by going to Call- 






l^L4A.-:f 



^u 




/ti^O-^hyit^ --<<yL£'Lyl/-cV't.i 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



211 



fornifi anil pre-cmptinc: n claim of one hundred and 
sixty acres, located twelve miles east of Santa Cruz. 
Here she has made her home ever since. 

Perfect climate and scenery, Miss C'asUe feels, 
are in a measure a recompense for the host of 
friends and relatives she left in licr native State. 
From hir piazza siie lias a line view of the bay. 
Miss Castle is warmly attached to a niece who 
spends much time with her. Tliis lady, Miss Ida 
D. Hcnfcy, is a professiopal cloiiitionist and a 
fjraduatc of the California Tnlversity at Herklcy. 
She is the only living daughter of Louis and Delia 
(Castle) IJenfej'. The public readings which she 
gives are characterized by a careful analysis of the 
subject considered, and a most sympathetic ren- 
dering of the dramatic clement. It is said by 
those who have listened to Miss IJenfey's iMiU'rtain- 
ments that she is a lady of rare vocal culture and 
a thorough student. She is twenty-one years of 
age and has a fine address, possessing great beauty 
and talent. 



SDlJ-^B^TlC^ai" 



f 



rOHN STEWART, of the linn of Dewey & 
Stewart, proprietors of the Owosso Mills, 
has been successful in the accumulation of 
^^/> properly but is in manner unostentatious 
and unassuming, his character and his friendly 
kindness making him resi)ected and esteemed by 
all who know him. He was born in Seneca County', 
N. Y., in the village of Romulus, March 15, 182;"). 
His parents, David and Charlotte (Lyon) Stewart, 
reared their family in Seneca County. T^vo of 
their little ones died in infancy. 

The Western fever ins|)ired the father of this 
family to remove to Washtenaw County, Mich., in 
the Territorial days. Me located in Ypsilanti, in 
1825, and there for twenty-five years carried on 
farming operations. Later in life he removed to 
Owosso, where he lived with his sons and led a 
retired life. He was born in 1798 and died in 
Owosso, in 18C;5. His faithful companion, who 
survived him some seven i'ears, was born in 1795 
and |)assed away February 25, 187L (Jf their six 



children only two are living, four having been 
c:illed to pass over the dark i-iver. M. L. Stewart, 
a banker in Owosso, is the only surviving brother 
of our subject. 

The schooldays of our subject, were passed in 
Washtenaw County, Mich., until he moved to 
Owosso with his ])arents. In 1850 he formed a 
partnership with T. D. Dewey, a business union 
which is still in existence and has proved both con- 
genial and lucrative. These gentlemen erected 
what is known as the Owosso Flouring Mill, which, 
after operating for quite a time according to the 
old burr system, they remotleled in 1884 and 
changed to the roller system. Mr. Stewart still 
retains his interest in the Owosso Mills, but owing 
to poor licallli and asthmatic troulilc, he is seldom 
found about the; mills hut busies himself in look- 
ing after his farm and line hor.ses. He is |)art 
owner of "Louis Nni)()leon" and was also part 
owner of ".lerome Kddy," llie last named horse 
having brought $25,000 the last time he changed 
owners. Mr. Stewart still pays considerable atten- 
tion to the breeding of thoroughbred trotters. 

The gentleman whose sketch we here present was 
married January IG, 185.'i, at Owosso, Mich., to 
Mary X. Thomas, a native of Oakland County, 
Mich., and a daughter of Avery and Hariiet 
(Goodhue) Thomas, who were formerly of New 
York and came to Michigan as p'oneers in 18.31. 
Mrs. Stewart was born October 20, 1832, and is 
the only surviving child of her parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have two children living: 
Alice L., the older daughter, takes great delight 
in handling the reins and driving a good horse. 
She is interested in breeding and caring for fine an- 
imals and is at home among the horses and colts; 
Carrie .1., who is also under the parental roof, is 
accomplished in the musical line. 

Mr. Stewart is the owner of three good farms, 
one comprising live hundred and ninety- live acres, 
another one hundred and sixty and the third half 
that size. The last two are within tlie corporate 
limits of the city of Owosso. This property is all 
well improved and unusually valuable, and the res- 
idence of Mr. Stewart, at the c<jrner of Oliver and 
Water Streets, is both commodious and attractive. 
Our subject has served as Constable and some 



212 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



years ago was Alderman from the First Ward at 
Owosso. Politically he has always been a stanch 
Republican. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Stewart is pre- 
sented |in connection with liis biograpiiical notice. 



-i- 



-^ 



-5- 




^LI COOPER and his brother Lester arc 
among the leading and prosperous business 
firms of LainiTsbiirg, Mich., having been 



connected witli its public intciests for sixteen 
years. He is the proprietor of the fiii"st, liovcl in 
the place, also carries on nicrclianiiising and is 
engaged quite extensively in slock dealing. His 
excellent business ability-, enterprise and progress- 
ive siiirit have won liim success in life and as he is 
so widely and favorably known throughout the 
community we feel assured that a record of his 
life work will be receiveil with interest by man}' 
of our readers. 

Mr. Cooper was born in Crawford County, P;i., 
October 26, 1843, and is a son of Tliomas and 
Malinda (Courtwright) Cooper. His parents were 
natives of New York and there resided until after 
their marriage, when they removed to Crawford 
County, Pa., making their home in that counly 
until 1846, which year witnessed their arrival in 
Michigan. The}' settled near Franklin, Oakland 
County, where Mr. Cooper died some years later. 
His widow afterward became the wife of A. Smith 
of Little's Corners, Crawford County, Pa., where 
slie lived until after the death of her second lius- 
band whe» she returned to Michigan and has since 
made her home in Laingsburg with her children. 
She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and a most estimable lady. The family to 
wiiich our subject belongs numbered eight chil- 
dren as follows: Matilda, Polly A., Lavica, Aldon 
G., Thomas, Eli, Maria and Lester. 

Eli Cooper, whose name heads this sketcli was 
reared to manhood upon a farm in the vicinity 
of Franklin, Oakland C/'ounty, Mich., and near 
Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich. His boyhood 
days were spent mid play and work in the 
usual manner of farmer lads and like thousands of 



others he acquired his education in the schools of 
the neighborhood. Having resided in Oakland 
and Wa3'ne Counties until twenty-two years of age, 
he then went to Clinton County, where he pur- 
chased land near St. John's, and cleared and im- 
proved a farm. Having devoted his energies to 
agricultural pursuits until 1875, he then came to 
Laingsburg and built the Cooper House, which is 
a three storj- brick hotel. It is the best block in 
town and the hotel is furnished with all modern 
conveniences and is first class in every particular. 
As before stated, Mr. Cooper also engages in tlie 
mercantile business and is a stock-dealer. The lat- 
ter branch of business he has carried on for about 
sixteen years and nearly all of the stock shipped 
from Laingsburg passes through his hands. 

In political sentiment, Mr. Cooper is a Republi- 
can and while he keeps himself well informed on 
the issues of the day, is no politician in the sense 
of office seeking for he desires rather to devote his 
entire time and attention to his business interests, 
and carrying out this wish he has met with .signal 
success. He is still the owner of his excellent 
farm of one hundred acres near St. John's, and 
although he began life with no ca|)ital he has now 
a handsome competence. He is not only enter- 
prising but is sagacious and far-sighted as well and 
possesses those characteristics which are always 
essential to success, perseverance and thrift. 



-^1= 



^ IVILLIAM CALL, a well-known farmer and 
\fj/i stock-raiser, residing on section 5, Fair- 
\j^yi field Township, Shawassee County, was born 
in Onondaga County, N. Y., Jnly 4, 1832. He is 
a son of Sherman and .Susan (Randall) Call. The 
father was a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y., where 
lie was born April 1, 1813. The grandfather, Jesse 
Call, was a native of Vermont, of Scotch descent, 
and removed to New York when his son Sherman 
was a boy. Sherman removed to W.iyne County, 
Mich., when his son William was onl}- about fifleeii 
years old. After remaining two years the father 
returned to New York. William went on the Erie 
Canal, where he followed lowing for some seven 



POUTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AL15UM. 



213 



summers, and after llint, touk service as a sailor on 
Lnltrs Krie and Cbiiuiplain for some two jeiirs. 
During this time ho liiul inarle his vvny so tliat lie 
was now in command of a boat. 

William Call was happily married to Sarah A. 
Ciirlis. .hnie 10, l«5.'i. 'I'liis couple had lieen ac- 
quainted with each other Uvm their earliest child- 
hood, having been horn within a mile of each other. 
The lady is a daughter of Bradley B. and J.,ydia 
(Ahha) Curtis. His wife aecomi)anied him on his 
boat for about a year, but thinking it was lietter 
to make his home upon tiie land, Mr. Call decided 
to settle in iMiehigan, and in December, 185G, 
removed to Gratiot County. 

Soon after coming to Micdiigan this gi'utlcmau 
gained by his frank cordiality anil honorable deal- 
ings the good will of his fellow-citizens and he was 
shortly selected Township Treasurer, which otiiee 
he tilled for seven j-ears. He was .lustice of the 
Peace for eight years and Highway Commissioner 
for six years. He worked in the lumber woods in 
the winter and speculated in tax lands, doing well 
in both of these lines of business. 

The largest farm of Mr. Call comprised eighty 
acres on section 4. which he i)urchased twent^'-one 
years ago. and the tract of twenty -seven acres, sur- 
rounding his beautiful residence he purchased later 
and presented to his w'ife, so that she might be pro 
vidi'd for if anything should happen to him or his 
fortunes. In addition to this lie owns twenty acres 
in aTiother part of the township, besides a house 
and lot in Ashley. 

'I'he political views of our subject have led him 
to ally himself with the Republican party until the 
time of the last election, when he voted the I'rolii- 
hilion tickrt. lie has 'ravck'd considerably and is 
a man of broad informalion and considerable intel- 
ligence, lioth he and his worthy wife havi; been 
members of the I{a|)tist CIum( h for some twenty- 
three 3ears. His live children are: Ada, born 
April 4. 1«58, now Mrs. Charles Emmert, living in 
Gratiot County' ; Charles H., born July 21, IStM. 
living in Chai)in, this State; Edward, born .Maridi 1 H, 
1808, also living at Chapin ; and Nettie, born April 
4, 1872, who lives at home; the youngest child, 
Mabel, born .Inly 20, 1879, is still a school-girl. 
Our subject did uot have good opportunities foi 



e<Iucat!on in his youth, but this made him more and 
n)ore resolute in his design of giving his children 
fi better chance than he had himself. His eldest 
daughter taught school some nine terms before her 
marriage and the daughter Nettie is prepared for 
teaching, but prefers to be at home, as she is the 
mainstay and comfort of her parents and her love- 
liness of character and dutiful devotion lead them 
to lean ui)on her in many ways. This famdy is, 
perhaps, more than ordinary families united in 
their lives and syinjjathies and are helpful to each 
other. 



<« I»1LLIAM JOPLING, V. 8. The citizensof 
\^/l ^■'"•"^'^'^ "'l'*^ hi^vG emigrated to the States 
^'^ and have there established themselves .as 
permanent resi<Ients are almost invariably men of 
clijiracter and ability, who are gladly welcome to 
the privileges and opportunities which are ours. 
Among those who have thus added their mite of 
character and inlkience to the great .aggregate of 
integrity and business ability in the State of 
Michigan, we are pleased to mention William .lop- 
ling, who was born in the Dominion of Canada, in 
the province of Ontario, December 7, 1856. 

Our subject is a son of Sarah (Wade) .Topling, 
natives of Canada, and they gave to their son a 
thorough and comprehensive education. He passed 
his early school days in his native town, and after- 
wards attended school at Peterboro and later en- 
tered the Collegiate Institute, pursuing his stu<lies 
there for two years and making good progress in 
his classes. On leaving that institution he entered 
the ( )iitario Agricultural College, and upon com- 
pleting his couis(! there he commenced the stud}- 
of velcrinar}' surgery in the Ontario \'eterinary 
College, from wliicli he gra<luated in April, 1883. 
After graduation h(' spent the session of 1 88.'i-84 
in the college as Assist;int Demonstrator of Ana- 
tomy, remaining there about live months. 

Dr. Jopling was now pr(^pMre<l for independent 
practice, and in April, 1K84, he came to Owosso, 
Shiawassee County, and commenced his practice as 
a veterinary surgeon, to which profession he has 
devoted his whole time. He has a good horse barn 



214 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and all necessary appliances in liis business, and 
lias built up a good local practice as well as a large 
country trade in SLiawassee and adjoining coun- 
ties. 

In August, 1885, lie married Miss Jewel Pake, 
a native of Canada, born in Bellville, Ontario. Slie 
is a daughter of the late Atnos Pake, and tiieir 
union lias resulted in the birtii of two daughters — 
Hazel I. and Myrtle W. whose companionship and 
affection make bright the lives of their parents. 
Dr. iTopling is a member of llie Independent Order 
of Foresters, and is the commander of the lodge 
of the Maccabees with which he is ickntitied. Po- 
litically he is a Democrat. 




AMUEL W. GREEN. In the career of this 
enterprising farmer may be found an illus- 
tration of the worth of good princi|)les and 
habits of industry. He had not the inher- 
ited wealth that falls to some men, but instead had 
his own way to make, with only the weapons be- 
stowed upon him by beneficent nature and the ac- 
quirements of boyhood. He struggled along dur- 
ing youth and early manhood, and in 1854 came 
to Dallas Township, Clinton County, and set up a 
permanent home. He had then but little more tlian 
the money necessary to secure a tiact of Govern- 
ment land and jirovisions to last during the win- 
ter. Determination, frugality, and persistent in- 
dustry were brought to l)ear, and resulted in secur- 
ing a good home and the comforts of modern life. 
The family that Mr. Green represents was estab- 
lished in America during Colonial times by his 
grandfather, Russell Green, who emigrated from 
England when nineteen years old. When the Rev- 
olution took place he enlisted against the Mother 
Country, and fought bravely on the side of free- 
dom. After the war he settled in Massachusetts 
and married Maiy Hazard, a native of that State 
and the descendant of English colonists who came 
to Plymouth in 1G20. They reared four sons and 
three daughters and si)eut their lives on a farm. 
One of their family was Willitti. the direct progen- 
itor of our subject. That gentleman married Mary 



Eldridge, daughter of Amos Eldridge, of the Bay 
State and of honorable stock. After living in 
Erie County, N. Y., for some years, Mr. Green 
came to this State in 1840, and located in Oakland 
County. Ten years later he came to Clinton 
County and for thirty years was a resident of Dal- 
las Township, dying there in 1880 at the age of 
eighty years. His faithiul wife passed away two 
years before, aged seventy -eight. The meirbers of 
their family are Samuel, George, Willit, Alniira, 
Polly, Betsey, Philena, Nancy, Emily, Eliza and 
Matilda. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
in Erie County, N. Y., February 23, 1826, and at the 
age of fourteen years began the battle of life by 
working on a farm by the month. He pursued 
that course and was a Qsherman on the Lakes un- 
til 1853, when he took up his abode in Oakland 
County, this Stale, for three years. At llie expi- 
ration of that period he sitent two years in Flint 
;ind then vvent on the Lakes for Ave yeais. He 
next bought eighty acres of Government land, 
where he now lives and kept bachelor's hall for six 
months. He was quite a hunter and had O|)portu- 
nilies to exercise his skill, as deer were numerous 
and bears too frequently encountered for comfort. 
He once had a hand-to-hand contest with one and 
a narrow escape from serious consequences. While 
on the way home from the harvest field, he found 
a bear killing a hog and set upon her with a club, 
regardless of the fact that her cubs were with her 
and she would be even more ferocious than usually 
is the case. He succeeded in driving her away, 
although she turned on him and did battle with 
her paws. 

In Dallas Township, in 1855, Mr. Green was 
married to Miss Julia Duttou, whose father, George 
Dutton, was one of the earliest settlers in Clinton 
County, to which he came from New York. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Green there came four children, all 
now iu California, except George, the third child. 
He marriedjLena Harier, daughter of James Harter, 
a resident of Gratiot County and a native of New 
York. The young couple were joined in wedlock 
March G, 1889, and have an infant son, James S. 
The children of our subject who are iu the West, 
are Elleu, Edmond and Mary. The lady who now 



7iS«^.xs 




^^ 



■I' 







Qi 









PORTRAIT AND HIOCRAI'IIICAL ALHUINI. 



•2\: 



presides over the home of Mr. Green was known 
in her intiidenhood as Miss Catlierine Dorn. Her 
fatlior is Aniasa Doin, a well known resident of 
Dallas Township. Mr. and Mrs. fTreen belong lo 
the United Brethren Church and are generally 
respected for the earnestness of their lives and llie 
use they make of their lioie. Mr. Green has al- 
ways voted the Republicau ticket. 



X 



mBKRT G. MORRISON, M. I)., a surgeon 
y and physician of the Kclectic and Botanic 
iSi '^ school, but belter known, perluqis, as Col. 
Morrison, makes his home in St. John's, 
Clinton County. He was born in Wlieelock Hol- 
low, Caledonia County, Vt., at the foot of the 
Green Mountains, .Januaiy 6, 1«;38. His father, 
Jonathan, and his grandfather, Gillain, were both 
Vermontcrs and farmers. The latter was a dealer 
in and a lover of horses, and was accustomed to 
drive to Boston and back for a pleasant trip. He 
served in the Revolutionary War. Tlic family was 
of English and Scotch extraction. 

The father was also a noted horse dealer and a 
good judge of th.at fine animal. He was a liberal 
man in helping his neigh bois and lost a fortune by 
signing notes for a friend. In 1841 he removed 
to Indiana wheie he cultivated a farm in Hunting- 
ton County till his death. ])uring his residence 
there he was active in overseeing the introduction 
of water works in his city. The mother of our 
subject bore the maiden nanie of Betsey Brown, 
and was a resident of Caledonia County, Vt. Her 
father was in the War of 1812, and, removing to 
Indiana, died in IMuffton, Wells County, that State. 
He was of Knglisli parentage. The wife of Jona- 
than Morrison died in Midland City, Mich., and 
was buried in the cemetery with her two sons and 
one daughter. The parents were both earnest and 
.active members of the Free Will Baptist Chipch, 
anil had a family of eleven children. 

The subject of this brief biography came to In- 
diana when six years old. There he was reared 
and attended the district school in Huntington 
County, after which he took some sehooliug in the 



Ft. Wayne High School. When sixteen years old 
he began the study of medicine with Doctors Rich- 
ard and Davenpfut, and when only nineteen, began 
practicing, having (juile a country ride. When 
twenty years old he established an independent 
practice. After two gears' practice in the country 
he removed to Peoria County, HI., and ;ifler 
spending some lime there, returned to Indiana. 

The young Doctor enlisted when oidy twenty- 
three years old, September 10, ISCl. In one day 
and a half he raised a company of one hundred 
men, with whom he was mustered into the army as 
Captain at Anderson, Ind. Their regiment was 
lirsl placed in Gen. Sherman's command. The 
gallant conduct of the young soldier speedily 
raised liiui from one rank to another. He received 
his commission as Major, September 2, 1HG2; as 
liiiuteiiant-Colonel, December 17, 180;!; and .as 
Colonel, March 21, 18G5. He was linally mustered 
out of service at Brownsville, Texas, February 3, 
isoo. 

Tlie Colonel took part in the following engage- 
ments: New Madrid, Riddles Point, Mo., Ft. Pil- 
low, Grand Prairie, Ark., Yazoo Pass, Miss., Port 
Gibson, Champion Hills, Siege of \'icksburg, .lack- 
son, Caniro Crow Bayou, La., Grand Choctaw, 
Grand Gulf, Miss., Palo Alto, Tex., and other 
lesser lights and skirmishes. At the battle of Mag- 
nolia Hill, Miss., he received a slight wound in his 
left shin bone from a cannister shot, but it w.is 
not severe enough to comj/el him to be off duty. 
He had command of his regiment for two and one- 
half years. 

Before Col. Morrison enlisted as a private in the 
army (iov. Morton sent him a commissioli as sur- 
geon, which he refused. While in the army, not a 
day p.assed but he visited the hospital and did all 
in his power for the comfort and relief of the suf- 
ferers under his command. The last live and one- 
half months of his army life he was in command 
of a separate brigade by special order of Major 
General Steel; Brigadier General James Slack 
having been relieved of the command liy reason of 
being mustered out of the service, this brigaile was 
composed of all the white troops in the Rio Grande 
district at that time. 

At the close of the war the young Colonel lo- 



218 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



cated at Roanoke, Iiid.. eanyiiif; on liis professional 
piaclicc in connection with the dry -goods business 
for two and onc-lialf years, after wliicli lie spent a 
sliort lime in Vl. Wayne. He tried Wisconsin as 
a place of residence, seeking health which iiad 
been considerably impaired by his army expe- 
rience, but returned to Indiana. In 1877 he came 
to Michigan and located in Allegan for some eight- 
een years, after which he lived in Midland for 
avvliile. 

October 12, 1886, Col. Morrison made his home 
in St. .lohn's, where he has built up a line practice, 
being the only Kclcctic and Botanic physician in 
the city. Here he has built a pleasant home. Ills 
marriage in Allegan in 1.S81 united him with Miss 
Lima K. Selleck, a native of New York. He is one 
of the examining physicians for the branch otiicc 
of the United Stales Pension Department, and is 
Treasurer. He is ideulitied with the Masonic 
order in the Llue Lodge and also belongs to the 
County Me<lical Society. Politically, he is a 
strong Republican, an<l, as might naturally be ex- 
pected, is an inlluential member of IheGrisson Post, 
(L A. R. 

A lilhogiaphic portrait of Col. Morrison is i>re- 
senlcd elsewhere in this volume. 



^^ 



aHARLKS I-:. RIGLKV, is a potent factor in 
the work of the Estey Manufacturing Com- 
' l)any, of Owosso, and is considered one of 
the best linanciers in the city. He has various 
business inten.^ts here, but that in which he is ac- 
tively engage<l is the one above mentioned, in which 
he has the |)(>silion of Secretary and Trea.surer. He 
docs nil the biiving and manages the finances, thor- 
oughly un<lcrslanding the details of the business, 
aiul displaying great shrewdness in securing need- 
tul material, etc. 

Mr. Rigley is a son of the Green Mountain Slate, 
iK.rn in Norlhfield, September 27, 1818. His par- 
ents were Kdward and Christina (Butler) Rigley, 
both natives of lands acri)ss the sea. The father 
was born in Lancashire, Kngland, and was a spin- 
jier by trade. When he came to America he be- 



came connected with woolen mills, and the most of 
his active life was spent at his trade. The mother 
was born in Kdinburg, Scotland, and was scvdi- 
teen j'ears old when she accompanied her parcnis 
to the United States. The son of whom we wiiic, 
spent his early boyhood in Slockbridge, Beikshire 
County, Mass., dividing his time between sUidy 
and such light work as he was able to perform. In 
1M07 he came to Detroit, and for some time spent llie 
days in painting or doing any other work by which 
he could earn an honest dollar. The evenings were 
spent in sehcol, principally IJryant A- Stratlon's 
Commercial College, wiierc he took a full business 
course. At its completion he entered the employ 
of the Estey & Tooley Company, wiiii which he 
remained in Detroit until 1875. That year the 
firm established themselves in Owosso, an<l Mr. 
Rigley came hither as one of their trusted em- 
ployes. 

Soon after the removal the? Estey Manufacturing 
Company was organized, and Mr. Rigley was made 
Vice President and Secretary. In 1885 Julius 
Estey succeeded him as Vice President., and he as- 
sumed the ollice of Treasurer, still retaining the 
duties of Secretaryship. His i)lace is one of great 
responsibility, calling for the display of the strict- 
est honesty, good clerical ability and tact of a high 
order. That Mr. Rigley has not been found want- 
ing is demonstrated by the feeling with which ho 
is regarded by those who have been his associates 
in thecom|)an3- or with whom he has business deal- 
ings. 

On November 14. 1873, he was married to Miss 
Sarah Landon, of Iirockville, Canada. Siie was IIil 
daughler of James Landon. She has borne her hus- 
band three children whose respective names are: 
Charles E., Lois E. and James (!. The interesting 
family brightens the pleasant residence, which, with 
its tastefully adorned grounds, is one of the at- 
tractive features of the city. Mrs. Rigley died 
January IG, 1883. 

JNIr. Rigley is a stock-holder and Director of the 
Owosso Savings Uank, and of the .Shiaw.issce .'sav- 
ings Society. He is a member of the Ancient Or- 
der of United Workmen, a Director of the Young 
Men's Christian Association, and a Trustee in the 
Baptist Chinch. The religious society named has 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGIIAIMIICAI. ALBUM. 



219 



no more active member or liberal contributor than 

lie. Ill every project which promises lo iiiil the 
cili/.i IIS of the town nnd coiiiity to !i iiinlier life 
iiiid menler iirosperily, Mr. Kij;ley is round lendinj; 
a iiand. In politics lie is ;i Republican. Intelli- 
gent, social and well-liied, he is a favorite in so- 
ciety. 



^^1 



W,ILL1AM N. III'SON, who is nunibeied 
ainonfif the industrious fainicrs of C'linlon 
County, is located on section i, Dallas 
'l'owiislii|i. 1 le h;is seveiily iicics of fertilt^ l.iiid, 
with ^ood buildings upon it, and his perseverance 
and earnestness are rewarded by the securiii^j of a 
good inaiiilt'iiaiiee from his liehls and Mocks. Il(^ 
bej^aii his Labors tipun this liael when it was in its 
primitive condition of forest wildriess, ami deer 
were numerous in the locality, lie clearecl .•mil 
liroke the farm, .and from year to year made such 
inipiovements in the way of orchai'ds and buildiiif^s 
as seemed to him littinj,', unlll he had a comfin'l- 
:ible home. 

.Siimmd I ' psoii, grandfather of our sulije<'t, was 
born, re.'iied and married in Conma'ticul, but spent 
his last )ears in Ohio, lo which State lie went din- 
ing its early settlement. His wife also died in that 
Stale, in Medina County. They reared a family of 
live sons and one daughter. 'I'heir son Archibald, 
father of our subject, went from his native State, 
Connecticut, to New York, in his early life, and 
made his home in Delaware County. He married 
Nancy Newlaiid, daughter of William Newluml, 
who was a native of Vermont ami an hotel keepc- 
most of his life. 'J'he only child born of the union 
was William N., who was about five ^'ears of age 
when bis father died. His mother subsequently 
married Reynolds Sweet, and with her second hus- 
band came to this State, both dying in Calhoun 
Counl3'. Their children are Newland W., Sophro- 
nia A., James L., Klijali, Margaret and Joel. 

The subject of this notice was born in Dclawai'e 
County, N. Y., December 21, 1820, and remained 
at home until be was of age. He then began work- 
ing by the month on a farm, having been reared to 
agricultural work. After bis marriage he ceased 



working by the month, and entered upon a regular 
farmer's life. In 1852 he came to Michigan, and 
for three years his home was in IJattle Creek. He 
then bought and took possessioii of lifty-live acres 
of the property he now owns. In course ol lime 
be added to the trad, and by degrees liKiughl it to 
its present excellent condition. 

In New York, December 22, ISlf), Mr. I pson was 
married to Miss l>;iinor R. Williams, who shared 
his fortunes, and was his cherished companion un- 
til Apiil I, 187"), when she breathed her last. Her 
father, Nathaniel Willi.ams, a native of the iMiipire 
State, came lo C'linldii C'oiiiity when lifty-live years 
old and died In re at I lie age of seventy-two. He 
was a shoeinaUer by trade, .and followed the same 
on the faiiii occu[)ied by Mr. llpson. To our sub- 
ject anil his wife one eiiild w;is liiirii, Id;i I., now 
Airs. I''reenian, and the mother of tliri'e children, 
named respectively, Orplia, William and Myrtle. 
Mr. I'pson has held all the township odices except 
Constable, and be was retained as Township Ch-rk 
a number of 3ears. He liasalw.ays voteij a Demo- 
cratic ticket. He is a menilier of the Baptist Church 
and his deceased wife was identilied wilh the same 
religions body. A (jiiiet, unassuming man and a 
good citizen, he is respected by his acipminlanees, 
and numbered among those who arc worthy of re- 
gard. 



Vl/OHN M. SHAFT, dealer in hardware, paints 
oils and groceries at Shaftbnrg, Shiawassee 
(.'ounty, was born in Lenox 'I'ownship, Mad- 
ison County, N. Y., .lune 18, 18;{7. .lolin 
1'. Shaft, his father, was a native of New York 
Stale and it was after him that the village of .Shaft- 
burg was named. The grandfather I'eter Shaft was 
also a native of New York and was of (Jernnin and 
Holland descent. l'(!ter Shaft came to Michigan 
about the year 1840, having been a soldier in the 
War of 1812. He wiis a Whig in (lolitics and after 
his coming W^est made his home with his son, .lohn 
P. in which home he died after having completed 
more than four-score and ten years. 

The father of our subject owned an cighly-acro 
farm in Madison County, N. Y., and was llicic 



220 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



marriorl and came to tlic AVcst in 1839. He luade 
his journey Ihrough Canada in piaiiie scliocners, 
camping out in tlio wagon at niglil. He located in 
t'lC townsiiip of Pen-y, Shiawassee County and 
there bought two hundred and forty acres of hind 
upon whicli there were no improvements. Tlie 
nearest house to them was six miles awny. In the 
summers the Indians were frequent callers as he was 
situated upon their trail and he used to trade with 
tlicni and buy venison of them, although he hunted 
some and partially su|)plied his family with veni- 
son and l)ear steaks. 

This pioneer used to market grain in Detroit and 
it took six days to make the trip as there were no 
regular roads this side of Howell. He cleared up 
a farm and at one time owned eighteen hundred 
acres. He was a hard worker and a very persever- 
ing man. He came to Michigan with a small oaiii- 
tal of S700 or ^SOO and was quite successful in his 
operations. He was first a Whig and then a Re- 
publican in politics, and was earnest in his Chris- 
tian belief, being an active member of the Methodist 
Church. Ho passed away from earth November 16, 
1890. 

Christian (Olsaver) Shaft, the mother of our sub- 
ject was born in Madison County, N. Y., in 180G. 
Her eight children all grew to man's and woman's 
estate, bearing the names of Orville, Elizabeth, 
.lane, JMaitlia, John M., Anna, Eliza and Henry. 
The mother who died in 18-15 was of German and 
Holland (lescent and her parents were Martin and 
Anna (Williams) Olsaver. The name was origin- 
ally spelt Ulsheffer. Both of this worthy couple 
lived to comi)lete their fourscore years. 

I'lie subject of this sketch was a little fellow of 
two and one-half years when he made his memor- 
able jouiney by wagon to Canada and he renicin- 
beri; still seeing the red coated soldiers of the 
Canadian Army. He was educated in the log 
schoolhou.se under the rate bill system, amid the 
surroundings of a pioneer school and had more 
neighbors who wore the blanket than those who 
wore the garments of civilization. While still a 
boy at home he used to haul wheat to Detroit and 
hunted not only deer I)ul coons. 

His father u;ive the young man eighty acres of 
wild l.md upon which lie settled ami [)roeeeded to 



improve it. He built a frame house, to which he 
has since made additions and carried on farming 
exclusiveli' until thirteen years ago. At th?t lime 
he saw a good opening in the mercantile line in 
Shaftburg and erecting the first store building in 
that village, began business there in 1877, with a 
stock of groceries. He opened a stock of hardware 
in 1884 and was the first man to engage in nu'i- 
chandise of any sort at that point. He erected the 
fine double brick store in 1889 and there hecariies 
on business with a general line of goods, including 
hardware, oils, paints and groceries, in fact almost 
everything to be found in a "country store" with 
the exception of dry goods. 

Elizabeth I'inkney became the wife of .lohn M. 
Shaft in 1858. She was born in Livingston County, 
Mich., and is the mother of eight children: Cash, 
Lillian, James, Elizabeth, Ella, Peter, Ray and Roe. 
Mr. Shaft's political alHliations are with the Dem- 
ocratic [larty and he has held a number of township 
otlices having been Township Treasurer six or eight 
terms. He is identified with tlu^ Masonic order at 
Laingsburg being a member of Lodge No. 230. 



ylLLlAM R. SHAW is one of the enter- 
prising and painstaking business men of 
Ovid, Clinton County, engaged in dealing; 
in all kinds of |)roduce and grain. He was for some 
time manager of the elevator which was owned by 
the H0II3' Milling Company, but in 1890 purchased 
the entire interest and has been carrying on the 
business for his own emolument. Mr. Shaw has 
shown good business ability so far in life, and being 
a young man who is well informed a.m\ quick to 
apprehend the turns in the tide, his career is likely 
to continue a prosperous one, and his business be- 
come one of the important enterprises of this 
county. 

Mr. Shaw was b >rn in Livonia, Wayne County, 
August II, 1S59, and (lassed his early life on a 
farm, as his father was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. John Shaw, the |),-ireiil, was born in Not- 
tingham, KiiLland, but has lived in America many 
years and become thoroughly in sympathy with 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



221 



American institutions and ideas. Tlie molhtr of 
our subject is a native of this State and bore the 
maiden name of Mary A. Madcn. The son looked 
forward to talvinj" a collegiate course and pursued 
his preparatory work in the Ann Arbor High 
School, but on account of poor health was obliged 
to change his plans. When nineteen yeais old he 
began to teach and for a year gave his attention 
to [irofessional work in Wayne County. Finding 
that he was likely to enter upon n business life 
rather than that of a student, lie then went to 
Detroit and became cashier in the wholesale store 
of Hammond, Standish & Co. For eight years he 
was thus engaged, then came to Ovid and began 
the management of the elevator, from which em- 
ployment has grown his present occupation. 

On February 13, 1884, Mr. Shaw was niarrinl to 
Miss P^lla S. Partridge, an educated, refined lady, 
daughter of George W. Partridge, of Detroit. The 
children who have come to bless the union are 
John C. born August 24, 1885; Carrie L., August 
15, 1888; and Robert D., June 30, 1890. Mr. and 
Mrs. Shaw are agreeable and friendly, and with their 
general intelligence and good manners are becom- 
ing popular in the society' which they frequent. Mr. 
Shaw is a Rei)ublican, but has never held ollico. 
Instead he pursues the even tenor of his way, at- 
tending thoroughly to business matters and enjoy- 
ing domestic and social life as befits one of his 
quiet tastes. 



-^N-B- 



J^ OHN J. PATCHEL. The gentleman who 
owns the line farm on section 10, in \'eriuin 
Township, Shiawassee County, was born in 
Essex County, N. J., in the town of Bloom- 
field, June 1 7, 1839. His father was Samuel Patcliel, 
a native of New York, born in Schoharie Count}-, 
October 7, 1809. He spent the early jjart of his 
life in his native place, from which he went to New 
Jersey and then came to Michigan in 1848, at wliicli 
time he located in Shiawassee Counly, X'enion 
Township, on section 9. There were no improve- 
ments whatever on the farm and tliei'' lirsl^ dwell- 
ing was a little log house which he himself erected. 



At the time of his death, which occurred March 
18, 1891, his farm was one of the most highly im- 
proved m the county. He was a firm adherent of 
the Democratic i)arty. 

Our subject's family on the paternal side of the 
house were of Irish origin. His grandfather, Sam- 
uel Patchel, came to America at the age of twelve 
years and located in New York where he remained 
until his death. Our subject's mother was also 
from Ireland. Her mai<len name was Bridget Gar- 
rity. She came to this country when only eighteen 
years of age and is still living, having attained to 
the ripe old age of three-score and twelve. The 
gculleinan of whom we write is one of five chil- 
dren, one having died in infancy. The children 
are as follows: our subject, John J.; William; Peter; 
Mary E., and Richard T. 

The original of our sketch, John J. Patchel, was 
brought to Michigan l»y his parents when but nine 
years of age and experienced all the delights that 
a boy can feel in primitive and pioneer settlement. 
Only think of the fox hunts, deer, bear and wild 
turkey that could be had for the killing! The woods 
were full of the riclicsl and sweetest nuts and the 
holiday in which these sports could be enjoyed to 
the fullest extent was well worth several days' work 
hoL'ing in the corn-field or chopping wood in the 
forest. His first school life was passed in his na- 
tive i)lace. lie finished his school days in Vernon. 
Ho remained with his father, helping him with the 
manifold work that is necessary on a farm until he 
reacln'il his twenty-second year, when he started 
out f()r himself, working on a farm in the summer 
and teaching in tlie winter. This course he pur- 
sued for four years. 

December 13, 18G6, Mr. Patchel was married to 
Mar}- E., daughter of Chandler B. and Phebe 
(Sickles) Clialker, a sketch of whose family will I)e 
found on another page of this Ai.ni si. Mrs. 
Patchel was born in Shiawassee County, Vernon 
Township, August 21, 1838, and was reare<] in her 
native place. Three daughters and three sons are 
now living of this family: Samuel C, who was 
born October 9, 18()7, took to wife Adella Kcnyon 
and resides on the same farm with our subject. 
The second child is Ellen, who was liurn Januavj- 
13, 1871, and died November (!, 1873; then came 



222 



PORTKAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Edith M., born May 15, 1872, and died August 15 
of the same year; tiieii Helen J., who was liorn 
Alnrch 24, 1874; Mary E.. June i;3, 1875; John R., 
June 23, 1878; Emma B., August 2G, 1880, and 
Ralph J., September 11, 1882. These children first 
saw the light of day on the home farm where our 
suhject now lives. 

Mr. Patdicl after his marriage at on(ie settled on 
the place where he now resides, first building a log 
liouse, 16x25 feet in dimensions. Eight acres of 
the farm were cleared when the farm was purchased. 
He kept gradually cutting the timber and con- 
stantly adding more to the original acreage in the 
place. He now has one hundred and twenty acres, 
ninet3'-five of which are under cultivation. He is 
a general farmer, although he devotes much time to 
breeding improved slock. He built his present 
residence in 1889 at a cost of $2,500. II is a two- 
story brick dwelling, built in tlie modern style and 
containing eleven rooms with closets and other 
conveniences and nicely finished in red oak. It is 
indeed a pleasant home. 

In politics Mr. Patchel is a Re|>ulilican. He has 
been Supervisor of the township. School Inspector 
and has held various other local odices. His posi- 
tion as Supervisor extended over four years. He 
is a member of the Congregational Church of Ver- 
non, as are all his family dovvn to the smallest. He 
is a Doacon in this body and also Trustee, and de- 
votes himself ardently to cliurch work and also to 
the Sunday-school. 



-> 






ml 



'if;UDGE CURTIS J. GALE. Few indeed are 
the men who retain an official position for as 
great a length of time as that in which Mr. 
Gale has been Justice of the Peace. He was 
first elected to this |)osillon in 185!) and has held it 
continuously, and has lieen absent from his field of 
l:il)of lull six nionlhs during the more than thirty 
years of his incunil)eiicy. His name is ver3' famil- 
iar in Shiawassee County, as he is one of the old set- 
tlers, as well as one of the most busy lawyers. He 
was admitted to the bar the year that he became 
Justice of the Peace and for some time no ten men 



did as much business as he. He has done other 
official work besides that belonging to the office of 
Justice, nearly all connected in some wise with 
legal forms and practices. He is now retiring from 
professional work and devoting his time to farm- 
ing and breeding fine horses. The latter may be 
said to be a hobby with Judge Gale, and he is tak- 
ing great pains to prepare his land for the work in 
which be is so interested, by arranging suitable 
shelter and training tracks. 

The Gales are an old Jiastern family and presum- 
ably of English descent. The grandfather of our 
subject was Joseph, a native of the Empire Slate 
and a farmer in Westchester County, five miles from 
Peekskill, among the foothills of the Catskill range. 
The farm he lived upon is now operated as a sum- 
mer resort by another member of the family-. It 
is principally covered with slate, and those who 
have lived there in former years have made their 
support by raising poultry and garden truck, for 
sale at West Point. Joseph Gale, father of our 
subject, was reared as a farmer but left the home- 
stead and located in New York City. For about 
twenty years be was engaged in the cartage and 
dairy business, and for about the same length of 
time was a night-watchman, becoming captain of 
the night watch of the metropolis. In the j-ears 
1837 — 38 — 39, he came to this State and located 
lands at different points in Jackson, Ingham and 
Shiawassee Counties. In 1840 he made a fourth 
trip and bought property in Ingham County upon 
which he established his home. He settled in the 
woods and made from the forest land a fruitful 
estate, clearing and breaking and putting up good 
buildings. He died there in 1872, at which time 
his hohling of real estate was eleven hundred acres, 
all improved. He was Supervisor several years 
and was a well respected citizen. 

The wife of Capt. Joseph Gale anti mother of 
our subject w.as born in New York and bore the 
name of Marj' Sutton. She was descended from a 
Mohawk Dutch family. She died in Ingham County, 
this Stale in 1848, leaving five children, three of 
whom arc now living in that county. They are 
Charles, John C and Mrs. Elizabeth Pierson. 
The youngest member of the family is Mrs. Ann 
Correll, whose home is in Eaton Count}- and the 



PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



223 



third is the subject of this notice. This gentleman 
was born in New Yorlv City, in April 1829, and ' 
attended school there until 1810. The family were 
twelve days in making the journey 'o their Michi- 
gan home, traveling on the Hudson River, Erie 
Canal and Ijake, aid from Detroit to Ann Arbor 
by rail. From that point to Ingham County they 
went in a wagon and father and sons carried guns, 
as their journey was through a wild country and 
they did not know what animals they would en- 
counter. Our subject was early put to work break- 
ing lanil, there being some |iarts of the properly 
not covered with tinilier. lie had coniinori-scliool 
advantages and when about twenty years old at- 
tended Spring Arbor College. He acquired an 
excellent etlucalion, being privileged to continue 
his studies several years. 

Mr. dale went to .Tackson and learncrl the paint- 
er's trade, then spent a ^'car vvilli his father and in 
the winter of 1856 came to Coniiini. He took u|) 
the business of lumbering in the north woods on 
the Tilavassee River, but tired of the business with- 
in a year and abandoned it to begin reading 
law under S. 1'. Parson. He says this was tlie mis- 
take of his life, for fortunes were then to be made 
in the pineries. After he w.is a Imitted to the bar 
he was in active practice until his health failed, 
when he began to draw out on legal work and pay 
more attention to other nutters. He was Circuit 
Court Commissioner eight years, was Postmaster of 
Corunna four years under the .administration of 
Gen. Grant, and for some time Supervisor of the 
First Ward. He also held the Ma^-or's olliee one 
year, was City Clerk several years and while Super- 
visor was Chairman of the County Hoard three 
years. He has also been a member of the School 
Board for a protracted period anil for several years 
was Secretary of that body. The mention of these 
positions gives but a fnint idea of the amount of 
business transacted by Judge (ide during the ib;- 
cades that Corunna has been his home. 

Mr. Gale has twenty acres of land within the 
corporation and a two hundred and forty-acre farm 
in Hazelton Townshij). For twelve or thirteen 
years he h.as been carrying on the small tr.act, em- 
I'loying from twelve to fifteen hands during the 
spring and summer. He made a specialty of rais- 



ing onions and made a financial success of the pro- 
ject. He built an onion cellar witli a granite wall 
in which he could store three thousand bushels, 
designing the structure for the purjjose. He was 
for a long time the heaviest dealer in that vegetable 
in the .Slate, but he finally gave np growing them 
on account of the condition of tiie land. Mr. (lale 
put up a line brick residence which is set off by a 
handsome lawn, his home being known as "West 
Side Lawn." In 1888 he built a driving track less 
than half a mile in circuit, and in the fall of IHi)0 
enlarged it, and now the West .Si(ie Driving P.-irk 
iias the best half-mile track in the county. 

The special purpose of Mr. Gale in making the 
track was to have a place for the training of Gov. 
Tod, which is considiM'ed the best colt in Michigan. 
It is a three-year-old lia^- stallion, sixteen hands 
high, and shows trotting action sehlom exhibited 
in a colt of its years. It is by Louis Napoleon, 
(lam Kit (Javin and grand-dam Scott's Hiatoga. 
Its grandsire has strains of the MesscTiger, Hain- 
bletonian and Abdallah blood and the record made 
by other horses of the same stock is very low. Mr. 
(Jalc has a couple of fine driving teams with a gait 
of less than three minutes, and he has carried off 
the blue ribbon from the State fairs for gentlemen's 
driving horses. He has also some line fillies and 
his stud is one of the largest and best in the count}'. 
The stable in which his steeds are sheltered is one 
of the best appointed in the State. Mr. (iale owns 
city lots and has excellent improvements on his 
large farm, which he superintends. 

At Kalon Rapids, Eaton County, in 18f),5, Mr. 
Gale was married to Miss .lulia Preston, a native 
of Jackson County. She was an accomplished 
musician and prior to her marriage was a music 
teacher; she died in Pontiac leaving one child, 
Frank, who is now book-keeper for the Corunna 
Coal Company. A second marriage was made by 
Mr. Gale, the ceremony being performed in Shia- 
wassee Township and the bride being .Miss S.aman- 
tha Parnienter. She is a daughter of Joseph Par- 
menler, one of the first i)ioneers of the county. 
This marriage has been blest by the birth of one 
child — Joseph, who lives with his parents. Mrs. 
CJale is a member of the Baptist Church. Judge 
Gale is a Knight Templar and for years has been 



224 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Captain General of the Commaudery i" Corunna. 
He has been identified with the Repuljliean party 
since its organization and is recognized as one of 
its influential members in this part of the State. 



^j^^ELSOM SCOTT, a representative farmer anil 
I jjj stock-raiser of Greenbush Township, Clin- 
jtit^ ton County, nialving liis home on section 
15, is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, and was 
born August 15, 1850. His parents William and 
Olive Scott are botli natives of tiie lUickej-e State, 
and the father emigrated to Clinton County, this 
State in 1855, making a settlement on section 10, 
Greenbush Township. Here in the dense woods 
he made a home for his family, and became a pio- 
neer and permanent settler, as he remained upon 
tlie same tract of land until his death in 1872. He 
was married a second time and was the fatiicr of 
four children, three of whom are living: Chins- 
worth, who resides in Elsie, Mich. : Nelson; and 
Alice who lives in Toledo, Ohio. 

Mr. Scott was ever deeply interested in local 
matters, especially in regard to educational affairs 
and has served as one of the School Directors. He 
was always looked to as one of the men who would 
earnestly promote all movements looking toward 
the prosperity of the township, and the elevation 
of its people. His political views led iiim to alflli- 
ate himself with the Republican party. He was 
a public-spirited man and in his death the com- 
munity lost one of its best members and a pioneer 
who had endured hardship as a good soldier. 

Nelson Scott was reared to manhood in Clinton 
County, and amid the trying yet stirring scenes of 
pioneoi life, and has been a part himself of the 
wonderful progress which this countr3' has seen 
since it was a wilderness. He received his educa- 
tion in tiie district schools of the township, which 
weic not in his days as tliorough and systematic as 
might be desired although they did a noble work 
in their way, and reached as higli a degree of ex- 
cellence as could be expected. He has in his life 
long career as a farmer ever striven to improve 
himself by reading the journals of the day and has 



thus gained much which was denied him in his 
early days. The marriage of our subject, Decem- 
ber 2G, 1878, united him with Matilda C. McQuis- 
tion, who is a native of Indiana. By their union 
there was born one son. Henry O., who came to 
them November 29, 1880. 

Mr. Scott settled on his present farm in the 
spring of 188G. He now owns sixty acres of ara- 
ble land, well improved and fitted up with excel- 
lent farm buildings. His political sympathies bring 
him into connection with the Republican party, 
and he is dpc|)l\- interested in the progress of that 
organization. Both he and his amiable wife are 
faithful and earnest members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and active members of society. 
Mrs. Scott is actively identified with the Woman's 
Foreign Missionary .Society connected with her 
church, and is an intelligent lady of refinement 
and sterling qualities, and the^- are both highly es- 
teemed members of societj'. 

i^^ AMUEL E. PEARL is perhaps as well- 
known as any man in the town of Ovid, 
Clinton County, as he has l)een engaged in 
business here for some years and carries 
a thiiving trade. His business is that of a 
dealer in clothing and is run under the firm name 
of Cowen & I'earl, and in the pleasant store a well 
selected stock may always be seen, and at prices 
that defy competition. At present Mr. Pearl is 
giving his personal attention to completing the 
work on hand at the works of the Schofield Buggy 
Company, for which he was appointed receiver in 
September, 1890. When that corporation failed 
tiie court placed their affairs in the hands of Mr. 
Pearl and he has opened the factory, and is trying 
to complete all their contracts. 

Clinton County is that in which Mr. Pearl was 
born, and his early home was in Duplain Township, 
where his eyes opened to the light October 14, 
1859. His p.arcnls are Orsamus M. and Ann II. 
(Faxon) Pearl, the former a merchant of rei)ute. 
The educational privileges of our subject were such 
as the common schools afford, supplemented by a 




on 







u(ji^<2^M>Z^j^^ "^n 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



227 



three years' course at Hillsdale College. He de- 
cided upon the liter.iry course as the hest for him 
and most likely to be useful in his future life, and 
applied himself diligently thereto. When Ihe ra(^e 
was run he embarked in business and still operates, 
as before mentioned. 

Already, in the short period of ten years, Mr. 
Pearl has risen to prominence among the business 
men of Ovid, and become known as a man of strict 
integrity, close applie.ition and financial penetra- 
tion, and his reputation in social circles is tliat 
which his mental culture and gentlemanly bearing 
entitle him to. Politically he is a Republican and 
a stanch supporter of the pnrt3', although not an 
aspirant for public favors. 



ON. DAVID M. ESTEY. The best me- 

\ niorial that can be given this gentleman 

is the plain account of the work he has 

^ accomplished and mention of the exten- 
sive enterprises in which he is interested. Less 
than thirty years ago he stood at the bottom of 
the linancial ladder — to-day no man in Owosso, 
Shiawassee County, has a higher posilio-.i in busi- 
ness circles or is at the head of larger interests. 
He is President of the Estey Manufacturing Com- 
pany and the Owosso Savings Bank, and half- 
owner of the (^ucon Cart Company and the Estey- 
Calkins Lumber Company. All arc located at 
Owosso except the last named, tiie headquarters 
of which is at Pinconning, Hay Count3'. The 
lumber company owns twelve thousand acres of 
timber land in Gladwin County and as the trees 
are removed farms are o|)ened up and sold to set- 
tlers. 'J'he company has platted a town on their 
land. 

The subject of this life history is descended from 
Isaac Estey, who was one of the (Irst settlers of 
Royalston, Mass., and was of .Scotch and Irish ex- 
traction, tlie paternal line having sprung from 
Scotland and the maternal from Ireland. Follow- 
ing Isaac Estey in the direct line was Israel B., 
who was born in the Hay State and carried on 
farming and lumbering in New Hampshire and 



Massachusetts for many j'ears. Later he made his 
home at West Dummerston, Vt., and his death 
occurred in Owosso while on a visit to his son, 
July 8, 1891, at the age of eighty years. He mar- 
ried L. Permelia Boyington, a noble woman, who 
who was born in Paxton, Mass., and wa.s the 
daughter of Daniel Boyington, of that State, 
whose ancestors emigrated from England. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Israel B. Estey were six 
in number, and David IM. was the second born, 
llis birth look place in Hinsdale, Cheshire County, 
N. II., February 9, 1812, and he passed his early 
years principally in Vermont. He received a 
common-school education, and when a mere boy 
went into the woods and chopped and cleared off 
ten acres of heav3' timber land. 

Young Estey began the manufacture of lumber 
in a small way, cutting down the timber with his 
own ax, hauling it to the mill with ox-teams, and 
sawing the logs on one of the old-fashioned New 
England Gate sawmills. The lumber was dried 
and maile up into bedsteads of a simple pattern, 
which were sold in New England. In 186;') Mr. 
Estey transferred his business operations to this 
State, locating at West Haven, si.x miles from 
Owosso, where he had good water power. He 
became known as one who furnished reliable fur- 
niture, and the business incrcascil and compelled 
him to remove to a place where he would have 
better railroad communication with other points. 
He therefore removeil to Owosso in 187.'>, and es- 
tablished what has become a mammoth industry. 
Mr. Estey formerly introduced his own wares, 
spending much of his time on the road, but since 
he has built up a large business he has employed 
a good force and devotes himself to tlie general 
oversight of affairs. 

The small frame building in which Mr. Estey 
began the manufacture of furniture in Owosso 
stands opposite the immense works now used, .-ind 
affords a striking contrast of the past with the pres- 
ent. The building now used contains one hundred 
and seventy thousand feet of flooring and the 
power is furnished by a Corliss engine of two 
hundred and fifty horse-power. The output is 
about iji.'JOO.OOO yearly, consisting of twenty styles 
of chamber suits, twelve of sideboards and eight 



228 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of cliiffoniers. The goods have a world-wide repu- 
tation, the marltet including every State and Ter- 
ritory in the Union, and tiie company having also 
quite an export trade, notably' to Japan, where 
they have made large shipments. The Estey 
Manufacturing Compan}' uses some special im- 
provements, one of which is the Clapp patent 
case, bj' which drawers are prevented from be- 
coming boun<l by swelling or loose b}' shrinking, 
so that they always move easil}' and are secure 
against dust, moths or insects. The company em- 
ploys a large force of competent workmen and 
carries constantly in its yards 4,.'>00,000 to 6,000,- 
000 feet of lumber, which is cut on its own land 
and prejiared in its own mills. Goods can thus 
be placed on the market at prices that defy com- 
petition for equally good work, and so great is the 
demand that they have been obliged to put u|) a 
second large factory, of which Mr. D. M. Estey 
was the projector. 

This new ))uilding occupies one of tiie most 
available sites in the citj', on wiiicii an immense 
three-story and basement factor}' was completed 
within less tlian six days. The building pio|ier 
contains six hundred tliousand feet of lumber, four 
tons of nails and bolts, and one carload of glass. 
The power is supplied by tlie latest improved 
Compound Corliss engine (manufactured by C. & 
G. Cooper & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio) and the dry- 
house has a capacity of two hundred and fifty 
thousand feet. The furniture made is constructc<l 
so as to retain the standard of merit for which the 
Estey furniture has become noted, although placed 
upon the market at low pri(!es. Tlie company 
operating tliis second factory, which is known as 
the D. M. Estey Furniture Company, includes the 
members of the Estey Manufacturing Company, 
l)ut is a distinct corporation with a capital of 
$100,000. The city of Owosso gave a bonus of 
^S.OOO toward its establishment in this place, 
knowing that it would attract hither a good class 
of working people and add to the circulation of 
mone}' in otlier lines of trade. 

The home of Mr. Estej' is in a residence sur 
rounded by extensive grounds that arc beautified 
by shade trees and blooming plants, the whole in 
one of the best localities in the city. The estab- 



lishment is presided over by a lady who was for- 
merly known as Miss Mary J. Norcross, but who 
became the wife of our subject August 10, 1862. 
She was born in the (ireen Mountain State and is 
the daughter of Orson Norcross, who was of Eng- 
lish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Estey have two chil- 
dren — Orson B. and Dora. The son, who is a skilled 
carver, has charge of that department in the fur- 
niture factory. 

Mr. Estey has represented his ward in the City 
Council and has served as Mayor of Owosso one 
term. He took an active part in the establishment 
of the water works and is now a member of the 
Board of Water Commissioners. He was elected 
Treasurer of the Board for a term of three years, 
but at the expiration of a twelvemonth resigned. 
Politicallj- he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Estey 
also aided in organizing the Owosso Savings Bank, 
and in other less conspicuous projects has ad- 
vanced the interests of the community. Mrs. 
Estey is a member of the Baptist Church and Mr. 
Estey is one of the Trustees of that organization. 
It is needless to say that he is one of the most 
valued residents of Owosso and his soundness of 
judgment and keen perception of business details 
is recognized by all with whom he comes in con- 
tact, and that as President of the corporations 
mentioned his name and reputation have been sent 
broadcast over the land. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Este}' accom- 
panies this sketch. 

^^E0R(;E ARCHIBALD COOPER. The 
\\l (Sf, owner of the farm located on section 1, 
^5^J! Bennington Township, Shiawassee County, 
was born December 25, 1847, on the old homestead. 
He was reared at home and during childhood at- 
tended the district school. He worked on the 
farm until his father's death, when, having pur- 
chased eighty acres adjoining the homestead on 
the west, he turned his attention to the cultivation 
of that, his brother .Tohn assisting him, and they 
worked together until 1885, when our subject un- 
dertook the charge of the County Farm of which 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



22i) 



he was overseer for three years. He worked on a 
sal.ary, liaving from twcnt3'-five to thirty inmates. 

Mr. Cooper h.as a fine farm comprising one liun- 
drc(i and twenty acres, upon wiiicli is some well- 
bred stock. He keeps an English draft horse that 
was bred by McCann Bros. Our subject was mar- 
ried June 18, 1880, to Miss Harriet K. Bemiss, who 
was born in Bennington Township. She was the 
daughter of Alva and Eunice Bemiss. She made 
her home in the family of J. H. Hartwcll for twelve 
years prior to her marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have two children: Lillian, 
who was born February-, 9, 188,'j, and Walter A., 
July 9, 1890. The original of this sketch has fine 
buildings U|)on his place and a great many of the 
latest inventions in agricultural implements. He 
has a large barn, 36x82 feet and eighteen feet in 
height that cost him $1,000 Jo erect. Mr. Cooper 
is a Republican in politics. He h.os a vivid recol- 
lection of seven hard years spent in the lumber 
woods. Mrs. Cooper's parents settled in Shiawassee 
County, this State, at an early d.iy, the father com- 
ing from New York. Mrs. Cooper was born Feb- 
ruary 12, 1858, in Bennington Townshi(). Her 
father died October 16, 1876, at the .age of fifty- 
four years. Her mother died several years pre- 
vious. One brother still lives in Pittsburg, Mich. 



^1^ ETEK E. WALSWORTH. This genlle- 
I Jp man is Cashier of St. John's National 
I ^ Bank anti Treasurer of the Clinton County 
\\ Savings Bank, and is a stockholder and di- 
rector in each institution. He is a (^'anadian by 
birth, but in the |)aternal line is descended from 
Eastern families, and several of his ancestral con- 
eections fought against the Mother Countiy dur- 
ing the Revolution. In the maternal line he traces 
his lineage !)ack to the Emerald Isle, whence his 
mother came to America when quite small. Her 
maiden name was Ellen Lewis and her father was 
William Lewis, a farmer who establisherl himself 
near Kingston, Canada, and died there. The 
father of our subject is Edmund Walsvvorlli, 
whose parents were natives of New York but who 



was himself born in Ontario, Canada. He is a 
mechanic and was engaged in contracting and 
I building in ^'illa Nova and then at Park Hill, On- 
tario. In 18G6, he removed to St. John's where he 
worked at his trade for a time but is now living 
retirecL 

The parental family consists of three children 
and Peter E. is the youngest. He was born at Villa 
Nova, Can.ada, January 29, 1853, and was ten 
years old when his parents removed from that 
place to Park Hill. He pursued his studies in the 
common schools, finishing his education after the 
family came to St. John's. He inherited manual 
dexterity and was handy with tools from his bo}-- 
hood. He learned the trade of a carpenter and 
then began studying architecture and building, 
working in Bay City with a large company and 
becoming a practical and skillful architect. In 
1878 he turned his attention toother work and be- 
came book-kee|)er for what is now .St. John's Na- 
tional Bank, but was the First National. lie 
worked his way up, becoming in turn. Teller, As- 
sistant Cashier and Cashier, and in the meantime 
the charter expired and the new corporation suc- 
ceeded with a capital of i? 100,000. In December, 
1889, the Clinton County Savings Bank was organ- 
ized in the same building with a cajiital of $35,000. 
and Mr. AValsworth became its Treasurer — a posi- 
tion similar to that of Cashier in other banks. 
The Savings Bank is a solid concern and has al- 
ready on deposit over $120,000, and continually 
increasing. 

At the bride's home in Muir, Ionia County, in 
1878, Mr. Walsworlh was married to Mi.ss Victo- 
ria El}'. The father of the bride is .h prominent 
farmer of Ionia County and the name of Oliver 
Ely is familiar to many people of this section of 
the State. Mrs. Walsworth is a lady of more than 
ordinary intelligence and tact, which she lias dis- 
l)layed in the schoolroom, she having been a 
teacher prior to her marriage. She is the mother 
of one child, a son named Harry E 

Since 1881 Mr. Walsworth has been Treasurer 
of St. John's, and he was a member of the Build- 
ing Committee when the present schoolhouse was 
erected. He is connected with the Masonic order, 
enrolled in the Blue Lodge here. He gives his 



230 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



political support to the Republican party and is as 
stanch a member as can be foiiiid. He belongs to 
the First Congregational Cluiich and is one of the 
Board of Trustees. His business ability is recog- 
nized by all with whom he comes in contact and 
he is considered one of the most trustworthy of fi- 
nanciers. 



J'^ NDREW SILVERNAIL. Tlie fertile soil 
(@ZlJJ| of Clinton County is made the scource of 
la good income by many thorough farmers, 
whose homos are models of good taste and 
comfort. A farm which attracts the attention of 
the passers-by by the manner in vvhicli it lias bfien 
improved and ihe general appearance of prosperity 
whicli it bears, is that on section 27, (treenbush 
Township, owned and occupied by Mr. Silvernail. 
The distinguishing feature among tiie buildings 
here is a flue briclv farmhouse, wiiich was put u|) a 
few years since, forming a decided contrast with 
the little log cal)in in which Mr. and Mrs. Silver- 
nail made their lirst iiome in this township. 

From his early boyhood our suljject has been 
engaged in farming, the only exception being the 
years which he gave to the service of his country, 
when he and thousands of other were struggling 
to maintain the Republic. During that trying 
time his wife was left with the care of the farm 
upon her shoulders and had also to look after two 
small children. She chopped her own wood, and 
many a time walked to St;. .John's by a circuitous 
route, where the roads were poor and swamps had 
in some places to be crossed, in order to procure 
Indian meal from which to m.ake bre.a<l, or get a 
small supply of other necessaries. 

Mr. Silvernail was born in Chenango County, 
N. Y.,Juiy 9, 1833, being a son of Abram and 
Betsey (Sitts) Silvernail. His parents trace tiieir 
ancestry back to Holland. Our subject was the 
second son in the parental family and was about 
entering his teens when a removal was made to Ing- 
ham Count}', this State. The family w.as numbered 
among the early settlers there, and Andrew grew to 
manhood amid the surroundings of life in a par- 



tially developed and sparsely settled country. He 
attended school during the short sessions of the 
time, and gained an insight into practical branches 
and laid the foundation for his present fund of 
knowledge. There were no unusual incidents con- 
nected with his youth, and when he was married 
he and his wife spent a short time in the county 
that had been their home for some years previous- 
ly. They then made Eaton County their place of 
residence for a short time, but in 1801 settled on 
their present farm. 

August 8, 18C-2, Mr. Silvernail enlisted in Com- 
pany D,'Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry. He w.as 
soon detailed as a drummer and as such and Drum 
Major he went through the war. He was with the 
Army of the Potomac a part of the time, but to- 
ward the close of the struggle was with the A'ete- 
ran Reserve Corps. .He was honorably discharged 
July 8, 18C5, and returning lo Clinton County re- 
sumed his agricultural work. He had set uj) his 
home on land covered with forest and had to pass 
tlirougli the usual hours of toil in bringing it under 
cultivation. Not only during his absence, but 
wiule he was at home, his wife did much to aid in 
bringing about the good result and they are now 
enjoying the fruits of industrious and well-spent 
years. 

Mrs. Silvernail bore the maiden name of Mary 
H. Sitts, and became the wife of our subject March 
27, 185G. She is a native of Montgomery County, 
N. Y., where she was born February 5, 1835. Her 
])arents were James and Nancy Sitts, natives of the 
Empire State, and the other members of their fam- 
ily are: Edward A.; Alice, wife of Lewis Albers; 
Emily, wife of Cornelius Weatherby, and Lydia C, 
wife of Chauncy Stevens. Her Grandfather Sitts 
was a Revolutionary soldier, and so too was the 
paternal grandfather of Mr. Silvernail. The lat- 
ter has a Colonial relic in the shape of a powder- 
horn which was used by his ancestor during the 
struggle for independence. Mr. and Mrs. Silver- 
nail have two sons whose respective names ate 
LaFa^'ette and Washington. LaFaj'ctte married 
Dora M. Crooks, and they have two children: 
Edith and Guy. Washington married Nola Keifer, 
they have two children: Ral|)ii and Bertha. 

Having always been a lover of reading, Mr. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



233 



Silvernail is more than ordinarily well-informed 
regarding topics beyond the particular line of life 
whifli lie lias been following. In questions of poli- 
ties, finance and religion he is read^- to give a good 
reason for his stand, and he is an entertaining com- 
panion. He votes the Republican ticket, and is of 
course identified with tlie Grand Army of the Re- 
public, his name being enrolled in a post at Eureka. 
Mrs. Silvernail is a member of tiie Woman's Relief 
Corps, and she is also active in the Ladies' Aid 
Society by which good is done iu the neighbor- 
hood. Husband and wife belong to the Christian 
Church and take an active part in the work carried 
on by that religious society. They have the respect 
and goodwill of a large circle of acquaintances, 
and man}' friends rejoice in their prosperit}'. 



^1 ABEZ PERKINS, M. D.,one of the leading 
physicians in this part of the Slate, would 
also be one of the wealthiest if it were not 
for his generous nature, and his inability to 
urgently demand what is due him from patients 
who seem reluctant or unable to pay. lie was born 
in Defiance, Ohio, October 26, 1820. Ills father, 
John Pi rkins, .1 native of Penns3'lvania, removed 
to Lexington, Ky., when but two years old, with 
his father, Richard, who was a nat've of England. 
The inotlier, Abigail Jones, a native of Virginia, 
was a daughter of David Jones. of Welsli extraction. 
After twenty years residence in Kentucky the fam- 
reraoved to Ross County, an<l after living there for 
some time removed to Defiance County, where he 
made his home during a brief period, then sold out 
and settled on a jilace about two miles from De- 
fiance, on a tributary of the Miami River. There 
he built a Hour and saw mill and also operated a 
farm. Subsequently he removed to llie vicinity 
of Bryan, Williams County, where he owned and 
managed a llouring-raill and sawmill, and where 
he died. 

He of whom we write spent his boyhood days in 
and near Defiance, Oliio, until lie reached the .age 
of fourteen years, when he went to Williams 
County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood assist- 



ing in a mill and on the farm. He entered the 
Wcsleyan University of Ohio at the age of eigh- 
teen, where he pursued his studies for tsvo years, and 
then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. 
John Paul. He took the first three courses of lec- 
lines iu the medical department of the Western 
Reserve College, at Cleveland. 

The Doctor commenced his practice at Spring- 
ville, Mich., and in 18,0'.) took a course of lectures 
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New 
York City. After leaving college he made a 
trip through the South, and u|)on his return in 
18G0 i-esiimed his priiclice. In July, 1862, he was 
appointed Surgeon of the Tenth Kentucky Regi- 
ment, and soon after was i)ronioted to the oltice of 
Medical Director of the Twentieth Army Corps, 
which position he held until October of the follow, 
ing year, when he was commissioned Surgeon of 
\'olunteers. He remained in this position until 
October, 1865, and during the time w.as a member 
of Gen. Elliott's staff and had charge of Hospital 
No. 19, at N.ashville, Tenn. He was retained in 
the employ of the Government until October, 1865, 
and made trips to different cities in its interest. 

After being released from his army position the 
Doctor returned to New York City and spent eight 
months at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
and then came to Owosso, Shiawassee County, and 
engaged in a general practice to which he has since 
(]i>v<itc'd his time and energies. He has built u[) a 
ri'imtation not only as a medical practilluncr but 
al.M) .IS a surgeon, and few in this part of the State 
stand higher than lie. His partner, Dr. A. M. 
Hiune is a good physician, and the two logi'ilur 
make a strong linn, and have built up a large pi;\e- 
tice. Dr. Perkins Is frecpu'iilly called to distant 
p;iils of the Stale as cdiiiisi'l. 

Dr. Perkins w\as united In marriage with Eva I. 
Di.aiie May 24, 1870. This lady was born In 
Or.'inge County, N. Y., and is a liaughter of Gil- 
bcri, T. Doane. While living In Lewanee County, 
Mirli., In 1858 Dr. Perkins was elected to the Leg- 
islaUire. where he served one term greatly to the 
satisfaction and prolil of his consUtuents, and to 
the credit of the Republican party nhieh iihiced 
him in this honorable posllion. lie Is a nu'inbcr 
of the Owosso Lodge, No. 21, F. k A. M., ihe 



234 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Owosso Chapter, No. 89, R. A. M., and Corunna 
Commandery, K. T. The Doctor is a kind-hearletl 
and benevolent man, and does much for the un- 
fortunate and need^', being ever ready to respond 
to the appeal of the distressed. 

A portrait of Dr. Perkins is presented in connec- 
tion with this biographical sketch. 



^TNDREW I). SHERMAN is numbered 
(^Oi among the early settlers of Shiawassee 

]\\vk County of 1854, and has resided u|)on his 
<^ present faim on section 1, in tin town of 

Sciota for the long perioil of thirty years. In the 
years which have come and gone he has watched 
the upbuilding of the county and aided in its 
development and progress, especially has he been 
prominently identified with the agricultural in- 
terests of the community. To the early settlers is 
due all honor, for it was they who laid the founda- 
tion for the county's prosperity and thus made it 
what it is to-day. 

Mr. Sherman, who well deserves representation 
in this volume as one of the early settlers, was 
born on his father's farm in Shawangunk Township, 
Dutchess County, N. Y., March 1, 1836, and is a 
son of Almeron and Jane A. (Donnelly) Sherman, 
who were also natives of the Empire State. They 
removed to Madison County, N. Y. when our sub- 
ject wa.s a year old and there resided until Nov- 
ember, 1852, when they emigrated westward to 
Michigan, settling on the same section where our 
subject now resides. Upon the farm which Mr. 
Sherman developed they spent the remainder of 
their lives. He bought the whole of section 1, the 
purchase price being 12.50 per acre and the wild 
land which was covered with a heavy growth of 
timber he cleared and improved, making it an ex- 
cellent farm. His first house was a log cabin, 
30 X 37 feet. It is still standing, one of the few 
landmarks of pioneer days yet remaning and is 
owned by Andrew G. Barry. Almeron Sherman 
was a very successful farmer. By trade he was a 
tanner and currier but on his removal to Madison 
County, N. Y., he turned his attention to agricult- 



ural pursuits, which he followed during the re- 
mainder of his life. Although when he started out 
in business for himself he had no capital, he be- 
came well-to-do. He was a valued citizen, res- 
pected by all who knew him and was honored with 
several local oflices of trust. In Madison County, 
N. Y., he served for seventeen years as Justice of 
the Peace and after coming West again held the 
same oflice for about twelve years, a fact which in- 
dicates his etticiency and fidelity to duty. In 
politics he was a Democrat but afterwards became 
a Republican and both he and his wife belonged to 
the Methodist Church of which they were faithful 
and consistent members. Their family numbered 
eight chihiren — -Evelina, Mary, Andrew D., Jane, 
Anna pj., John, Albert and Almeron. 

Our subject w.is the third in order of birth and 
tiie eldest son. He received a limited education in 
the common schools of Madison CounL}-, N. Y., 
where the days of his boyhood and youth were 
passed in the usual manner of farmer lads. He 
accompanied his parents to Michigan and remained 
at home until thirty years of age in order to care 
for his i)arents. On attaining his majority he 
took charge of the home farm, thus relieving his 
father from all business care. On the 1st of March, 
1860, he married Miss Harriet M. Cross, who was 
born in this county. May 15, 1839, and is a repres- 
entative of one of the first pioneer families. Her 
parents, Gideon M. and Elizabeth (Hall) Cross, 
were natives of New York, and iu 1833, followed 
the course of human emigration which was steadily 
drifting westward, until they arrived in Michigan. 
They first settled in Livingston County, after- 
wards removed to Vernon, and a year later took 
up their residence in Sciota, Shiawassee County. 
In the fall of 1836, they settled upon a fnrm in 
Sciota Township where the mother died. The 
father's death occurred in Ovid Township. Their 
eldest son, Rev. Charles Cross, a Methodist min- 
ister, was the first white child born in Sciota Town- 
ship, his birth taking [dace in March, 1837. 

Mr. Sherman secured a deed to one hundred and 
twenty acres of land, his present farm, upon which 
he has resided since 1861. The many improve- 
ments found thereon are all the work of his hands 
and many of those upon the old homestead also 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



235 



stand as nionuments to his thrift and industry. As 
he was the eldest son he worked upon the farm 
while the younger children attended school. He 
MOW has one hundred acres of his land under a 
high state of cultivation and his farm is improved 
with good buildings, including a large hiru and a 
commodious two story frame residence, which was 
ereeted in 1884. The stock which he raises is of 
the best grades. He has led a busy and useful life, 
characterized by fair dealing and is truly a self- 
made man. In politics he is a Republican and 
while he keeps himself well informed concerning 
the issues of the day has never sought or desired 
the honors of emoluments of public office. He and 
his wife hold membership with the Methodist 
Churcii. 

This worthy couple have a family of four ciiild- 
ren, of whom they maj' well be proud — Henrietta, 
the eldest daughter, is now the wife of D. E. 
Tobias who is in the railway tnail service and re- 
sides in Grand Rapids, Mich. One child gr.aces 
their union, Maxwell. Jennie, Gertrude and Mary; 
the younger daughters are well educated young 
ladies, having received the advantages of the best 
sciiolastic training in the State and Jennie and 
Gertie are now teachers of recognized ability. 
Mrs. Tobias also engaged in teaching prior to her 
marriage as also did Mrs. Sherman before her 
marriage. 

S3i?^. 




HILANDER W. OSRORN. It is undoubt- 
edly a great satisfaction to a man or 
^ woman who has reached j-ears when liiey 
can look back over a long life spent in 
hardsiiips and a struggle to give one's family 
every advantage possible as well as to do one's 
dut\ by one's fellowinen, to have tiic efforts recog- 
nized by loving children and kind friends wilh 
the assurance that one h.as m:i<lu the most of Ufv 
and that the worlil is better for their having liveil 
in it. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
and who lives on section 1, Fairfield Township, 
Sliiawassee County, is a general farmer here and 
was born In what was originally Portage County 



but is now known as .Summit County, Ohio. He 
is the sou of Klias and Jerusha (Adams) Osborn, 
the father a native of Osbornville, Conn. Our 
subject's grandfatiier, Isa.ac Osborn, removed to 
Northampton Townshiii, Summit County, Ohio, 
while his son was a boy. He built the first flour- 
ing mill erected on Mud Brook in Northampton 
Township. The walls were of niggerhead stone and 
the work was done in the main by himself. He 
was one of the first settlers tiiere iuid did a business 
both as a millwright and miller an<l w.'is also en- 
gaged in distilling. 

Our subject is the eldest in a famil3' of four, 
only one of whom beside himself is still living, 
this being a half-lirolher who resides in Summit 
County, Ohio, and vifhose name is Henry Monroe. 
Pliihuiiler received a limited education, having less 
tiiaii a year's schooling, but he early acquired a 
love for reading and study and utilized the uufjer- 
taiii light given out by the liickory (lie that blazed 
on the broad heartlisloue to become :icqu:iinled 
with the i)opular authors as well as such sciences 
as physiology, geology, philoso|)liy, uiineralogy 
and astronomy. He th us gained a fair education 
by iiis own efforts. 

Mr. Osborn grew to m;uilioo(l in Xoithaiiiplon. 
His father having died while he was yet young he 
was thrown on his own resources and obliged to 
look to himself for his living. When sixteen years 
of age he took n trip South, traveling through all 
the Southern States to New Orleans. November 
2, 1849, he was married to Merilla Antels, a daugh- 
ter of John and Agnes (Sweronger) Antels. The 
lidy was born in Akron, Ohio, but her father was 
a native of Wayne County, same State. 

The gentleman of whom we write came to Mich- 
igan July 5, 1873, and purchased eight}- acres of ■ 
land. He has since given forty acres of this to his 
sou. He is the father of three children : the eld- 
est child and son is Oliver (). wlio is a physician 
ami druggist and lives in Fenwick, Montcalm 
County; he has two children. The second child is 
Nancy who married Francis Emmert, whose sketch 
appears on another i>agc in this ALnUM. The third 
child is Jessie M. who lives at Hitlie Creek, tliis 
State, and is unmarried. 

Our subject votes the RepubliiMu tii-kct 'lud hiis 



236 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



been a popular man in tbe county; lie is not an 
otliee-seeker and has ever refused to be a nominee. 
He lias served on tiie Board of Review. He, wilii 
his wife, is a member of tbe United Brethren 
Church, in which they tliey have been for over 
forty years. Mr. Osborn's maternal grandfather, 
Philander Adams, was a commissioned officer in 
both the Revolutionary War and tlie War of 1812. 
He was a business man of unusual ability and ac- 
quired a verj' comfortable fortune. A native of 
New York State, he settled in Kandolpli Townsliii), 
Portage County, Ohio, where for many years he 
was the proprietor of a large farm. 

(A felLLIAM E. WARREN, an intelligent and 
\rJ// prominent farmer and one of the leading 
W^ stock raisers of Sciota Township, Shiawas- 
see County, residing on section 4, has the honor of 
being a native-born citizen of this county. His 
birth occurred March 21, 1853, in Middlobury 
Township, on a ffirm wiihiii a half mile of where 
he now lives. His parents, David L. and Mary 
(IngersoU) Warren, natives of New York, came to 
Michigan in the pioneer days, settling tirsl in Oak- 
land County and thence removing to Shiawassee 
County. The}' took up their resi<lence on section 
33, in the town of Middlebury, whore they re- 
sided until 1888. They then removed to the vil- 
lage of Ovid, which is still their home. 

Farming has been the life work of David War- 
ren, and in that pursuit he acquired a handsome 
competence. He came to Michigan in its pioneer 
days a poor man, but has now considerable means, 
owning one hundred and ninety-five acres of land, 
besides property in Ovid. Then, too, he has aided 
his children to start in life. Mr. Warren has been 
twice married, his first union being wiih Miss In- 
gersoU, by whom he had four children — Maria, 
William E., Adelia, and Edna (deceased). After 
the death of his first wife he wedded Mrs. Jane 
Graham, of Lenawee County, Mich. In religious 
belief Mr. Warren is a .Metlujdist, and tiie mother 
(if our subject was also a member of the same 
(.■liurch. He supports the Republican party, and by 



bis fellow-townsmen has been honored with a num- 
ber of local offices. 

Our subject was reared to manhood upon his 
father's farm, and no event of special importance 
marked his boyliood, which was passed in the usual 
manner of firmer lads. During the winter season 
he attendcii the district schools of the neighbor- 
hood, and throughout the remainder of the year 
aided his father. The occupation to which he was 
reared he has made his life work. On the 27th of 
December, 1877, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Enmia B. House, of Williamston, Livingston 
Connt}', Mich. She was born in Clinton County, 
and is a daughter of Jacob and Emma (Gates) 
House. The young couple began their domestic 
life upon their present farm, and their home has 
been brightene<l by the presence of two interesting 
children, both of whom are living — Cliffie D., 
aged eight j-ears, and Cliarlie W., four years of 
age. 

Mr. Warren is the owner of one of the finest 
farms in Sciota Townshi)). His landed possessions 
aggregate one hundred and fort^-five acres, of 
which one hundred and twenty acres have been 
placed under the plow and are yielding to him a 
ready return for the care and cultivation he be- 
stows u|)on them. Not onl^' is he engaged in gen- 
eral farming, but, as before stated, he is an exten- 
sive stock-raiser, making a specialty of Holsteiu 
cattle, lie has thirteen head of thoroughbreds on 
his farm and also high grades of horses and sheep. 
Large barns furnish ample shelter for his stock 
from the storms of winter and are in themselves 
models of convenience. 

The home of the family, however, far surpasses 
in excellence every other improvement upon the 
place. On another page of this volume appears a 
view of his commodious two storj- brick residence, 
which was erected in 1877 and is neatly ami taste- 
fully furnished. From the door extends a beauti- 
ful and well-kept lawn, and shade trees add to the 
loveliness of the scene. The passers-by at a glance 
will learn the fact that iudustr}-, neatness and en- 
terprise are charicteristics of the owner. In 
politics Mr. Warren is a Prohibitionist, and both 
he and his wife are faithful memliers of the Middle- 
bury and Sciota Jlethodist Church of Middlebury. 




X 

o 



o 



X 
CO 



a; 

< 

f- 
o 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AMJUM. 



23!) 



This worthy couple have long resided in the com- 
munity and are widely and favorably known, hav- 
in«: a large circle of friends and acquaintances who 
esteem them higl'ly for their slerlinjj; worth. 



~->''r4f-^^ — 



aHARLES HAGAN. One of the pioneer 
, seitlers in this State who has helped to in- 
' troduee measures tliat have given it position 
among the States is he whose name heads our 
sketch. He is a native of Ireland, having been 
born in County Down in 1827. His parents were 
Arthur and Martha ( Mullen) Hagan. The mother 
died when Charles was nine months old and his 
father when the bo}' was twelve years old. Left tiuis 
early to battle with tlie world all his native wit 
and shrewdness was developed by necessity. His 
elder brother, .Tame?, now living in Bennington 
Township, Shiawassee County, came from Ireland 
to Canada in 1845. Our subject, who had come 
with iiiin, picked up the trade of a mr.son and 
managed to support himself by it in the town in 
which he settled, which was that of Henehenburg, 
Canada. 

Charles Hagan located on the new farm with liis 
brother James, going eight miles away from any 
settlement. Hero he lived for twent3--flve years 
and in November, 18G9, he sold out his farm and 
came to Shiawassee County, where his brother had 
l)efore settled. On first coming here he secured 
eighty acres of land, afterward adding to it thirty- 
five acres more. He at once began the erection of 
a log house in the woods, which was a solid forest 
for three or four miles. His energy is vouched for 
in the fact that of this hundred and fifteen acres 
of perfectly wild land he has now m.ade a finely- 
improved farm, nine acres only being unimproved. 
He devotes himself to general farming. 

In Canada Mr. Hagan took contracts for cutting 
pine logs, from two thousand to five thousand logs 
being considered a season's work. He was a mason 
by trade and worked at that as lime and circum- 
stances allowed. His present home is an attractive 
frame house, containing eight rooms and iiaving a 



handsome interior finish of hard wood. Under the 
house is a spacious cellar, large enough to gladden 
the heart of any thrifty housekeeper. There is a 
fine barn upon the place, and taking it all in all it 
is one of the most comfortable, tastj* and attractive 
places in the townsliip. The house was erected at 
a cost of 81.51)0. 

Mr. Hagan was married in June, 1848, to Miss 
Hannah Leve';k, born in Camden, Canada. ( )ctober 
13, I>S30. A large family has grown up under the 
eyes of the |)arents. The eldest, John, lives at 
Bennington; Mary is at home; James is in Ben- 
nington; Justine; Elizabeth and Sarah (twins); 
Thomas, residing in Owosso; Charlotte; Charles, a 
cleik in Ovvosso; Joanna Loretta, Joseph, and 
Teresa. Justice is Mrs. Jolin Donovan, of (J rand 
Rapids. Elizabeth is Mrs. Al Barr, of Detroit; 
Saraii married .lohn Stratch and resides in Wash- 
ington; Charlotte who married Frank Stengel, re- 
sides in Owosso; Joanna is a natural artist and 
without training has executed some excellent work 
in cuUir and design; she also has some musical tal- 
ent and is a fine-looking and very attractive woman. 
Teresa is Mis. Charles Hammel. Our subject has 
always been a Democrat but recently has become a 
member of the Patrons of Industry. The family 
are members of the Catholic Church of Owosso. 

,p^ AMUEL LAMFROM, a retired dealer in 
clothing and the Alderman of the Second 
Ward of Owosso, was born in the King- 
dom of Wittenburg, Germany, in the vil- 
l.age of Oberdorf, December 9, 1838. He is the 
second son of Leonard and Sarah (Mendel) Lam- 
from, the father being a butcher by trade. Three 
of this family were daughters and five were sons, 
and four of them are still living. The school days 
of this son were passed in his native village and at 
the age of eleven he entered the seminary at Es- 
lingen and there studied for two years. 

The mercantile experience of our subject was in- 
itiated by clerking for eighteen months in a dry 
goods store at F^slingen. He now deciiied that he 
would emigrate to the New World and in August, 



240 



PORTRAIT AND DIOGRAPMICAL ALBUM. 



1854, he sailed for America, landing in New York 
City with ninety-four cents in his pocket. lie went 
to Elmira, N. Y., and clerked in a store for a year 
and then at Ou;denslnirg, and took charge of a 
branch store for the same parties. He Ihen went 
to Rome, N. Y., and soon after to Syracuse. At 
Auburn he served Mr. Jacob Silverlnug and con- 
tinued clerking for him until his employer moved 
his stock of goods to (Irand Rapids, this State, 
when he accompanied him and continued for four 
3-ears in his service. 

In 1861 the young man enlisted in Company K, 
Tenth ]\Iicliigan Infantry, Col. Lum commanding 
the regiment. This rcjiment was assigned to the 
western department of the army and its first bat- 
tle was at Pittsburg Landing. He particii)ated in 
severe battles at Corinth, Murfreesboro, Atlanta 
and Cape May, and joined the march to the sea. 
He then returned to Hilton Head, thence to New 
York City, and on to Detroit, Mich., where he re- 
ceived his final discharge. He was a tifer all 
through his term of service, which lasted three 
years and two months. 

fioing to .Tonesville, this State, the young vet- 
eran clerked there in a store for eighteen montlis 
and in 18G6 started in business of his own, and 
leaving Hillsdale County, went to Burr Oak, 
St. Joseph County. He purchased a good stock of 
gentlemen's furnishing goods and clothing and con- 
tinued in this line for fifteen months. In Septem- 
ber, 1867, he decided that. Owosso wa< a better cen- 
ter of trade and removing his stock thither set up 
liis business house here, which he carried on until 
his health failed in 1878, when he sold out his 
stock and retired from active work. But an active 
business man finds it hard to sit styi and see the 
busy world go on, and having to some extent re- 
covered his health, Mr. Lamfrom, in 1882, again 
started in business with an entirely new stock in 
the same line as before. In this he continued until 
September, 1890, when he again sold out his busi- 
ness and renting his store permanently retired 
from active life. 

The ladj' who presides so graciousl}' over the 
home of our subject became his wife March 24, 
1867. Her maiden name was Mary Mendelsohn 
and her home before marriage was in Detroit, 



Mich. Three sons have blessed this home, namely: 

Moses H., who is a merchant in Balina, Ohio; 
Henrj', who is at home; and Rudolph, who is clerk- 
ing for his elder brother. The election of Mr. 
Lamfrom to the position of Alderman of llie 
Second Ward took place in the si>ring of 18!»l. 
He is the Secretary of the Business Men's Associa- 
tion and has occupied that position since llie 
organization of the societ}' in 1887. He is a mem- 
ber, demilted, of the Owosso Lodge. His [)oliti(:il 
preferences h.-i.vc led him to ally himself with the 
Republican party, in which he is an aotive worker. 
His residence at No. 40.3 Oliver Street, is in a 
pleasant neighborhood and with attractive sur- 
roundings. The (^uackenbush Post, No. 205, G .A. 
R., claims him as one of its most active raembeis 
and he w-as its first (Quartermaster. His life in 
Owosso has made him well known throughout the 
county as a man of enterprise, strict integrity and 
pleasant social qualities. 



OiSo" 



LONZO A. AUSTIN, who has long been a 
resident of Ovid, was born in Wi'oming 

/// ill County, Atica Townshij), N. Y., O';tober 
vjj 13, 1820. He was a son of Augustus and 

Phoebe (Conger) Austin, both of Connecticut, who 
moved into New York in the j-ear 1814. His 
father was b^- trade a car|)enter, but pursued agri- 
culture through most of his life. His son's advan- 
tages for education were very meager, as he at- 
tended only the common district schools of the 
country and was never allowed by circumstances 
to attend the town sclioOi. His mother died when 
he was a child of onl}' eleven and he remained with 
his father until he reached the age of twenty-three 
years. 

The young man then began life by farming in 
the county where he was born. His marriage took 
place October 10, 1844. The lady who then No- 
came his wife was known in her maidenhood by the 
name of Elisabeth Root. She w.as a native of Ni- 
agara County, N. Y. Her tinec children have nil 
lived to establish homes of their own, in which 
they are an honor to their parents and a l)cnelil to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOCaiAPUIt'AL ALIiUiM. 



241 



the community. The eldest. R. Delia, was born 
July 14, 1845. She is now Mrs. (icorge Shuman 
anil lives in Laingsburg, Shi.iwassec Couiily; .James 
A., born December 29, 1850, married Francelia 
Cornell and now lives in Miildlebury Township, 
the same county; Emma, who was born June 29, 
1858, is the wife of O. V. Gambee and resides in 
Ovid. Tiie mother of these children was called 
from earth October 29, 1859. 

Mr. Austin continued to farm in New York un- 
til February. 1875. when he came West and made 
his first settlement at Laingsburg, l)ut the follow- 
ing spring came to Ovid Township, this -county, 
and l)ought a farm of eighty acres, where he has 
continued to live most of the time since, although 
he spends a gof)d deal of time in the village with 
his daughter, Mrs. Gambee, making his home witii 
her most oi the time since 1887. He has his place 
operated b}- hired help and visits it frequently to 
superintend tlie work. When he took this farm it 
was in a very ])oor con<lition and he has improved its 
qualJLy and placed upon it many improvements. 

Our subject lias always taken a deep interest in 
educational matters and did more toward building 
the sclioolhouse near his farm than any other man. 
He was formerly connected with the Methodist- 
Episcopal Church, but of late years has joined the 
United Brethren and has taken an active part in 
the church work. He has tilled the ofiices of Mag- 
istrate and Highway Commissioner in Ovid and is 
a Prohibitionist in his political views. He says 
that he can mark great changes and improvements 
in this section since he came here in 1 875. 

-J^^ 



^?=!5 OTTLOB RUESS, the owner of a farm 
on section 18, Bennington Township, was 



G 



^^^li born in Wittenburg, Germany, .Tune 0,1842. 
His parents were .lohn and Barbara (Alber) Ruess. 
He is the ehlest of a family of ten children si.x of 
whom aie now living. In 1852 our subject with 
other members of his family, braved the dangers of 
the ocean and came to America settling near Cleve- 
land. His father and mother accompanied him 
hither, also his grandfather Michael and his grand- 



mother Catherine Rucsscamc overat tlusaine lime. 
They have both since dieil in the town of Indepen- 
dence, Ohio, at the age of seventy years. Our sub- 
ject operated a stone quarrry at Independence, 
Ohio, for some time, remaining there from 1852 to 
1856. 

Attracted b^' the advantages that the West of- 
fered to strength and industry, Mr. Ruess came 
hither and located in Bennington Township in Au- 
gust, 18(17, where he and his father engaged in 
farming. Tlie father was thrown out of a wagon 
by a stampede of horses and was injured so that he 
did not long survivc,dying at the age of fifty three. 
His widow still lives willi her son,(iottlob and has 
attained to the age of seventy-two years. 

In 1862 our subject enlisted in the war, joining 
('on)|)any A, One Hundred Twenty-fourth Ohio 
Infantry. He served until the close of tlie war un- 
der llie command of Thomas. He was in all the 
great battles except that of Kenesaw Mountain, 
when he was in the hosiiital. His regiment was 
suriounded at Chickaraauga whore our subject was 
wounded by a musket ball striking his elbow. He 
was discharged at Nashville under general order, 
in July, 18i)5. .Since his enlistment he had not 
asked for a furlough and consequently on his dis- 
charge was eager to see his family at home. He 
bought his present faim in 1867, about forty-five 
acres of the place ivere then iinpioved, but there 
was only a |)0(jr lug iiouse upon the place in which 
he lived one year. 

With German thrift .Mr. Ruess immediately Degan 
improvements upon his newly acquired place and 
during the time which he has owned it he has 
expended i!3,000 upon his buildings. His farm 
boasts of some fine stock. He has three head of 
Short-horn cattle, one male of which is registered. 
He also has eighty acres one mile south of the pl.ace 
on which he at present resides.* 

April 1.'5, 1867, the original of our sketch was 
married at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Christine Herr, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1844. 
ftlr. and Mrs. Ruess have been blest with a large 
famil}', four of whom died in infancy. All the liv- 
ing children are at home. The eldest is John, fol- 
lowed by Elizabeth, Josephine, Ella, Lilly, Anna 
and Frank. Ella, who has learned the trade of 



242 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



dressmaking, is quite a fine musician, having spent 
some time in study of this beautiful art in which 
her natural niililude is so great as to promise 
well for her being a brilliant performer. Mr. 
Ruess' family belongs to the Evangelical Associa- 
tion. He casts his vote for the Republican ticket 
and is an ardent advocate of that party. Mr. Ruess 
has a fine farm and by hard work and constant 
application to his business has amassed a compe- 
tency. His farm is furnislied with all modern im- 
plements. He has the Woleott patent wind engine 
which supplies water to his two barns and owns a 
fine feed cutter, corn sheller and feed mill where 
he grinds all his own feed for stock. Our subject 
has one brother, Jacob, who lives in Bennington 
Township on section 20, also one sister, Paulina, 
who is the wife of John Segrist and resides on sec 
tion 20, of the same township. 



JOHN CHRISTOPHKR SCHROEDER, who 
resides on section 19, Owosso Township, 
Shiawassee County, was born in Saxo 
Coburg, Germany, December 17, 1820. 
His worthy and intelligent parents were Zach- 
ariah and Elizabeth (Pressy) .Schroeder, of whose 
children our subject is the only survivor. 
A twin sister of John died in infancy and 
the father was also called from life when this 
son was but twenty-two weeks old. His mother 
livi'd to train and educate this son until he reached 
his sixteenth year and in this task she had the 
kindly help of his stepfather, Adam Luetz, with 
whom the boy remained at home after his mother's 
death until he reached his majority. 

The young man |)ursucd tiie life of a laborer for 
three years, and when lie was twenty-four years 
old look to himself a wife, celebrating his marriage 
with Fredericka Petckee in May, 1841. In the 
mon'.li of June the young wedded couple started 
for Iheir future home in the New World, passing 
four weeks in Bremen harbor awaiting the day of 
soiling, and six weeks upon the ocean. After a 
rough voyage during which the vessel at one time 



was grounded upon a reef our emigrants landed in 
New York City, and made their way to the 
Western country reaching Detroit August 3. 

Mr. Schroedtr purchased forty acres of land on 
the jMt. Clemens Road eleven miles north of 
Detroit, and made his home there for six years. 
Here he was bereaved of his wife by consumption 
as she died October 12, 1850, leaving four chil- 
dren, the youngest being six weeks old. These 
little ones have grown to maturity with the excep- 
tion of Matilda who died the j'ear after her mother 
passed away. George is now in California, whither 
Carrie has also gone. Emma became the wife of 
Edward Reed and died six years ago in Owosso 
Township, Shiawassee County. 

After the bereavement of Mr. Schroeder he rented 
out his farm and worked out at flftj' cents a day in 
haying and harvesting seasons, sometimes receiving 
instead of money one bushel of wheat a day as 
wages. He struggled nobly to care for his chil- 
dren and keep them together and for five years 
worked in that vicinity and in Detroit. Upon 
June 18, 185G, he made a second matrimonial al- 
liance taking to wife Mrs. Margaret Finster, the 
widow of George Finster who died of cholera 
Her maiden name was Holstein. 

The subject of this sketch made his home in 
Detroit, after his second marriage, until May, 1861, 
when he removed to Pontiac, having sold his lirst 
farm and bought a tract two miles east of Pontiac. 
He lived there for six years and in 18G7 came to 
this county, buying one hundred twenty acrcj 
which were mostly unbroken. He now has one 
hundred and five acres upon which he has placed 
im[)rovements, which cost him over ^;3,000 and 
where he has been breeding Durham cattle. 

The death of Mrs. Schroeder, which occurred 
September 4, 1890, when she had reached the ago 
of sixty-two years was terribly sudden and unex- 
pected. She had gone to Detroit during the 
exijosition, ananging her programme so as to visit 
a sister and other friends and return home on the 
following Friday. She was stricken with sickness 
on the exposition grounds on Wednesday, and al- 
though every attention was given her she survived 
but a day, and on Friday came home in her collin. 
Much blame is attached to the telephone companies 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



243 



for negligence in regard to sending corarauiiica- 
tions. Mr. Scliroeder was anxiously wailing fur 
news after repealcflly spmiing messages, wlii(.'li the 
company failed to transmit. He became almost 
frantic with distress before being able to receive 
definite news, and llien only learned tliat his 
partner in life's trials and joys had departed. 
She was laid in the Dewey cemetery after 
services held at her sisters's home in Detroit. 
The Rev. Dr. Canova of the Episcopal Church, 
of which she was a member, conducted mem- 
orial services on the following Sunday. Slic 
left three children to mourn her loss, Charles, wlio 
married Miss Delia Vourrggone and lives in Owosso 
Township, Shiawassee County; William who lives 
in Witchita County, Kan., where he took up a 
homestead some six years ago and Ileiiry aged 
twenty-six who lives at home and manages the 
farm for his father. 

Mr. Schrocder is an earnest and devout member 
of the Lutheran Evangelical Church. His politi- 
cal views attach liim to the Republican party, in the 
movements of w-hich he takes a great interest, 
but in local elections votes for the best man. He 
cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. The 
home of tliis gentleman is a delightt'ul one and lacks 
only the presence of the lamented wife and mother. 
Mr. .Schroeder has been a hard worki:)g man having 
passed through many didlculties and trying 
periods in the early days. His earnest struggles to 
keel) '"'s little family from want after the death of 
his first wife were indeed heroic. His family is one 
of the most prominent among the German people 
of the county. 



'KRDINAM) II. GELLER. Among the 

) men to wiiom the village of Kovvler, Clin- 
ton County, owes its prosperity as a center 
of business is Mr. Gellcr. who has for some years 
been engaged in mercantile pursuits here. He 
Cp.me to the village in 18C9, and for fifteen years 
followed hotel keeping, and then with iiis tnother 
Frank, embarked in the sale of merchandise. This 



business has been continued, and at the same time 
Mr. Geller has been interested in the real estate 
business in partnership with .lohn Eedewa and has 
carried on general farming. He has a large amount 
of land which has been acquired b^' his own efforts, 
as has his other property. His farm lands consist 
of two hundred and thirty acres in D.n,Ilas and 
eight}' acres in Essex Township, and good improve- 
ments have been made and the valuation of the 
entire tract largely increased. 

The parents of our subject were born in Prussia, 
the birthplace of John .1. Geller having been Arli- 
wailer in the Province of Prussia, and his natal day 
Sei)tember 12, 1812. His union with Catherine Lin- 
gen was blest by the birth of six children, before he 
emigrated to America, of whom three are deceased: 
Kate, Ferdinand, John, Nicholas, Joseph and Mag- 
gie, two sons, Peter and Frank were born after the 
family came to this country. The Gellers crossed 
the Atlantic in IB.')!, and came direct to Clinton 
County and made their home on a forty-acre farm 
in Dallas Township. Mr. Geller hail l)een a team- 
ster in the old count.'y but here he followed farm- 
ing. He added to iiis farm, and when he died, in 
18110, held the title to eighty acres, most of wliich 
he had eleaied and broken. In accordance with 
the custom in the Fatherland he h;id done military 
service three years. He was seventy-eight years 
old when called from time to eternity, and his 
widow is now living in P'owlcr at the age of sev- 
enty-four. Siie is a communicant of the Roman 
Catholic Church, wilii which her husband was con- 
nected. 

Our subject was born in Prussia, July 27, 181.3, 
and was eleven years old when he came to this 
Stale with his parents. He worked for them until 
he vvas twenty-live years olil, and then established 
a home of his own in Fowler. He was married in 
1869 to Lizzie F"'edewa, daughter of Morris Fedcwa, 
to whose biography the reader is referred for facts 
regarding her progenitors. The ceremony took 
place at the liride's home in Dallas Township, and 
the union was blest by the birtli of a son Nicholas, 
Mrs. Lizzie Geller died .lanuary 21, 187.5, in Fow- 
ler, and the same year Mr. Geller was married to 
Caroline Fedewa, a sister of his first wife. Six 
children have been born to this lady: Ferdinand, 



244 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



who died when four months old; Norah, who 
breathed her last May 16, 1890; Katie and Bertha, 
who are yet hriglitening their parent's home; Aure- 
lia, who (lied in 1890; and Eva who is piirsiiing her 
studies from under the home roof. Mr. Geller has 
alw.ays been a Democrat. He and his wife are 
communicants of the Roman Catholic Church. 



^ 



E^ 



J^JOHN T. WALSH, one of the most prosper- 
ous young merchants of Owosso, Shiawassee 
County, who has worked out his own for- 
/ tunes and demonstrated his ability and en- 
leiqjrise bj' the success which he has made of his 
bnsiness at Owosso, was born in Troy Township, 
Oakland County, July 25, 1851. He is a son of 
John Walsh, Esq., a native of Ireland, who emi- 
grated to this country when a young man, and has 
always followed farming as an occupation. 

Miss Elizabeth T'odd tlie lady who became the 
mother of our subject was also a native of the 
Emerald Isle, and came when a young girl to this 
country. After tiieir marriage this couple made 
their home in Oakland County, where they carried 
on general farming in tlie township of Troy. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Walsh removed from Oak- 
land County to Shiawassee County, in 1865, mak- 
ing their new home on a farm in Bennington 
Township. There they still reside and are among 
the most highly esteemed and |)rosperous residents 
in that section. Two children only have been 
granted to this estimable couple. Our subject is 
the oldest son, and his brother William is a farmer 
in Bennington Township. 

Jolin T. Walsh passed his school days in the 
counties of Oakland and Shiawassee and took his 
practical training on the farm until he reached the 
age of nineteen years. He then worked at house 
painting for seven years, after which lie began his 
nurcaniile experience as a clerk in Howell, Mich., 
where he spent six months. In 1877 he bought a 
stock of goods in Bennington and entered into 
general merchandising, and two years after began 
buying grain at Bennington, which he still con- 
tinues. In this line he has shown great judgment 



and discrimination, giving great satisfaction to his 
customers b}' his courteous treatment and kind at- 
tention to their needs, and by his judgment in a 
choice of goods which will satisfj' their demands. 
He has the entire confidence of the community and 
all rejoice in his prosperity and are glad to give 
him a good word and a generous patronage. 

Mr. Walsh added to his Imsiness in June, 1891, 
by purchasing the grocery stock of F. E. Brooks &. 
Co., of AVest Owosso and carries on this business 
at the old stand as well as his other store in Ben- 
nington. The new store is well slocked with all 
kinds of first class goods in his line. His union in 
marriage January 10, 1883, with Miss M^-ra Pond 
of Bennington, gave him a helpmate who h.as 
proved and will prove a prominent factor in his 
career. Tiiis lady is a native of Shiawassee County, 
and a daughter of Rolland Pond whose sketch ap- 
pears in another place in this Albu.m. To this 
happy home one son has come, Hariy who is now a 
little lad of seven years. Mr. Walsh and family 
have recently moved to Owosso. He has served 
as Treasurer of Bennington Township for three 
terms and is alre.Tdy a well-known man in Repub- 
lican circles. He is a member of the Laingsburg 
Lodge, No. 230, F. & A. M., and is consitlered one 
of its prominent men. 



I 



m^J 



OIIN R. BUSH. The gentleman wiiose 
name heads this sketch was born March 25, 
1819, in Ontario County, Seneca Township^ 
N. Y., near Geneva. His father, Thomas 
Bush, wtis a native of New Jersey and his mother, 
Jane (Roberts) Bush, who died when her son was 
only ten years of age, was born in Ireland. The 
Bush family w.as originally from Prussia and a 
family record is preserved which covers its history 
for two hundred and fifty 3'ears. This has been 
carefully prepared by the Rev. John L. Bush, one 
of the members of the family. 

Mr. Bush began for himself at tlie early age of 
thirteen years by wielding the ax for his living. 
When only fourteen he boasted that he could put 
up two cords of wood in a day and at eighteen 



PORTRAIT A^D BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



245 



learning the carpenter's trade, he caine to Mich- 
igan in 1850. He settled in Ingiiam Count}' on 
eiglily acres of land wliich he cleared. He also 
cleared another farm in Huron County-, Ohio. In 
1859 he came to Owossoand improved three farms, 
two of which were in Rush Township and one on 
section 1, Owosso Township wliicli contains seventy 
acres. In November, 1878, he united his life for 
better or worse witli that of Rliss .lane Robertson. 
SluMlied in 18G3. Only one of the family of six 
children that slie left long survived her. This 
daughter, Ksther, who became Mrs. Scliuster, re- 
sides in Rusii Township. In 1875 Mr. Rush mar- 
ried for liis second wife Victoria Ricthell, a native 
of (lermany. Their union was blest bj' three chil- 
dren — Emma Ma^', who is fourteen years of .ago; 
Nellie .Tanc, twelve years and John R. .Ir., eight 
years, 

Mr. Bush is a typical rustler. He has never been 
happy without an ax in his hand. It is as natural for 
him to chop as for most boys to play and even 
now at seventy-two years of age he can chop down 
more timber than most men of half the age. It is 
music to his soul to hear the giants of the forest 
crushing to earth under the blows of his ax. As 
soon as he liaii one farm cleared with nothing left 
for him to chop, he would sell and seizing his ax 
jump over the fence and I'ommence his old pursuit, 
and was never satisfied until everything in sight 
was felled and split into rails or slashed iiito cord 
wood. For some un.accountable reason he has left 
a beautiful natural grove of towering pine trees 
about his house, but it is e.'cpected that they will 
succumb to his passion and that he will attack them 
some night while dreaming. 

Mr. Bush is a very methodical man. Every- 
thing must be done with matheiaatical nicety and 
every rail cut to a certain length and laid up in the 
fence with perfect exactness that would do credit 
to a mechanical engineer. Our subject shows this 
characteristic in his personal appearance, tiiough 
carrying many years, he is !U> straight and slender 
as one of his saplings he dearlj' loves to demolish. 
He is as "thin" i\s a sa[)ling and nearly as tall, with 
a mind as keen, active and vigorous .as Ills own ax 
h.as ever been. He bo.asts of having voted for 
William Ilcnrj' Harrison in 1840 and also for his 



grandson, Benjamin F. Harrison. It will not be 
surprising to those who are opposed to the use of 
stimulants to read of Mr. Bush's perfect physi<jue 
and health at so great an age, when it is recorded 
that he has never taken stimulants in liquid form 
of any nature, neither h.is he smoked or chewed 
tobacco. 



^^ 



lEORGE O. BRANDS, who resides on his 
l|i g=p farm on section 26, Caledonia Township, 
'^^jj was born June 2, 1858, in Shiaw.assee 
County, this Slate. His father w.as John Brands, 
a native of New Jersey and a farmer by occupa- 
tion. His mother w.as Elvira (Martin) Brands, u 
native of New York State. John Brands, the 
father, came to Michigan in 1845, at the age of 
eighteen. The mother came when a young woman 
and made her home with her uncle, Samuel Martin. 
She was a teacher by profession and conducted the 
district school in Venice and Caledonia Townships. 
John Brand returned to New York State, where he 
remained for three years, coming back to this State 
in 1850, when he settled uiion the farm which he 
occupies at this time. 

David Brands, our subject's grandfather, and 
family came to Michigan in 1845, he working in 
the saw-mill in Corunna for a time and about 1847 
he settled upon section 25, Caledonia Township, 
whore he died. The parents of our subject were 
here married and made a permanent home, the 
father settling upon ninety acres of timber land. 
He was in straightened circumstances and obliged 
to resort to many methods in order to clear his 
farm and at the same lime support his family. He 
finally got the farm into a good stale of cultivation 
a.nd afterward purchased eighty acres of land, half 
of which was improved. He .added to its improve- 
ment and finally died. May 15, 1887. Tiie mother 
still survives at the age of sixty years, making her 
home here. Our subject is one of four children, 
two of whom only are living, himself and brother 
William. The father was a member of the Masonic 
order and a Democrat in politics. . He served .as 
Justice of the Peace for three terms. 

The gentleman of whom we write received a <lis- 



246 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



trict school education. He has always been a far- 
mer, having been reared on the farm where he at 
present resides. In December, 1887, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Abbie Aemes, a daughter of 
William and Amanda (Moore) Aemes, residents of 
Fairfield Township. The father was a native of 
New York and came to Michigan at an early day. 
He was married in this county and moved to Hazel- 
ton, tlien to Corunna and later to Fairfield. The 
mother is deceased, the father still survives. By 
that marriage Mr. Aemes is the father of two chil- 
dren, both of whom are living. Mi's. Brands was 
born November 5, 1863, in Ilazelton Township. 
She received a good education and has spent much 
time as a teacher. She and her husband are the 
l)arents of one child, Ivan E., who was born Sep- 
tember 28, 1888. 

Mr. Brands is a member of the Knights of the 
Maccabees. He has been elected member of the 
School Board and takes an active interest in local 
politics. lie is an adherent of the Democratic 
party and has been Road Overseer. He is now 
serving his third term as Township Clerk. He 
lives on the old homestead, where he carries on 
eeneral farming. 



{, — , .(::M'^. '&:■:,. . — .i 



ANIEL W. MOREHOUSE, a noteworthy resi- 
dent of Ovid, was born in Litchfield, Hills- 
dale County, Mich., on October 23, 1844. 
He is a son of Gabriel and Harriet (Winans) More- 
house, his mother being a sister of Hon. Edwin A. 
Winans, now Governor of Michigan. His parents 
were brought up in Steuben Count}', N. Y., and 
came to Michigan when the father of our subject 
was still very young. Michigan was then only a 
wilderness and they made their home in the wild 
forest. His father was by occupation both a farmer 
and contractor, and when in this work he put in all 
the culverts on the railroad between Ann Arbor 
and Michigan City, this being the second time they 
were |)ut in. He was also engaged in similar work 
on the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Rail- 



way, but through i-everses was compelled to return 
to the farm. 

The subject of this sketch had few educational 
advantages for when he came to Clinton County 
there were no schools for him to attend and when 
he grew older lie had to work h.ard and could not 
be spared from tlie farm to go to school. His 
father c?me to Siiiawassee County in 1854 and set- 
tling in Miildlebury Township, began his work on 
the railroad and the farm. 

The father of our subject enlisted in the Union 
Army and the son also enlisted in the fall of 1863, 
in Company F, Tenth Michigan Cavalr}' under Col. 
Foote and was sent South to join the Arm}' of the 
Tennessee. Being on detached duty he was one of 
those who chased Morgan and Gen. Price and was 
at the battle of Saltsville, Va. He was there dis- 
abled and sent to the hospital at Camp Nelson, Ky. 
After recovery he was sent to Camp Douglas, Chi- 
cago, and acted there as guard to the prisoners till 
the war was over, taking his discharge in the f.all 
of 1865. The father was wounded in the battle of 
Murfreesboro and died in the hospital at Louis- 
ville, Ky., in the fall of 1863. The mother lived 
until the spring of 1886 and was buried atOwosso. 

Upon the close of the war Mr. Morehouse began 
farming in Middlebury Township, Shiawassee 
County, and remained upon that place until about 
six years ago when he sold out and went on a trip 
to Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. He then returned to 
farming and after one year came to make his home 
in the town and engaged in business. He now 
owns and has in operation, by the aid of hired help, 
a farm of sixty acres. 

The marriage, July 4, 1867 of Daniel Morehouse 
and Laura M anger, was the union of a congenial 
and happy pair. Miss Munger was from Munger- 
ville, which was named for her father, but is now 
known as Burton. She is the daughter of A lander 
Munger of Shiawassee County, and is the mother 
of five children, George, Myrtle, Claude, Nellie 
and Willie. The last two died in infancy. 

The ))olitical views of the subject of this sketch 
are represented in the declarations of the Republi- 
can party, and he has held the offices of Treasurer 
of the townships of both Middlebury and t)vid, 
and has been Superintendent of the water works 



dTf :;;r^ .. 










iJ 









PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



251 



of Ovid since they were begun. He still holds this 
responsible position and lias filled all the school 
offices since he came into the townshii). He lakes 
a more than ordinary interest in school matters as 
well as in all affairs of public weal. 



^ 



^ 



AVID L. WARREN was burn .June 9, 
1825, in the town of ^Yalworth, Ontario 
County, N. Y., an<l is the son of William 
and Mary (Horn) Warren. The father, who was 
by occupation a farmer, moved to the State of 
Michigan when his boy was onl^' six 3'ears old and 
died soon after their arrival here in December, 
1831. They made their home in Oakland County 
about five miles north-east of Pontiac. Upon thus 
being sadly orphaned our subject and one sister 
went to live with Thomas J. Diake, an attorney, 
who resided on a farm. After remaining there 
about seven years he lived at Flint and afterward 
at Detroit with his mother who then had married 
Joseph Hathaway, and afterwards lived with her 
in Washtenaw County. At the age of fourteen 
years he began life for himself, working out for 
*6 per month. He never had the opijorlunity of 
gaining a thorough education and although his 
foster mother taught him a good deal, he never at- 
tended a public school until he went to live with 
his mother again when he was fourteen years old. 
He then decided to attend school and pay his own 
tuition, working nights and mornings and during 
vacations. This he continued until he was twenty 
years old. 

When he was twenty-two years old our subject 
came to Shiawassee County, and in 1817 settled on 
section 33, Middlehury Township. He lived there 
several months, erecting a log house and making 
some clearing. The season before he cliojjped and 
split two thousand rails, hiring a man to lielp liini 
and paying $1 for making six hundred lails. He 
was married April 27, 1848, to Mary Ingersoll of 
Oakland County, who was reared in New York 
State. 

After marriage he started from Washtenaw 
County, May 2, 1848, bringing his wife on lop of 



the wagon of household goods and he himself ac- 
companying her on foot, driving the cattle, which 
consisted of an ox team and a cow. Their cabin 
home had neither doors nor windows as we count 
doors and windows now-a-days. He planted corn 
and potatoes on land wliich he rented from a 
neighbor, and worked out to earn money to pur- 
chase fift}' bushels of wheat. This gave him seed 
for the twenty acres of land wiiich he h.ad by this 
lime cleared, as well as for the maintenance of 
their table. He had been presented by his mother 
with an eighty-acre tract and soon had it cleared 
and planted. Later he purchased two hundred and 
forty acres at |4 an acre and afterward sold part 
of it for |G. At one time when he had set his 
heart upon a certain tract of land and had to get 
to Flint to secure it in advance of another man 
who also had his eye upon it, he drove a two-year 
old colt forty miles without slopping to feed it 
and reached Flint in advance of his rival, thus se- 
curing the land. He still holds one hundred and 
fifteen acres of a tract of one hundred and twenty- 
five which he bought just across the road from 
where his first land is located. 

To him and his first wife were granted four chil- 
dren: Maria M. born April 2C, 1850; Edna E. 
August 20, 1851 ; William E. March 21, 1853, and 
Frances A. August 26, 1855; Maria married Hor- 
ace G. Suiith, a farmer, and resides at Laingsburg; 
Edna died July 26, 1853; William E. married 
Emma B. House, of Ovid and is a farmer; Frances 
married Edson Swarlhout and resides near the 
father's farm. The motlier of these children died 
April 2, 1881. 

Mr. Warren was married a secomi time on May 
30, 1882, to Jane B. Graham of Lenawee Countj', 
this State, whost portrait together with that of 
Mr. Warren appears elsewhere in this volume. He 
has made all the improvements on his various 
farms and bnill all the houses and barns u|)on 
them. His political views are in accord with the 
platform of the Republican party and he has held 
the ollices of Townsliip Treasurer, Justice of the 
Peace, School Commi.ssioner and other school 
offices. He has for many years belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and in this respect he 
and his family are closely united, as their sympa- 



252 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 



thies are one and they labor together in church 
work. He takes an earnest and intelligent inter- 
est in all matters of education. He has given to 
his children excellent educations in the graded 
schools of Corunna and Ovid, and desires for the 
young people of his neighboiliood ever^' opportun- 
itj' to gain a hroad foundation for future usefulness. 
He gives lilierally to any cause wliich he deems to 
be for the good of humanitj-. He removed to 
Ovid in 1888 and has continued to reside here, 
but still conducts the affairs upon his farm and 
manages everything in connection with them. 
The attention of the reader is invited to a litho- 
graphic view of the fine homestead of Mr. Warren, 
presented on another page. 



3^=-- 






/p^EORGE R. WARREN. SlasUstics show 
III (^— . that the English people arc the richest 
^^j) nation on earth and as a people they are 
credited witli extraordinary shrewdness and fore- 
sight in making investments that will bring the 
largest returns, but they have allowed one of their 
richest treasures to slip awaj' from them in that so 
many of their bright young men have emigrated 
to the New World. Our subject, George R. War- 
ren, is proud of the fact that he is of English birtli 
and parentage, having been born in Surrey, Eng- 
land, December 15, 18.31. His fatiier was Henry 
Warren and his mother, Harriet (Ridgebridgcr) 
Warren. 

In 1847, when all parts of the world were con- 
vulsed by commercial and social changes, the War- 
ren family emigrated to America, coming to 
Rochester, N. Y., where they lived for seven years. 
In 1854 they came to Owosso and in the fall of that 
year located on their farm. Our subject worked 
by the month for neighboring farmers until he had 
saved a sura of !f700 or |800. This he used in 
the purchase of one hundred acres of land on sec- 
tion 19, Bennington Township, Shiawassee County. 
Mr. Warren has exceptionally good taste and judg- 
ment which is shown in every part of his farm. 
The buildings are tastefully and conveniently ar- 
ranged, his dwelling being a model of comfort and 



elegance. He has a fine barn upon which he has 
expended a large sum of money. Mr. Warren 
took to wife, December 11, 1861, at St. John's, 
Margaret Warren, a daughter of Seth and Catherine 
(Johnson) Warren of Owosso, to which place they 
had come in 1856. The lady's parents died in this 
county, t'le father March 17. 1859, and the mother 
November 16. 1878. Thej' were natives of New 
York. 

(51eorge R. Warren, our subject, is the eldest of 
ten children. Mrs. Warren was born in Saratoga 
County, N. Y., January 11, 1838. Her mother's 
father was William Johnson, a Revolutionary 
soldier, having been attached to the commissary 
department. He was married at the close of the 
Revolutionary War. At the time of his death he 
was ninety-three years and eleven months old; the 
mother was ninet3'-four years old. 

The gentleman of whom we write has a family 
of bright children. His eldest son, Fred, was born 
March 14, 1863; Ella, June 24, 1866; she married 
Mr. Charles Shadbolt and resides at Bennington; 
Fred is at home although he has shown his native 
acquisitive faculty by already having secured sixty 
acres of land adjoining his father's farm. Mr. 
Warren and his son vote the straight Republican 
ticket. 

The familj' of our subject is one that all are at- 
tracted to by their geniality and warmth of heart. 
Mrs. Warren is a woman possessing rare business 
qualities and in these daj-s of progress among wo- 
men the possibilities for arising to prominent posi- 
tions are many. 



<* j^ILLlA.M A. WOODARD, senior member 
\/\j// of the firm of Woodard & North, is one of 
\y^' the well-known business men of Owosso 
Shiawassee Count}-. He has been located there since 
the suTnmer of 1866 and his name is perhaps as 
well known as that of any dealer or manufacturer 
in this localit}-. The firm of which he is a member 
carries on a wholesale and retail furniture trade, 
and their slock is large and con)plete. The}' 
occupy all the floors of a brick block 22 x 100 feet 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



253 



and three stories high, situated on the corner of 
Wasliington ami JNIain Streets, and also occupy 
two stories in a building fronting on Main street. 
Mr. Woodard is thoroughly' acquainted with every 
department of the business and possesses a large 
degree of the tact which is necessarj' in carrying 
on an establishment where a number of persons are 
employed, as well as the courtesy and honor that 
win the good will of patrons. 

Mr. Woodard was born in Steuben County, N. 
Y., in the town of South Danville, May 14, 184G. 
His father, William A. Woodard. was born in 
Steuben County, N. Y., and was a farmer by oc- 
cupation ; his mother, Miranda (Wing) Woodard, 
was born in Cohocton, her father having been L. 
Mason Wing. The parental family consists of four 
sons and one daughter, and AVilliani A. was the 
youngest son. He was educated in the common 
schools of his native place and later attended the 
Rogersville Seminary. He then prepared for a 
business life by a course of study in liastman 
Commercial College in Rochester. In 18G6 he 
came to Owosso in company with two brothers and 
bought what is generally known as White's plan- 
ing-mill. The sons were followed to this State by 
their parents in 1870. After carrying on the 
planing-mill some months our subject bought the 
furniture stock of C. W. Hastings and carried on 
business at the same stand. About two years later 
he began manufacturing furniture in company with 
his brothers, and sold their products at wholesale 
and retail, at the same lime continuing the running 
of the mill. 

In 1870 Mr. Woodard built the brick store he 
now occupies, where he has carried on business but 
with various changes in the firm. In 1875 a 
partnership was formed with his brothers Henry 
and Warren, the firm name l)eing Woodard Hros., 
and the three manufactured furniture until 1883 
when the partnershii) was dissolved by mutual con- 
sent. Heiir^' Woodaril continued in the retail 
furniture business and W. A. held an interest in 
the Owosso Casket Factor^' eighteen months, when 
that partnershii) was dissolved and he bought an 
interest in the furniture factory. This business 
was carried on by L. E. Warren and W. A. Wood- 
ard, the other brother, Henry, having an interest 



in the store with William A. When Henry died 
our subject took G. V. North into the business and 
at that time sold his own interest in the manu- 
factory and gave his attention entirely to his other 
affairs. 

Mr. Woodard w.as married in 18G8 to Miss Kliza 
Pierce of Cohocton, Steuben Countj', N. Y., who 
was carefully reared by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
Jere Pierce. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have three 
children, named respectively, Inez E., Alfred A. 
and Josiali B. Mr. Woodard has served one term 
as ALayor of Owosso and he was appointed Inspect- 
or of the Southern Michigan Prison at Jackson, 
by Gov. Begole, for a term of six j^ears. He is a 
member of Owosso Lodge, No. 81, F. and A. M. 
Politically he is a stanch Democrat. Besides his 
extensive business, of which an account has already 
been given. He is a stockholder and Director in 
the Owosso Savings Bank. In social and domestic 
life be is considerate and courteous, in business 
dealings honorable and straightforward, and his 
reputation is excellent. 



-^ 



fi^-^ ON. FRANK II. WAT.SON, of the law 
j) Drm of Watson & Chapman of Owosso, 
was born in Shiawassee County, November 
14, 1857. He is a son of Stephen and 
Hannah (Kenyon) Watson. The father was a na- 
tive of England and was brought up in Canada to 
which count: y his parents had migrated when he 
was an infant. The mother of our subject is a na- 
tive of Connecticut, a dnughter of John Kenyon 
and of English ancestry'. In 1 851 Stei)lien Watson 
and family moved to Shiawassee County and lo- 
cated on a farm in Shiawassee Township where he 
still resides, carrying on general farming and 
stock-raising, and being one of the most successful 
agriculturists in his district. Frank H. Watson is 
next to the youngest in a family of six children. 
His youtli and early school days were passed on 
the farm and in the district school, after which he 
entered Corunna High ScIk^oI and aftei complet- 
ing his course there l;iught in the country for 
some three years. He then took ui) the study of 



254 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



law, reading in the office of Judge McCurdy of 
C'oiunna, and afterwards read witli Judge A. R. 
McBride of the same place. He was admitted to 
the bar at Coriinna in 1881. 

The young lawyer commenced his practice in 
Corunna in 1883, forming a partnership with 
Odell Chapman, which still continues. In 1883 
he removed to Owosso, continuing however the 
same connection. The firm is well and favorably 
known throughout the county, and these legal gen- 
tlemen have a wide acquaintance among the peo- 
[)Ie. They practice in all the courts, looal, State 
and Federal. 

Mr. Watson was married in 1887 to Miss Ella P. 
Westfall, of Corunna, a daughter of Lewis West- 
fall and a native of Michigan. Her parents were 
formerly from Port Jarvis, N. Y., a beautiful place 
on the Hudson River. Two lovely daughters 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Donna 
M. and Helen P. Mr. Watson was elected Circuit 
Court Commissioner of Shiawassee County in 
1884. He vvas elected to represent the second 
district of Shiawassee County in the State Legisli- 
ture serving during the session of 1887. He was 
also appointed United States Commissioner for 
the Eastern District of Michigan. He is a mem- 
ber of Owosso Lodge, No. 81, F. A A. M., and is 
considered one of its most prominent members. 
He is regarded as a lawyer of more than ordinary- 
judgment and legal acumen. He is a clear, forci- 
ble and logical speaker and presents his cases with 
ability to both court and jury. Politically he is 
recognized as one of the strong and influential Re- 
publicans in this part ()f the state. 



\fOIIN M. BEARDSLEE. The name which 
heads this sketch is that of one of the early 
pioneers who braved the dillicullies of early 
1^^// settlement and who has helped to make the 
State stand so high in the Union. Henry Boards- 
lee came to Bennington Township, Shiawassee Coun- 
ty, June, 1839, and located on the south half of 
section 31. He had taken u)) the land from the 
Government in the year 18.'!',). The years that 



followed between that time and his death, which 
occurred November 7, 1 860, were fraught with hard 
work. His wife followed him to the better land 
May 24, 188C. She was born July 27, 1801. 

Our subject was born in New Jersey. In com- 
ing to Miciiigan in the early days the route that 
was followed was very obscure. Leaving the 
Grand River Road at the Nichols' farm they went 
to where a family by the name of Johnson were 
living, but now a Mr. Cook lives there. Thence 
the}' went to Moses Pitts, thence to Samuel Pitts 
and came to the end of the trail. They proceeded 
a mile and a half farther, being guided by the 
stars. It had become known that a new family had 
come into the neighborhood and all the poopic 
kin<lly offered to assist at the raising of the home 
roof and sure enough, on the momentous day when 
the house was to be given form, the neighbors as- 
sembled from twenty miles distant and before the 
night a safe and comfortable, if not elegant, habi- 
tation was reared. 

On the farm Mr. Beardslee reared a family of 
eight children, whose names are as follows: Madi- 
son S., who lives in Sciota Township; Drusilla, 
now Mrs. William Claucherty, deceased; John M.; 
Alanson, who lives in Whitmore, Iosco County, 
this State; Peter S., who lives at the old home- 
stead; Henry T., at Laingsburg; Emeline, de- 
ceased, and Martha, who is now Mrs. C. L. Dean. 
J. M. Beardslee was born June 3, 1830, at Hards- 
ton, Sussex County, N. J. When he attained man- 
hood he was married in 1854 to Miss Angelina 
Ladue. He had purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres which he began to improve. He now has 
two hundred and twenty acres, sixty acres of which 
are exceptionally well improved. 

Mr. Beardslee lost his wife fourteen montlis after 
marriage. He was again married January 7, 1857, 
to Jane E. Dean, a sister of C. L. Dean. She also 
died April 28, 1888, and he was united a third time 
iu marriage to a lady who was the widow of A. W. 
Bugbee. He has a family of six children: The 
eldest boy, Charles Henry, is in California; May 
A., who was Mrs. Jacob Boyd, is deceased; Eva Jane, 
who became Mrs. George Kenny, of Sciota Town- 
ship; Emma, who married El vert Place and lives 
in Los Gatos, C;d.; Lanson Guy, who lives in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



257 



Sciola Township, and Fred, who died June 5, 1890, 
at tlie age of seventeen. Tlie only people in Ben- 
ninjitoii Towiisliii) when tlie Beardslee fiiniily came 
to this .State were tlic Nicliols, Te«'sl)eiry, lliitcli- 
ins, Joe Skinner, Jennison, Jim Bugbee, Lem Colin, 
l);!vi(l Perry, Moses and Samuel Pitts, the Howard 
brotluMS and -Samuel Kellogg. Our sul>ject is a 
Democrat in politics. He has a One home and holils 
a high position in the community. 



■•«"-'t^-*«#^?- 



<« li.ELLS B. FOX, M. D. It is both pleasant 
\/\j/j and instructive to trace the history of a 
\/y^ man who has by native ability and force 
of character made his mark in any of the learned 
professions. It is especiall3- interesting to study 
the career of one who has m.ade surgery his 
chosen calling, .Tiid who is awake to the wonderful 
improvements which have been made within a few 
years in that noble branch of medical science and 
who is in this respect in the front rank of his pro- 
fession. It is of such an one we now write and his 
portrait is also presented to our readers. 

Dr. Wells B. Fox was born in Buffalo, N. Y., 
September 1, 1823. His parents, Augustus C. and 
Esther (Pratt) Fox, were born in Westminster, 
Vt., and both came with their parents to Buffalo 
in the same year, 1803. Augustus C. Fox was an 
attorney and one of the first in Buffalo, being 
County- Attorney of Erie County for some years, 
and enjoyint; an extensive practice. He passed his 
life in that county, and died in 1854. He and 
his worthy wife reared six sons, namely: Charles 
James, Augustus C, Wells B., Samuel Russell, 
Benjamin F., and Elias William. The eldest son 
is in the hardware business in Council Bluffs, la.; 
Augustus lives at Deerfield, Ivivingston County, 
Mich.; Samuel is a partner in the St. Louis Novelty 
Works in St. Louis, Mo.; Benjamin F. has been 
for tliirt)'-fivc years a hardware merchant at Spring- 
field, III. and the youngest son was for many years 
with Pratt, Fox & Co., in the same line of business 
at St. Louis, Mo., but ten years ago he bought the 
Washington liepublican and published that paper 



until bis death in the early part of the present 
year (1891). 

The early history' of Dr. Fox is very interesting. 
When a child of eight years iie was injured and 
was placed for surgical treatment in the care of 
Dr. Cyrenas Chapin, of Buffalo, one of the most 
eminent surgeons of the Kmi)iie State. The old 
Doctor had no sons ami kept the child with him. 
lie early imbibed the idea of studying medicine 
and from the time he was fourteen ^cars old com- 
pounded all Dr. Cha|)in's medicines and traveled 
witli him all over that part of the country. Dr. 
Cha|iin was a noted surgeon and taught the boy 
to tie blood vessels and he was soon known as 
the "artery boy." The 3'oung student studied in 
Buffalo, and took his medical course first in Union 
College at Sehenctady, N. Y., graduating there in 
1843, and then in the medical department of the 
I'liiversit^' of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. 

After graduation, the young Doctor was a|)- 
poinled under Dr. John Trowbridge medical 
attendant of the County Farm and Hospital of 
Erie County, N. Y. He took up bis residence 
near Buffalo and for two ^ears had full charge of 
this work. In 184'J he came to Livingston County, 
Mich., where his brother, A. C. Fox was living. 
He came expecting to return East, but was induced 
to remain, and soon began a general practice, such 
as is incident to a frontier region in Hartland, that 
county. He continued there until 1862, when he 
eniered the army as a surgeon. 

Gov. Wisner, who raised the Twenty-Second 
Michigan Infantry, ai)pointed Dr. Fox Assistant 
Surgeon in August, 18G2, Dr. A. R. McConnell, 
now of Ludington, this State, being Surgeon. In 
this capacity' he served until July, 18G3, when he 
was made Surgeon of the Eiglith Michigan Infan- 
try until the close of the war. While in the 
Twenty-Second Regiment, after Morgan's raid in 
Kentucky, he organized the lios[)itals at Lexington, 
Ky., being detailed for this purpose until January, 
18G3. He then went to Nashville, Tenn., where 
he was detailed as Surgeon in charge of the Trans- 
fer Hospital, then located at the /ollicoffer Hotel. 
He then joined the Eighth Regiment in front 
of Vicksburg, Miss., during the siege. In August 
he crossed the Cuinberlaiui Mountains to East Ten- 



258 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



nessee, and was present at tlie siege of Knoxville, 
and at the various battles in East Tennessee, being 
detailed at Knoxville, as Surgeon in charge of the 
Court House Hospital. He remained here until 
Gen. Burnside was relieved of the command of the 
Ninth Army Corps, when the Eighth Regiment 
veteranized and on the 8lb of Jauuarj- started 
home to fill up their ranks. 

The regiment I elurned to the Army of the Po- 
tomac in the spring of I8G4, in time to take part 
in the battle of the Wilderness, and Dr. Fox was 
placed on the 0|)eraLing staff. First Division Ninth 
Army Corps, and was placed in charge of the Field 
Hospital. In September, 18G4, he was made Sur- 
geon-in-Chief of the Field Hospital in front of 
Potersliuig and continued in this position until he 
was discharged, July 20, 1865. He was at Appo- 
mattox with his hospital, and was, by invitation ' 
of Gen. Sheridan, a witness of the making of the 
terms of peace between Grant and Lee. He did a 
large amount of personal work in surgical opera- 
tions during his railitai^' service. 

At the close of the Civil War Dr. Fox returned 
to Michigan and located at Ilartland, but in 18(;7 
settled in Byron, this county, buying five hundred 
acres of land near Bancroft, and moving on the 
farm. In 1877 he came into the village of Ban- 
croft and took an interest in its improvement, 
erecting quite a number of houses which were a 
material benefit to the village. He still owns his 
farm but carries on an extensive practice. He is 
widely' known as a surgeon and devotes most of 
his attention to that branch of the healing art, often 
being called to far distant points on account of 
his skill in surgerj'. He is considered one of 
of the leading members of the State Medical 
Association. 

The marriage of Dr. Fox and Miss Triphena 
Skinner took place in Deerlield, Livingston County, 
January 8, 1853. She died August 31, 1888. The 
present Mrs. Fox who was united in marriage with 
the Doctor, April 7, 1889, was born in Washtenaw 
County. January 26, 1837. her maiden name being 
Orcclia .Melvin. Her parents, L^-ninn and Sarah Ann 
(Arnett) Melvin, were natives of New York, who 
cauie to Michigan in 1836. In February of the 
following year they settled in Antrim Township, 



Shiawassee County-, on land adjoining the first 
home of Allen Beard, who was a brother in-law of 
Mr. Melvin. 

By his first marriage the Doctor had two daugh- 
ters — Addie Elizabeth, who now lives at Bancroft 
and is the widow of Esck Olney: and Lillian Belle, 
who is Mrs. Dr. Harvey. The Doctor has never 
been on office seeking politician, but is one of the 
leaders of the Republican parly which he helped 
to organize under the trees at Jackson, Mich. He 
has been an Odd Fellow since 1848 and is now 
Noble Grand of Bancroft Lodge No. 112, and a 
member of Brj'on Encampment, where he has filled 
all the chairs repeatedly. 

Dr. Fox has a conii)lete surgical record (taken 
on the field) of all Jlichigan Regiments in the 
Ninth Army Corps. This is of much value to the 
families of all old soldiers and it shows in details 
the facts relative to each wounded soldier, with 
character of wouml, treatment and disposition of 
the case. He stands high not only in the councils 
of the Grand Army of the Republic, but also in 
Ins profession, and his reputjition as a surgeon is 
national in its character. 



^ 




<^T/LVIN EVANS, a well-known citizen of 
/ull Owosso, Shiawassee County, engaged in in- 
specting Government lands for private 
parties, is a native of New York where he 
was born near Rochester in 1830. His parents 
were Lester and Abigail Evans. After their mar- 
riage at her home they removed to Michigan, and 
made theii home in Lenawee County, in the town- 
ship of Rome, near Adrian where they spent the 
remainder of their days. They had seven children, 
three sons and four daughters, and four of this 
circle are now living. The district schools of 
Rome Township, supplied the training of this boy 
and he remained on the farm until he reached his 
nineteenth year. The young man now went into 
the woods and engaged in lumbering and also spent 
some time in trapping and dressing furs. He was 
in the woods altogether some nine years. For a 
short time he engaged in the mercantile business 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



259 



but did not find that it agreed with his health and 
he sold out. lie then entered the employ of the 
(ii'.ind Rapids A Indiana Railroad Companj- in 
locating their lands and also in oilier parts of Mich- 
igan. 

For the past five years Mr. Evans has been en- 
gaged in locating for a private company in the 
West and also in the South traveling in Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana, Texas and other Southern States. 
He is much of the time in the employ of Robins 
it Lacy of Grand Rapids. He is not at home much 
of the time but is employed by individuals in mak- 
ing estimates of the value of land and timber in 
which he is considered an expert. Parlies wlio 
know him generally decline to luirchase u.itil lie 
has given an estimate or expressed an opinion. 

Mr. Evans' marriage with Miss Sarah A. Wal- 
lace, which took place Decemlier 18, 1802, at West 
Haven, this count}-, was an event of supreme im- 
portance in his life. This lad}' is a native of Wash- 
tenaw County, Mich., where she was bora in 1844, 
and she is one of eleven children in her parental 
home. Ten of this circle have grown to man's and 
woman's estate. The parents were George and 
Abigail (Branch) Wallace, the mother being born 
in Benson, Mass., March 28, 1807, and the father 
in Tuwnsend, Mass., Se|)tember .'), 1808. Their 
marriage took place in Lenox, May 30, 1827. They 
removed to Michigan in 1838, settling in Washte- 
naw County, and in 18;").') removed to Sliiavvassee 
County, locating on a farm in Shiawassee Town- 
ship, where they passed the remainder of their 
days. The father filled a number of ollicial posi- 
tions in the tovvnship, and died Sepleniber 24, 
1878. He bad been bereaved of his faithful wife 
on May 8, 1874. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born four 
children, George T., who died al four years of age; 
Wallace A. died about four years of age; Albert 
B., N'erner A. L. Their beautiful farm of one 
hundred and sixty-five acres lies one mile north of 
the city limits, anil they have another fine farm 
six miles north of the city, which conii)rises one 
hundred and seventy-five acres of timbei land, hard 
wood. They also have a handsome residence al 
No. 1114 North Mulberry Street. They are both ac- 
tive members of the First Baptist Church, and lib- 



eral contributors to church work and other benev- 
olent enterprises. They are intelligent and inter- 
ested in public affairs, Mr. Evans being a stanch 
Democrat, and Mrs. Evans a Prohibitionist. 



""^^^" 



IpxEWTON BALDWIN, the well-known Jus- 
I J/J ^'^'^' ^^ '^''^ Peace at (Jwusso, Shiawassee 
/1\^ County, is a native of the Wolverine State 
and was born in Oakland Township, Oakland 
County. October 22, 183.5. His parents Benedict 
and Perinelia (Potter) Baldwin were both natives 
of Comu'clicut. After marriage the father bought 
a farm near Rochester, N. Y., at which cit}- they 
were married. Mrs. Baldwin was a daughter of 
Daniel Poller, of English descent. 

In 1824 this couple came to Michigan and set- 
tled in Oakland County on an unbroken farm, and 
continued there until their death, the father pass- 
ing away in 1886, and the m'.'ther in 1863. Of 
their nine children, eight are now living: Newton 
is the youngest of the family, and he [lassed his 
earl}' school days in Oakland County. He then 
attended the High School at (!rand Rapids for 
some two years. 

The young man now began teaching, pursuing 
this calling in Oakland County for six terms, and 
in 18.5.') going to Iowa vhere he taught for three 
terms. In 1860 Mr. Baldwin returned to Michi- 
g;ui and undertook general merchandising in 
Owosso. This he carried on for twenty years, as- 
sociating with him during a part of the lime his 
brother Charles A. Baldwin, and at another time 
.Mr. Charles C. Shattuck. For a year or two he 
was out of business and then engaged for a second 
timeinOwossoin the mercantile line. He finally sold 
ouL and entered the i)olitical arena, and beingacan- 
<lidale for County Clerk on the IJomocralic ticket 
was elected. He served in this office for two years 
and also held Ih'; olllce of City Clerk and City 
Treasurer for six years. He was candiilate for the 
olHce of Judge of the Probate Court on the Dem- 
ocratic ticket, and was defeated by a small major- 
ity of one hundred, Ihe county ticket in generxl 
going sixteen hundred majority for the Republican 



260 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



candidates. He tlien became bcok-keeper for Ar- 
thur McHardy, and was afterward employed by 
M. L. Stewart, the banker, as Collector and Cashier, 
and with him he remained for four years. In April, 
1887, he was elected Justice of the Peace for a term 
of four j-ears and in the spring of 1891 was re- 
elected to the same office. 

The marriage of our subject in January, 1857, 
united him with Miss Mary (). Bromley, of Oak- 
land County, Mich., of which she is a native. Ilur 
parents are Bethuel and Eliza Bromley who were 
early settlers in Michigan. One of Mr. and Mrs. 
Baldwin's children has been calleil to the belter 
world. The other a daughter, Maude, remains to 
cheer and comfort her parents. 

Mr. Baldwin is a prominent member of Owosso 
Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., and also of Owosso 
Chapter No. 8!», II. A. M., and of Corunna Com- 
manilery. He was elected Circuit Court Commis- 
sioner in the fall of 1890. After serving two 
years as County Clerk he was admitted to the bar 
of Shiawassee County. His beautiful home is at 
the corner of Hickory and Williams Streets. 



^^ONSTANTINE GRULER. The thriving 
(l\ n ^'^''^'^ "^ Fowler is the scat of some flouiish- 
^^^ ing business establishments, among which 
the store of Mr. G ruler is quite noticeable. A 
carefully-selected stock, valued at about 18,000, is 
displayed in the new building that was put U|) in 
1889 by its present occupant and is the best edifice 
in tlie place. Mr. G ruler has been engaged in busi- 
ness here for some years, beginning his work when 
the prospect for a town seemed very poor, as the 
country was covered with forest, with only here 
and tlie:e a cleared farm in that part now occupied 
by Fowler and the surrounding cultivated fields. 
Mr. Gruler has carried on a good trade in grain 
and produce and in an earlier day speculated in 
real estate quite extensively. He has a pleasant 
home, his resilience being one of the most tasteful 
in the village. 

Philip Gruler, father of our subject, was born in 
Wnrtemburg, Germany, in 1805, and came to 



America in 1851. He located in New York Citj', 
but after living there five years came out to Clin- 
ton County and settled on a farm of fifty acres 
which belonged to his son, our subject. He was a 
builder and furniture-maker in his own country 
and in New York was foreman of a piano f.actory. 
He was married in Rottweil, AVurtemberg, to Mary 
A. Kustor and to them were born the following chil- 
dren: Constantine. Louisa, and Romaine. Louisa is 
now living in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Gruler died 
in Bengal Township in 1858 at the age of fift^-- 
three years; his wife [lassed away in 18G5, while on 
a visit to her d.-iughter in Brooklyn. 

Constantine Gruler was born in Rottweil, Wurt- 
temberg. May 19, 1832, and came to this country 
with his parents. In his native land he had pur- 
sued the usual educational work and home life un- 
til fifteen years old, when ho h.nd become an 
apprentice, serving three years in a store and pay- 
ing $180 to the merchant for the [irivilege of 
learning the business. After the family came to 
America he worked in a bakery and in a molding 
shoi), doing gilding in the latter. In 1857 he came 
to Clinton County and settled on his farm, and 
here he was married to Caroline Schemer, a native 
of Geiniany who came to America about 1856, 
and lived with his stepson, Frederick Schemer, in 
Clinton County. To Mr. and Mrs. Gruler nine 
children were born, namely-: Louisa, now Mrs. 
Cook of Fowler; Annie, Mrs. Whittaker of Pew- 
amo; Frank, a grain dealer in Fowler; Emma, who 
is at the head of her father's store; Fann}', who 
also clerks in the store; Alfred, Amelia, Rosa and 
Ernest. 

About 1857 Mr. Gruler traded his Bengal Town- 
ship [iroperty for eighty acres in Dallas Township 
and on the latter he made his home for ten years. 
He then traded for eightj' acres in Westphalia 
Township and lived thereon until 1868, when he 
sold it and went to Missouri, prospecting for a new 
home. After a visit of two months he returned to 
Michigan, satisfied to remain here, and in partner- 
ship with her brother-in-law, Frederick Schemer, he 
started a mercantile enterprise where Fowler has 
been built up. The partnership continued about 
six years and the business has been continued by 
Mr. Gruler. He has deprived of the companion- 





-n^ 



J^^ l?^/6 



A-fx. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



263 



(Cr 



ship of his faithful wife in 1883, when slie closcil 
her eyes in death, breathing her last in Fowler. 
She was born in UIra, Germany, in the year 1 84 L 
Mr. G ruler is a Master Mason, belonging to St. 
John's Lodge, No. 10.5, and is also connected with 
the Ancient Order of United AVorkmen of Fowler. 
lie has alwaj's been a Democrat. He has served in 
the official capacities of Township Supervisor and 
Treasurer, Highwa)' Commissioner and Justice of 
the peace, and at present is President of the 
village of Fowler. That he has been a useful mem- 
ber of society and that his fellow-citizens think 
well of him is conclusively proven by the ofHciul 
positions to which he has been called. 



'ifOHN M. FITCH, of the firm of J. .M. Fitch 
<fe Son, of Corunna, is engaged in ojjcr- 
ating A planing niilljand manufactures lum- 
ber, doors, sash and blinds. He is one of 
the first half-dozen settlers in Shiaw.issee County, 
and is a most delightful companion, pleasantly en- 
tertaining friends with reminiscences of the olden 
times. He was born in Bedford, JLiss., July 8, 
1811. His ancestors came to America from the Isle 
of Man about the year 160.0. His father and 
grandfather both bore the name of Moses, and were 
farmers in Bedford. The grandfather was wounded 
in the Revolutionary War, and died from this 
cause. His father bore the name of Jeremiah. The 
father of our subject died of an accident in Bedford 
in 1824. The mother was known in maidenhood 
as Polly Brown, and was a daughter of Daniel B. 
Brown, a citizen of Lunenburg, Mass., and a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary War. Our subject is tlic 
only child of his mother, and she remained with 
him uiilil her death in 1880, when she was nearing 
the ninety-ninth anniversary of her birth. 

Young Fitch attended the common schools and 
followed farming in Bedford. In 1833 he sold his 
property, and at that time executed the first deeil 
ever made of the farm, as it had been in the family 
for generations. He removed to Meredith, N. H.. 
now known as Laconia, and took an interest in a 
cotton manufactory. After three years he came 



West, and in the fall of 183G located in Ann Ar- 
bor for one winter, coming in the si)ring to Shia- 
wassee Township, Shiawassee County. He kept 
public house that summer in the building that w.as 
formerly- occupied by A. L. Williams, the old In- 
dian trader. This, the first hotel in Shiawassee 
County, was known as the Shiawassee Exchange, 
and all the count3' business was done there. 

Mr. Filch bought eighty acres of wild land, upon 
which he built a log house and began clearing the 
tinilior. Wild anim.als were plentiful, as were also 
the Chippewa Indians, with whom he learned to 
talk, his house being only a mile from the Reserva- 
tion Ketchermaudaugeninick, of three thousand 
acres. As his health failed, he went East in June, 
1840, and after spending some time in New York 
anil Philadelphia, went to the Isle of Cuba. Health 
being restored, he returned to Michigan, farming 
on rented land for five years, until he became 
Sheriff in 18y3, when he removed to Corunna for 
four years. After renting land in Caledonia fur 
twelve years, he bought a farm in Hazclton in 
18G7, and mad.e his home on it until 187."). He 
ceased farming operations and engaged in ISSO in 
a sawmill. He next built a planing mill at .ludd's 
Corners, and in 1890 bought the mill of McLaugh- 
lin Bros., and during that year moved to Corunna. 
When he gets both mills well consolidated, as he 
is now planning, he will have the largest planing 
mill in Shiawassee County, and a coin|)lete set 
of macliinerj- for manufacturing anything in his 
line. 

The year 1833 was the date which marked Mr. 
Fitch's change from single to married life, and he 
was then wedded in Bedford, Mass., to Miss Cathe- 
rine Bacon, of that place. Of their three chil- 
dren the eldest, George B., was a fine mechanic, 
who went South and has not been heard from since 
11S72; John A. is in partnership with \\\% father; 
and Abbie is the wife of Mr. .lolin Andrews, who 
is in the hardware business at Ovid. Our subject 
has boon for nine years Supervisor of the town- 
ship in which he resides, and was Justice of the 
Peace for some years. Pie has filled all the town- 
ship ollices and for years served in the t)fliceof the 
Registrar of Deeds. He is a demitted member of 
the Free and Accepted Masons, and belongs to the 



•264 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Sons of Temperance. He lias always voted with 
the Democratic part^', and for years has beeu an 
influential member of the party. lie and his wife 
have been married almost sixty years. Both are 
members of the Presbyterian Church, and higliiy 
esteemed in social circles. The lithographic por- 
trait of Mr. Fitch accompanies this sketch. 



■ff^OHN BROWN, one of the official citizens 
of St. John's, was born in County Antrim, 
Ireland, December 4, 1834. His father, 
Francis Brown, was a native of Ireland and 
a weaver by trade. He was born in 1807, and 
came to America in 1842, locating in Essex County, 
N. J. In 1850 he came to Oakland County, Mich., 
and two years later removed to Clinton County, 
v/here he died in 1855. He belonged to the Pres- 
byterian Church in his native land. 

The mother of our subject, Susannah Brown, 
was born in Antrim, Ireland, and is still living to 
bless her children at the age of eighty-four years. 
Of her ten children, our subject is the eldest, and 
lie was but seven years old when his parents came 
to America. He came to Michigan with his par- 
ents in 1852 when the country in these parts was 
still a wilderness and very little clearing had been 
done. After he had reached the age of nine or 
peihni)S ten years he had an opportunity of attend- 
ing the district school, but most of his education 
was procured at home. While attending school he 
chopped wood nights and jnornings. In those 
days deer were abundant and other game was plen- 
tiful and his father often killed a deer and thus 
supplied the family with fresh meat which was 
very rare in those days. Tiie Indians were fre- 
quent callers and friendly neighbors. 

The boy began to work out for neighboiiug 
farmers as soon as he was old enough, and he was 
thus able to earn money to pay for the first eighty 
acres that his father owned in the Western home. 
He also earned in this way the means to buy for 
himself a farm. In 1857 he purchased his present 
farm on section 27, Bengal Township, Clinton 
County. This land was then an unbroken forest 



I 



and not an ax had been swung against its trees nor 
a spade set in its virgin soil. He cut the first s*ick 
and built the first house upon it and made his lininc 
tliere about the j-ear 18(30. 

The marriage of John Brown in 1858 with Sarah 
J. Teneick was an event of great importance in tlic 
life of the young mau. His intelligent and amia- 
ble bride was born in Canada, near Toronto, and 
had been living in Michigan for some five years, 
her parents being early settlers in Bengal Town- 
ship. Three children have come to bless this home, 
William II., George A., and James E. The subject 
of this brief sket'h is an earnest Republican and 
is proud to say that he cast his first vote for John 
C. Fremont. He is often solicited to fill positions 
of trust and responsibility in the townsldp and has 
been Supervisor for eight years. He has also acted 
as Treasurer for three ^ears, and for two years has 
filled the position of Drainage Commissioner. He 
frequently sits as a delegate in various conven- 
tions, including the Republican State Convention. 
He is an earnest member of the Grange and is ever 
alive to movements which will favor the best inter- 
ests of the farming coraraunit}'. Both he and his 
good wife are members of the United Brethi-en 
Church, which organization has made him a Trustee 
of church and parsonage. He began life on the 
bottom round of the ladder and has climbed to 
where he can see prosperity and an excellent de- 
gree of success. His farm comprises one hundred 
.and sixty acres and the excellent buildings which 
he has placed upon it are an ornament to the 
township. 




farm located on section 7, Vernon Town- 
siiip, was born in Orleans County, Murray 
Township, N. Y., February 27, 1848. His father 
was Joseph W. Paine, a native of New York and 
born in Herkimer County, in 1803, where he was 
reared until he reached manhood. He acquired 
the trade of a carriage-maker, which be followed a 
large part of his life, although ho bought and sold 
grain and owned a large warehouse in Hinsburg, 



PORTRAIT ANU BlOGRAl'lliCAL ALliLM. 



265 



N. Y., on the Erie Canal. When he came to Mieli- 
igan, in 1857, he located tlirectl^' in Vernon Town- 
ship, on section 7. 

A little log house was on the farm when Mr. 
Paine ceme there and the place was partially im- 
proved, lie remained in the house that was on 
the place when he first came until his death, al the 
age of eight3-five years. Polilicall}-, Mr. Paine 
was a Republican. Religiously, he was a member 
of the Universalist Church, and socially he identi- 
fied liimself at one time with the Odd Fellows. 
The maiden name of our subject's mother was 
Eliza Flill. She was a native of New York and 
was born in Parma, Monroe County, in 1815. 
She is still living and resides with W. D. Garrison. 
She is a member of tlie Congregational Church. 
She and her husband were married in Monroe 
County and they became parents of two children, 
a son and a daughter. The lady spoken of was 
the second wife, Mr. Paine's first wife having lived 
onl}' a few years and leaving to him but one 
daughter — Imogene — who is now the widow of 
Z. IJ. St. John. The widow of Mr. I'aine has as 
above stated, two childien — Jeanetle, the wife of 
W. D. (iarrison, whose sketch will be found on an- 
other page in this Albtm, and our subject. 

Our subject is the first and only son and was ten 
years old when he came to Michigan with his pa- 
rents. His early school days were passed in his 
native place and after he came to this State he at- 
tended school in a log house on section 8. He fin- 
ished his schooling in the house that stands on the 
corner of section 18, District No. 2. lie remained 
with his father until he became of age and then 
worked for him by the month until ho was mar- 
ried, which event was celebrated in 1873. The 
maiden name of his wife was Mary Clark. She 
was an only daughter of William and Delia Clark 
and was born in Detroit in 1853. 

After Mr. Paine's marriage he lived with his 
p.'ircnts for a period of about three years, then 
located where he now resides. He is the proud 
father of three children — two daughters and one 
son. They are, Katie Belle, Mabel and Charles. 
Mr. Paine may well be proud of his farm, which 
comprises two hundred thirty-seven acres of well- 
improved land, one hundred fifty acres of this 



being under the plow; thirty-five acres is in 
heavy timber, the rest is in pasture. He raises 
many sheep, having at present three hundred and 
thirty head of sheep and lambs. He also keeps a 
fine stock of horses, now having eight head. He 
is a general farmer and stock-raiser, making a 
specialty of sliccp-raising. Last year his lambs ag- 
gregated one hundred and thirty-nine. He handles 
more sheep tliiui an}' other man in the county, 
having an average of one hundred lambs per year 
fur the last four ^ears. 

In politics Mr. Paine is a Republican and hp.s 
held many positions under his l)avty. He is at 
present Postmaster in which office he does 
efficient duty. He has one of the finest 
farms in the county and as his ingenuity and 
sense of order know no end, he is con- 
stantly making improvements which add greatly 
to the value as well as the comfort and conven- 
ience of the place. 

— ^ ^^ ^— 

THAMES N. McBRlDE, of the firm of Dewey 
& Mc Bride, publishers of the Owosso 
'Times is one of the influential citizens of 
Owosso. The paper was established in 1881 
b}' Hon. George M. Dewey, whose biographical 
sketch is found elsewhere in this volume. That 
gentleman continued in the management of the 
paper until 1890, at which time Mr. McBride pur- 
chased a half interest in the oflice with Mr. E. O. 
Dewey. 

The Owosso Times is the accredited organ of 
the Republican party in Shiawassee County, and is 
a fine appearing sheet, quarto in size, with a seven 
column page and is issued ever}- Friday. It is a 
newsy sheet and its typographical excellence is a 
credit to its publishers. The two large cylinder 
presses and the two job presses of this office are 
supplied with power by a gas engine. This estab- 
lishment is also supplied with a large Bascom 
folder and a thirtj'-two inch paper cutter. This 
firm does the printing for the Shiwassee licjiurtir 
besides carrying on a large job business. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Mercer 



266 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



County, Pa., and a son of James S., and Marj' 
(Offutt) McBiide. He was born December 12, 1864, 
and his parents now reside in Shiawassee County. 
For furtlier matters in regard to the family history 
we are pleased to refer our readers to the sketch of 
James 8. McBride to be found upon anoUier page 
of this album. 

James N. McBride graduated from the Owosso 
High School in 1884, and entered the universitj- of 
Michigan at Ann Arbor, taking the literary' coui'se 
wliere he took his dijiloma in 1888, being awarded 
also the second prize which was offered by the 
American Protective Tariff League for an essay 
on the subject of tariff. One of the judges, Rob- 
ert P. Porter, Superintendent of eleventh Census 
of the United States, was so pleased with the young 
man as to offer him a position on his force. lie 
appointed Mr. McBride Supervisor of tlie 'I'hird 
Census District of Michigan. 

Tiie young man's intelligence and interest in 
education brought him before the public and two 
years after his graduation he was elected .Superin- 
tendent of Schools of Shiawassee County, w here he 
served successfullj- for two years. He also became 
a candidate for the nomination in the Republican 
State Convention for the otiicc of Slate Superin 
tendent of Public Instruction, and received a large 
vote in the convention, standing second to the man 
who was finallj' nominated. Since he took charge 
of tiie Owosso Times it has plainly shown the man- 
agement of a man who understands tiie newspaper 
))usiness and who is pushing to the front among 
the newspaper fraternity of Michigan. 



LBERT T. PARRIsn is a i)r.aclicing piiy- 



(@^J|1 sieian and druggist at B^'ron, .Shiawassee 
ili County, and was born in Bedford, Wayne 
County, this State, September 27, 1859. 
He Is a son of Othniel T. and Cordelia C. (Tay- 
lor) Parrish, natives of New York State. They 
were married in Wa3^ne County-, this State. The 
mother of the family w.as taken away at Ovid. 
The father now resides in Clevelnnd, Ohio. Until 
the present time he has followed farming as his 




vocation. He is a man in comfortable circum- 
stances, a Republican in politics and a member 
of the Masonic order. 

The parents of our subject had three children, 
of which the one of whom we write is the only 
survivor. In childhood he lived in the town of 
Redford, Wayne County-. When fourteen, his par- 
ents removed to Ovid, where he remained until 
reaching his majority. Tlie schools of this county 
are e.Kccptionall^' good and our subject made the 
most of his advantages, so that when he reached 
twenty years of age he was well prepared to enter 
the medical department of the University of Mich- 
igan at Ann Arbor. In 1881 he was graduaeed 
from this institution with high honors. 

The entrance of a young man upon his pro- 
fessional career is a momentous occasion, and es- 
pecially in the profession of medicine where there 
there is so much co'upetition and so many circum- 
stanees to be taken into consideration, it is neces- 
sary for a 3'oung man to balance and weigh well 
all advantages and disadvantages before deter- 
mining where he will i)ractice. It is said that a 
prophet is without honor in his own country, so 
comparalivelj' few v^oung men begin their prac- 
tice where the^- have grown up, and where all 
their youthful escapades may serve to undervalue 
their real professional ability. Dr. Parrish w.as 
not an exception to the rule, and after much stutly 
of the matter he located at Evart, Mich., and 
there practiced until Maj-, 1884, when he went to 
JNIarcellus, remaining there until October, 1887, 
when he came to Byron, where he still v.onlinues 
to practice. Dr. Parrish also had a large and flour- 
ishing drug business, in which he was also en- 
gaged at Marcellus. He is eminently a self-made 
man, for he began without any material help what- 
ever and entirely without means, with indefatig- 
able energy he pursued his favorite idea. He 
worked himself through college and with unswerv- 
ing energy bent his will to securing the line and 
lucrative practice which he now has. 

The original of our sketch is a Mason, in which 
body he lias attained to a Master degree. He 
also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He 
is an ardent liepublican, believing fully iu that 
platform with all the tenets that it implies. Sep- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



267 



tember 15, 1880, Dr. Pairisli induced Miss Maria 
Hathaway to cliango lier name for timl of Parrisli. 
The laily is from Middlebury, Shiawassee Countj", 
where she was born. She is a daughter of William 
and Mary (Bearce) Hathaway. Two little ciiildrcn 
are at once tlie joy and care of their fond and 
proud parents. Our subject and his estimable 
lady dispense a liberal and charming hospitality 
from their pleasant home in Byron. 



y~ILLlAM L. PAYNE, a well-known busi- 
ness man of Owosso, Shiawassee County, 
who is respected alike for his thorough 
business qualities and his quiet, unassuming, yet 
honorable character, was born in Niagara County, 
N. Y., Marcli 4, 1832. His parents, Daniel and 
Cliarlolte (Harger) Payne, were of Eastern birth, 
tiie father being born in Massachusetts and the 
mother near Saratoga, N. Y., where she first 
saw the ligiit Jul}' 13, 1811. Her parents, Eber 
and Mary Harger, were of English ancestry. 

Our subject came West in 183G, removing witli 
liis parents to Genesee County, lliis State, where 
i)e became interested in lumbering and shingle 
making. Daniel Payne died in 18 17, and liis wife 
passed away, in Owosso, in 1881. Slie was llie 
motiier of four cliildren, of wliom our sul)jrct is 
the oldest, llie others being Eliza E., Edward II. 
and Chanc}' .1. William L. received onlv a very 
limited education in the common sciiools. lie 
assisted his fatiier up to the time of the death of 
that parent, which occurred when William was 
but fifteen years old, and from that time he was 
thrown wholly upon his own resources, working 
at lumbering and mining. 

The Western fever so seriously affected this 
young man as to lead him, in 185'J, to cross the 
continent by the overland route in company with 
others, some going on horseback and o'hers with 
o.\ teams, and some with horse teams. Upon reach- 
ing Salt Lake City both of Mr. Payne's horses were 
stolen by the Mormons, lie loadecl his effects on the 
w.agons of some of his friends :uid made the rest of 
the journey to California on fool. He m.ade a 



halt at Placerville, where he began working in the 
Pl.acer Mines, and there spent thirteen months. He 
spent six 3ears at Coloma, Cal., where he met 
witli fair success. 

Mr. P.ayne returned to Michigan in 186.5, and 
in the following spring came to Owosso. where he 
went to work at harness-making with a j'ounger 
brother, Chancy' J. Payne. Having spent twelve 
months with him, he started in business on his 
own account, and Las ever since followed the line 
of harness-making and repairing. In company 
with George Carpenter, he has erected a fine 
brick building on West Main Street, which accom- 
raoilatcs one store. He has also put up a brick 
house adjoining on his own account on the same 
street, and he has a pleasant residence on South 
Ball Street. 

Mr. Payne was married December 22, 1890, to 
iMary E. Baker, of Fenton, Mich. This lady is a 
native of Michigan. Mr. Payne is a Republican in 
his political views, but not in any sense a politician. 
He has been successful in business and has acquired 
a comfortable competency. 



-■■M-^-W-^' 



'i^jORSUCH & WELCH are editors of the Co- 

nmna. Jour II a I, n weekly five-column quarto, 
J^\ that was established in 1S81 l)y .I.NMngersol. 
The Journal oflice has good appliances for carrying 
on jot) work and a fine business is conducted in 
this dc[)artnient. The Journal is a reputable sheet, 
carefully edited, neatly printed, and having a 
good circulation in and near the county seat. Mr. 
(iorsucli is a practical printer and all-round news- 
paper man, and Ijolh editors are keen, quick-witted 
anil oberving, and have the command of language 
which makes their utterances re;;dable and instruc- 
tive. 

The senior member of the journalistic firm is a 
grandson of Maj. Benjamin Gorsucli, wlio was 
born in Maryland and died on his farm there. His 
title came from his position during the War of 
1812. The next in the direct line was D. H. (Jor- 
such, a native of Maryland, who learned the trade 



268 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of a tanner and currier. He traveled agreat deal, 
but in 1865, made a permanent location in St. 
John's, Clinton County, where he was for some 
time engaged in the harness and leatlier business, 
but IS now handling produce. His wife was Ann 
M. Gorsuch, daughter of Jacob Gorsuch, and a na- 
tive of Maryland. She died in St. John's in 1867, 
leaving six children. 

Elmer U. Gorsuch was the youngest of his pa- 
rents' family and was born in Stryker, Ohio, March 
12, 1864. He was but an infant when his parents 
came from that place to Michigan and he grew to 
maturity in St. John's. He was an apt scholar, and 
in 1881 received his diploma, after having comi>le- 
ted ihe higli school studies. lie taught a year, then 
entered the office of the Clinton Counij' Independ- 
ent and worked on that pajjer in various capacities 
until 1887, when he bought the Corunna JtnirnaJ. 
A year later E. J. Peacock was taken in as partner 
but in 1890 that gentleman was bought out by F. 
E. Welch and the present firm formed. Mr. Gor- 
such votes the Republican ticket. 

Mr. Frank Welch is the fourth of five sons born 
to Benjamin and Lovina (Toby) Welch. His pa- 
rents were natives of the Empire State, the fallier 
born in Steuben County in 1813. He was a farmer 
in his native Stale. until 1832, when he came to 
Michigan and located at Troy Corners, Oakland 
County. In 1837 he entered land in Burns Town- 
ship, in Siiiawassee Countj-, but did not lake pos- 
session of it until 1840. From that time until 1860 
he was engaged in improving and operating it, and 
then sold and made his home in Byron, where he 
died in 1867. His wife had breathed her last on 
the farm in 18.')2. Mr. Welch was one of the thir- 
teen men in Burns Township wlio first advocated 
the principles of abolition. 

Mr. Frank Welch who is now engaged in edito- 
rial work, was born May 10, 1848, and reared to the 
age of fourteen on the home farm. During his boy- 
hood lie attended the district school and the graded 
school in P)yron. Wiien fourteen years old he 
began clerking, and was engaged in trade until he 
assumed the duties of County Clerk. Mr. Welch 
was first elected to that position in the fall of 1880 
ami was subsequently re-elected three times, hold- 
ing the oflice continuously until January, 1889. 



In the fall preceding he had refused to again be- 
come a candidate, as the confinement was telling 
upon his health. In 1888 he had been admitted to 
the Michigan bar, but he has not practiced. While 
living in Byron he was City Recorder, Assessor 
and Trustee. He is a well-informed, energetic man 
and he and his partner have good standing in so- 
cial and business circles. 



^5^E0RGE F. JANES. Although this gentle- 
'f[ ,— n man is not actively engaged in fa.'ming, yet 
^^ifjl his sym[jathies are with the agriculturists, 
as he formerly gave his attention to the same work 
and now has farm land that he rents out. For some 
time past his liome has been in the village of Ovid, 
and he is known and honored there. He has been 
engaged in breeding fine horses, and has one ani- 
mal tiiat is one of the finest bred in the county — 
'•Col. Lewis," a handsome equine. For about a 
twelvemonth Mr. Janes lived in Detroit where he 
carried on the Park Dining Hall, on AVoodward 
Avenue, but most of his mature years have been 
spent in pursuance f>f the calling of a farmer. 

The <lirect progenitors of our subject were How- 
ell W. and Lucy B. (Hall) Janes, natives of New 
York, and the father a farmer. The early years 
of the son were therefore passed upon a farm, and 
from his childhood he found work to do on the 
place. His birtli occurred in Genesee County, 
N. Y., April 5, 1835, and when ohl enougli he at- 
tended school in the winter. As his parents lived 
about three miles from tiie schoolhouse, the walk 
was a long one, and the lad worked for his board 
in a familj' near the school, while pursuing his 
studies. His parents had removed to this State 
when he was ten years old and settled in Duplain 
Township, Clinton Count3^ He recalls scenes of 
wildness, when few and remote were the dwellings 
of tiie settlers, there was no railroad nearer than 
Pontiac, and the train made such poor time that a 
man could run and overtake it almost anywhere. 

Mr. Janes did not leave the parental roof until 
he was twenty-four years old, and then set up a 
home of his own, having won the consent of Miss 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



269 



Maiy E. Kingsle3' to aid liim in that purpose. The 
young couple were united in marriage November 
7, 1858, at the iiome of the bride's faliier, Dennis 
Kingslc^-, in Waj'ne Count}', near Northville. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Janes there came five children, but 
tiiree were taken from them in infanc}- — Willie, 
Preddieand Frank. There were left to cheer them 
Alma Isabel, who was born October 8, 1862, and is 
now the wife of James Crook, a f.irmer in (iratiot 
County, and Orrin K., whose natal day was March 
3, 1867, and who is married to Minnie I,aing of 
Cass City, Tuscola County, and is Cashier of the 
Cass Cit3' Bank. The mother died on the farm 
Augusts!, 1873, and on May 3, 1881, Mr. Janes 
wedded Mrs. Mary E. Case, nee Misner, of Ovid. 

When Mr. Janes was married lie established his 
home on land in Duplain Township, Clinton Coun- 
ty, .'Mid there he remained until I886,h.iving in the 
meantime brought it up to par in point of culti- 
vation and improvement. The forest growlli was 
removed by himself and other work done such as 
is needed in developing new tracts. When he 
left the place he went to Detroit. and in a short time 
was located in the vilhge of Ovid, where he has 
continued to reside. In polilics he is a Republi- 
can, but his interest in affairs of a p.'irty nature is 
limited to a knowledge of what is transpiring and 
a [)roper disposition of his vole, and never leads 
him to seek office. lie is a Mason and for the past 
three 3-ears has filled the .Secretary's Chair in the 
Ovid Lodge. He did his best to educate his children 
and fit them for useful careers, and when projects 
are advanced for the jiublic good lie is re.ady to 
respond. 



-#-*-B-- 




^^ AMUEL G. ATHERTON. The farmers 
of Clinton Count\' number in their ranks 
few, if any, men of wider inlellucluai cul- 
ture and broader general knowledge than 
.Mr. .\thcrton, whose home is in Ovid Township. 
He was for a number of jears engaged in teaching 
and began liis professional work while still in liis 
Iceiis. lie finally began It) pay sunie attention to 
farming and at length gave it his whole time as a 



business. He came to Michigan in 1883 and at 
once located where he is now living — on an im- 
proved farm of ninety* .acres, upon which he has 
since done considerable toward making it what it 
is to-day. Like others of his class, he can always 
see where some improvement can be made either 
in repairing, enlarging or refitting the buildings, 
and bringing the property under more thorough 
cultivation. His estate is a well-regulated one 
and from it good and abundant crops .are har- 
vested. 

Mr. Atlierlon is of New England i)arentage, his 
father having been a native of New Hampshire 
and his mother of Boston, Mass. His maternal 
giandrather fought in the War of 1812. The 
names of his i)arents were Alonzo D. and Sarah 
(Goodrich) Alhcrton and they were living in 
Cheshire County, N. H., when he was born, 
January 2, 1837. His earlj- years were spent up- 
on a farm but he had very good school privileges, 
first attending in the neighboring district and 
la*,er going to a good academy, where he fitted 
himself for civil engineering wliicii he h.is followe<l 
several years before coming to this state. In iiis 
eighteenth year he left home and began teaching 
in Orleans County and afterward went to Conada. 
For four years he taught near Hamilton, for two 
years near Paris and then in Watford two or three 
years. These points are in the I'roviuce of On- 
tario. Until he was thirty years old Mr. Atherton 
did little but professional work, and he then re- 
turned to Orleans County, N Y., and began to farm. 
From that time he taught only occasionally, giv- 
ing his attention mainly to agricultural work. He 
finally decided to make Michigan his home as be- 
fore mentioned. In the Province of Ontario, Can- 
ada, March 29, 1862, Mr. Atherton was married to 
Miss Sarah, daughter of Stephen Barrow, of Bin- 
brook. While they were still living in Canada 
Mr. and Mrs. Atherton rejoiced in the birth of a 
daughter — Clara A. — who came to their home 
January 19, 186S. She died in New York Sep- 
tember 24, 1870. They have now two children 
who are being well ('diicate<l, t)ne being almost 
ready for graduation from the Ovid High School 
and the other having already received Ids diploma. 
Their names are Fred B. and Lewis O. anil the}' 



270 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



were born June 22, 1869, and August 31, 1873, 
respectively. 

Mr. Atlierton takes considerable interest in po- 
litical issues and party events and is liimself a Re- 
publican. While living in New York he held 
several township and count3' offices, but in this 
State he has not allowed his name to go before the 
people as a candidate. He and his family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
as people of more than ordinarj' intelligence and 
interest in the higher things of life, Mr. and Mrs. 
Atlierton are well regarded. 



"^~*^''^'" 



■ii; AY M. TERBUSII. A mingling of honest 
British and German blood often forms a 
strain of sturdy cliaracteristics wiiich makes 
the best practical business men and most 
thorough and progressive citizens. In this class 
we may appropriately rank Mr. Terbush,a member 
of the firm of Murray & Terljush, dealers in clotli- 
ing, gentlemen's furnishing goods, iiats, caps, boots 
and shoes, one of the best known firms in Owosso. 

Mr. Terbush was born in Oakland County, Mich., 
in the town of II0II3', December 29, 1859. He is 
the only son living by the second marriage of his 
father, George W. Terbush, with Sarah Middlcs- 
wortli. rhe fatlier was a farmer by occupation 
and a native of New York State, and of English 
descent, and the latter was born in New Jersey, of 
Geraian descent. The son sijent his early boy- 
hood in Fenton, Genessee County, first attending 
the common school and afterwards attending tlie 
B!ii)tist Seminary where he was graduated in 1875. 

This young man's mercantile experience began 
by his clerking in a clotliing store at Fenton, for 
tiie firm whieli was tlien known as Thurbor ife Mur- 
ray. Here he served for one year and was then 
employed by W. D. Murray, after wliich lie formed 
a ])artnershii) witli Mr. Murray and in the capacity 
of a member of tlie firm continued in business at 
Fenton. 

In 1884 Mr. Terbush came to Owosso and start- 
ed the present store. He first opened a clothing 
house, and finding liimself successful, added fur- 



nishing goods and continued in this line until 1888, 
after which lie supplemented his business by intro- 
ducing a line of boots and shoes. His old partner, 
Jlr. Murray, came to Owosso in May, 1889, and 
joined him in this business. His large double 
store, which is centrallj' located at the corner of 
Washington and Main Streets, lias a large business, 
and the store virtually has four fronts or places of 
entrance. It is literall3' packed with goods of ex- 
cellent quality, selected with taste and disciimina- 
tion, and the firm is able to fit out a man or boy 
from top to toe, in first class style. 

In March, 1888 Mr. Terbush married Miss Car- 
rie A., daughter of A. J. Patterson, proprietor of 
the National Hotel at Owosso. The birth of two 
cliildrcn, Ja}' M. Jr. and Rizpah Mae, are the fruits 
of this union. Mr. Terbush is a member of Owos- 
so Lodge, No. 81, F. and A. M., and of Owosso 
Chapter, No. 89, R. A. M., and of Corunna 
Comraandery, K. T. and is also one of the Kniglits 
of Pythias of the Subordinate Uniform rank. In 
his pleasant residence on Water Street, he and his 
amiable wife are the centre of a pleasant social life 
around which their neighbors gatlier and where all 
enjoy a genuine hosi)itality. Politically he is a 
Kepublican. 



ENRY C. CASE, a well-known farmer and 
^) blacksmith of Eureka, Clinton County, is a 
native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., and 
was born October 4, 1843. He is a son of 
Samuel and Maria (Penharlow) Case. The father 
was a native of New York and the mother of Con- 
necticut. Until he was fourteen years old the boy 
grew up in his native home and at that time mi- 
grated with his parents to Clinton County, this 
State, making their new home in Greenbush Town- 
ship. His father was thus one of tlie early settlers 
in the township and was highly honored and res- 
pected by all who knew him, until his death in 
September, 1889. 

The brothers and sisters of our subject were 
Maria, now Mrs. John Conant; Jane, the wife of 
M. Sevy; Charlotte, Henry, and Ransford, who has 







'.2^i^*^^^<^ ^y^. 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



273 



di.'cL When sixteen years old, Henry Case began 
to learn the trade of a blaeksinitli, taking bis ap- 
prenticeship with his fatlier wlio was also a niechaiiic. 
He has fol lowed his trade throiiuji life and has a 
fine repntation as a thorough workman, iiaving a 
large trade, not only in Eureka but also among the 
farmers through all that part of the township. 

The marriage of Mr. Case in 1861 united him 
with Martha Coe, of New York, where the marriage 
ceremony was performed. This lady became the 
mother of three children, two of whom, Frank and 
Mamie, arc living. This wife was called away from 
earth, and the second marriage of our subject took 
place in 1883. The present Mrs. Case bore the 
maiden name of Libby Jeffries. She and her husband 
each own forty acres of finely cultivated land, upon 
which- they are raising splendid crops. Mr. Case 
is a public-spirited and enterprising man and an 
earnest [iromoler of ever}' movement tending to 
the improvement of the county and the elevation 
of society. He is a Republican in his politics, but 
is not in any sense an oflice seeker, but conscien- 
tiously casts bis vote for those principles and men 
in whom his juda:ment confides. He is nnl only a 
superior mechanic but is possessed of the confidence 
of his neighbors and his word is considered as good 
as his bond. Both he and his good wife are res- 
pected members of society and everj' one rejoices 
in their success. 




HARLK8 HOLMAN. The i)ortrait on the 
opposite page represents the lineaments of 
a gentleman well-known in Shiawassee; 
County. Mr. Hoi man has l)een a resident here 
since the spring of 1857 and has held oflice longer 
than any other official the count}- has known. He 
was Register of Deeds from January, 18G7, till 
Januarj', 1881, having been re-elected six times. 
He has been interested in business projects ami has 
from his earliest residence here manifested an car- 
nest zeal for the improvement of this section and 
its advance in all that is best in modern civiliza- 
tion. Financially speaking, he has succeeded in 



the affairs of life, and in his declining years he is 
unharrassed by the anxiety as to the wherewithal to 
supply his needs. Better than all else, his charac- 
ter as a man is one which can be spoken of as a 
model for younger men to copy, and in religious 
work he is one of the most active and eflBcient men 
in Corunna. 

The Holmans came originally from England but 
the Granite State w.as the home of the family for 
several generations. In Marlboro, N. H., Sullivan 
Holman, father of Charles, was born in January, 
1801. After he grew to manhood he went to New 
York, where he was engaged in school teaching and 
where he married Harriet Hall, a native of Phelps- 
town and daughter of .losepli Hall, who was a Cap- 
tain in the Colonial Army during the Revolution. 
In 1833 Mr. Holman removed to this State and for 
a time made his home in Birmingham, then went 
to Clinton, Lenawee County. He was ong.aged in 
the manufacture of fanning mills, but when old 
age overtook him he gave up his work. He is now 
living with our subject and is ninety years old. 
He is a Presbyterian, devout and earnest. Mrs. 
Holman died at the home of her son Charles when 
seventy years old. Our subject is the first born in 
the parental familvand has one sister living — Mrs. 
Harriet Weston, whose home is in Alma. There 
were two other children — Henry and Edward — but 
the}' died young. 

In Lyons, Wayne County, N. Y., April 1 1, 1830, 
Charles Holman was born. He has no recollection 
of a home outside this Stale, to which he was 
brought in a wagon, via Canada, when scarcely 
more than an infant. His boyhood was spent in 
what was a sparsely settled district of Le;iawce 
County and his home was a log house with a shop 
in the same yard. His father was one of the first 
to establish a home in that locality and the scenes 
to which Mr. Holman looks back as the first that 
he can recall, were of quite a primitive nature. 
He attended the district school and l.-itcr spent a 
year in Romeo Academy. The surnmiT.s were 
given up to work on the farm, from the titnr he 
was strong enough to be of service, and during the 
winter he worked diligently with his books. 

When eighteen years old Mr. Holman began 
teaching and two winters were given to professional 



274 



rOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



work. Grand Rapids was then a small place and 
the only mode of travel thither was by stage and a 
boat on the Grand Rivev. Tlie young man went 
there and spent a summer working at the carpen- 
ter's trade. In the fall he returned to Lenawee 
County and for three years was a cleriv in the 
store of B. J. Bid well. He then went to Macomb 
County an<i for three years operated a rented farm 
near Romeo. He next came to Shiawassee (Jouuty , 
and making his iiome in Owosso in the spring of 
1857, be began teaming, drawing lumber between 
St. Cliarles and Owosso. He teamed two j'cars 
and then took a position with Fowler & Esselstyn, 
wlio carried on what was known as the West India 
stave business. Their establishment was the prin- 
cipal one for such a [)urpose in this locality, and 
Mr. Ilolman remained with them seven years. In 
the fall of 186G he was elected Register of Deeds 
on the Republican ticket and qualified for his office 
in January following. While attending faithfully 
to the duties of his position he carried on a real- 
estate business, handling property in Corunna and 
llie outlying districts of the county. In 1881 he 
retired to private life, but the next year he was 
elected Justice of the Peace and served as such 
until 1890. Mr. Holroan has for several years 
been one of the Superintendents of the poor of 
the county. 

The home of Mr. Holman is one in which the 
refining influence of woman is very apparent. It 
is presided over b}' an educated lady who became 
his wife in Romeo, Macomb County, in 1853. She 
was previously Miss Cynthia F. Holman, being a 
daughter of Asa Holman, nn early settler and 
prominent fanner of Macomb County. She was 
educated in a ladies' seminary in Detroit and 
under the lionie roof received careful instruction 
in matters of domestic economy, 'i'lie iiappy 
union lias been blessed by tlie birth of six children, 
three of whom are still at homo. These are Net- 
tie who is an invalid; Helen, a high-school girl 
belonging to the class of 'a3, and Charles, Jr. The 
eldest of the famil3' is Waldo, whusc home is in 
Owosso and who is a traveling salesman for tiie 
granite-ware firm of Maiming, Bowing >fc Co., of 
New York. The second child is Farraiid, who is 
cnifaii-ed in tlie jewelry business iu Owosso, and 



the third is Mrs. Josephine Haney, wife of H. H. 
Haney, a traveling salesman. 

When Ihe Republican parly was organized Mr. 
Holman identified himself with that body and has 
been an unfailing supporter of its principles from 
that day to this. He has been a delegate to county 
and State conventions and was Chairman of the 
County Republican Committee some four years. 
He has long been connected with the School Board 
of Corunna and is now holding the position of 
Secretary, and for four years he has been Secretary 
of the Pioneer Society. Following the example 
antl teaching of his honored father, he is identified 
with the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an 
Elder. He has been Sunday-school Superintendent 
and was a member of the building committee when 
the present house of worship w.os put up. 

<if]ACOB E. LUDWICK. The qualities that 
win success have been displayed by the gen- 
tleman above named, who began his battle 
with life when he was just entering his teens, 
and has made his way, step by step, to competence. 
He is numbered among the most enterprising farm- 
ers of Clinton County, and is pleasantly located on 
section 29, Lebanon Township. He located here in 
1868, settling on eighty acres of land, but adding 
to the property in later years until his estate now 
corai)rises one hundred and ninety acres. Here he 
carries on general farming, and enjoys the com- 
forts which belong to modern farm life. In addi- 
tion to his |)roperty here he is the proprietor of a 
steam laundry at Beliiing, and at one time be ovvned 
an elevator in Pewamo. 

The i)arents of our subject were Jacob and Cath- 
erine (Keller) Ludwick, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who went from that State to New York, and after 
some years returned to the Keystone State, where 
Mr. Ludwick died in 1839. Their children were 
Josei)li. John, Betsey, George, Margaret, Jacob, 
Polly and Sarah. The motlier married Mr. Mc- 
Ninch, and bore him three children — Marvin, Ben- 
jamin F. and Patrick H. Her second husbaiui died 
and she was again married, wedding a Mr. Fisher. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



275 



Her last dajs were spent in Barry Countj', this 
State, where she died in 1881. 

The subject of this notice was born in Genesee 
County, N. v., May 28, 1834. He was eleven 
years old when he left his native State and went to 
Oliio to remain a j"ear, after which he came to 
Miciiigan with his mother. A home was made in 
Eaton County, and the lad remained wilii iiis 
motiier a year, then started in life for himself. He 
found work on a farm and remained in the emplo}" 
of the same man five years, then went to Kalamazoo 
County and worked by the month. He made his 
home in that county until 1868, when he removed 
to the farm he is now occupying. During the in- 
tervening time he bought seventy acres in Kala- 
mazoo County-, cleared a part of it, then sold it and 
bought other land, and ere long was the owner of 
one hundred and twenty acres that he had cleared 
and broken. Since he came to Clinton County he 
has continued his former habits of life, working 
industriously and making his well-directed efforts 
count in the progress of his worldly affairs. 

The N'atioual birthdaj' in 1856 was celebrated b}- 
Mr. Ludwick in an especial manner, he being on 
that day united in marriage with Miss Jemima 
Henion. The wedding ceremony took place in 
Marshall, Calhoun Count}'. The bride was born in 
Orleans County, N. Y., March 20, 1839, and was 
the fourth child in a family of twelve. Her par- 
ents, John and Ruth (Harr}') Henion, were born 
in New Jersey and New York respectively, anil 
their marriage took place in the latter .State. They 
lived there until 18o4, then came to Michigan, and 
for thirteen years were residents of Kal.imazoo 
County. They then removed to Oceana Count}', 
where the wife died in September, 1886. She was 
at that time a member of the United Brethren 
Church, although for years she and her husband 
were Methodists. Mr. Henion is a carpenter, and 
has always followed his trade, combining farm 
work therewith during much of the time. His 
present home is in Hart Township, Oceana County. 
Our subject and his estimable wife are the par- 
ents of three children, named respectively, Fred J., 
Edward and Francis E. Although Mr. Ludwick 
had the opportunity of attending school less than a 
year, he has much ready intelligence and has always 



aimed to keep well informed and increase his knowl- 
edge by those means which are available by all who 
desire. He has been able to serve his fellow-men 
most eflieiently as Supervisor, an office to which he 
was first elected in 1875. He held the office two 
years, was again elected in 1881, and with the ex- 
ception of 1887, has been Supervisor to the present 
time. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a Mas- 
ter Mason, belonging to Hubbardston Lodge. No. 
178, and is connected with Pewamo Lodge, No. 
296, L O. O. F. 



ORACE C. JMAIN, a much respected and 
jij enterprising citizen of Owosso is the incum- 
bent of the position of County Surve^'or of 
Shiwassee County. This gentleman is the 
worthy son of Theodore and Amanda (Putnam) 
Main, both natives of New York State, and who 
were the honored parents of four children, three of 
whom are now living. He was born in Orleans 
County, N. Y., in the town of Clarendon, Septem- 
ber 28, 1834. His father was born near Rome, N. 
Y., in 1803, and was the son of Thomas T. Main, 
who was a native of the same locality, and of 
Scotch birth. 

Hor.-ice being the oldest iu his father's family 
was much relied upon for assistance in work. His 
school days were ))assed first in the distiict school, 
and afterward at Brockport, where i;o attended the 
college under the care of the Baptist Church, which 
is now the State Normal .School. After leaving 
h it institution he taught for some time and fanned 
during vacations. He came to Shiawassee County, 
Mich., in his twenty-first year, and located on the 
farm in MIddlcbur}' Township, surveying mostly 
during the winter. He placed substantial improve- 
ments upon his farm and made sale for it, and re- 
moved to Owosso in 1881, where he has since made 
his home, devoting himself mainly to surveying. 
He h.as been City Survoj'or since 1881. lie also 
owned another farm in Fairfield Township, a fine 
tract of one hundred acres, but never lived on that 
farm. The depot at Carland is on his land. 

On June 18, 1854, he was united for life with 



276 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Miss Diantha Howe, daughter of George and Hul- 
dali (FuUar) Howe, of Oswego County, N. Y. No 
children have crowned this union, but this worthy 
couple were not content to enjoy life alone without 
doing good to sonne little one who had no parents, 
and adopted a daughter, Lydia, who is now the 
wife of Fred Hartshorn. Mrs. Main is an earnest 
and devoted member of the Baptist C^inreh. and a 
liberal contributor also to other benevolent pur- 
poses. 

Mr. Main has for some time filled tlie officer of 
Supervisor of the First District of Owosso City, 
having twice been elected to this position. He has 
several times been elected to the office of County 
Surveyor, and was Drainage Commissioner for some 
six years. He is a member of the Owosso Lodge, 
No. 81. F. <fe A. M., and of Owosso Chapter, No. 
89, R. A. M. His political affiliations are with the 
Republican party, and he is a prominent man in 
the circles of that party. Although he resides in 
Owosso, and has a handsome home there, he still 
owns his farm, and takes a personal interest in its 
manajjement. 



" >*'• (^ y><^^-°*<'- 



G 



lEORGE H. WARRP:N, a prominent citizen 
(|| f==j of Middleburj', Shiawassee County, was 
*^^|i born in Ontario County, N. Y., December 
21, 1827. He isa son of Willinin and Mary (Horn) 
Warren. His parents were born and brought u|) in 
New Jersey and moved to the vicinity of Little 
Egg Harbor. His father was by occui)alion a 
farmer but died when this son was but live years 
old. He had previous to this sad event removed to 
the State of Michigan in 1830 and settled on a new 
farm three miles northeast of Ponli.ac. 

After two years of widowhood Mrs. Warren 
married Mr. .Joseph HMlhaway, a resident of Wash- 
tenaw County, and with him young George lived 
until he reached his sixteenth year. Up to that 
lime he attended school most of the time, both 
winter and summer, and after this .age was reached 
he attended during the winter terms. Atthistime 
he began life for himself, working out for farmers 
from whom he received about i!7 a month. These 



wages he received in the summer, and during the 
winter he chored for his board and attended school, 
for he was resolved to have as good an education 
as lay within his grasp. 

The 3'oung man came to Shiaw.ossee County in 
the fall of 1847 and located where he now lives. 
He had received for his services not exceeding ^11 
a month all the time that he was working for others. 
He and his brother, David L., came to this county 
and worked together at clearing their land, of 
which they each had eighty acres. They cleared 
ten acres on each place during the first year and 
planted it in wheat. It was indeed a proud and 
happj- day for them when they harvested their first 
crop, fifteen bushels to the acre, and had it threshed 
by a machine from Pontiac. After having it 
threshed they loaded twenty bushels into a wagon 
and the roads were so bad that it took three yokes 
of oxen to haul this lo.ad three miles, to the point 
wliere they struck a respectable road. They now 
took this wheat to Owosso and sold it at the rate 
of forty-five cents a bushel. This was the first 
money nialized on the farm. 

The house which these young men erected for 
their home was made of oak logs and as they could 
get no men to help them at that time they emploj'- 
ed an ox-team to roll the logs into their places 
upon the building. The site of that first home is a 
short distance in front of where Mr. Warren's pres 
ent delighful residence noT? stands. Previous to 
linilding this cabin onS' subject had returned to 
Oakland County, and spent one summer working 
at 813 per month, and on his return brought with 
him a flock of slieep, ever3' one of which were killed 
b}- the wolves during tiie following spring. 

Mr. Warren had not been very long in his new 
home before he felt the need of a woman's hand and 
the cheer of a woman's presence to brighten the 
dullness of the log cabin, and he was married March 
17, 1851, to Almira Tha3er of L^'on Township, 
Oakland Count\-. He tells the stor^' of his trip 
after his wife. He w.alked to Oakland County to 
his wedding and walked back again, driving a cow^ 
and was keeping house in his log cabin just one 
week after his marriage. The wife was brought to 
her new home in a lumber wagon by her father. 

Six children came to bless and cheer this home, 












A 





\&-^7^ {rp^/r^^l^ ^^if; 



PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



279 



namely Amanda F., born December 22, 1852; 
Alice, Ajjril 15, 1855; Horace A., I\Ia3' 1, 1856; 
Klraer E., Novembtr 26, 1861 ; Emory D., May 16, 
1869; Georsfe F., May 5, 1874. Amanda died 
April 1, 1860, and Alice, May 8, 1855. Horace 
Albert married for his first wife Jennie U. Welch 
ami for his second, Sarah Thompson; Elmer iDji.rried 
Anna Collins, of Shiavrassee County and lives in 
this county; Emory D. and George arc at home 
xvilh iheir parents. 

Immediately after harvesting his first crop Jilr. 
Warren proceeded to clear the entire eighty acres 
and added to it also from time to lime until he now 
has a tine place of two hundred and forty acres all 
highly cultivated, lie buil'^ his new residence in 
1863 and has erected several barns, adding some- 
thing every year to the excellent buildings upon 
his place. He has now an excellent carriage house 
as well a commodious barn and his orchard is one 
of the finest in the county. When he first came 
here he had to go several miles to church service 
at a schoolhouse and had to clear the road through 
the woods to better enable him to attend these 
services. He used often to carry his plow on his 
shoulder sis miles to get it sharpened, and had to 
work out for neighbors to raise the money to buy 
what nicessaries the family could not do without. 

During the first year this pioneer and his brother 
David L. made 1107 by days' work besides what 
they did on the farm. His wife underwent severe 
hardships and often had to remain in the woods 
alone while he went to the village, and sometimes 
had to stay alone all night with wolves howling 
about and wild bears and Indians roaming near 
her. She used to spin and knit her woolen gra- 
raents. Her father went to Idaho and was killed 
by the Indians. 

Mr. Warren's political sympathies have been 
with the Republican party until within the last few 
years when he became a Prohibitionist. He has 
held the ofike of the Justice of Peace, Commis- 
sioner of Highways and Sciiool Inspector. Ho and 
his good wife are both respected and useful mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in con- 
nection with which he has been .Steward, Trustee 
and Superintendent of Sunday-school. He person- 
ally superintended the construction of the church 



and gave largely to the biiiiiiing fund. He takes 
a great interest in sciiool and church matters and 
has always given liberally lo all the churches. 



-^ - l^^ . t^. 



l^R. J. LORENZO SMITH, who is engaged in 
)) the practice of medicine in Vernon Shi- 
awassee Count}', and whose portrait is shown 
on the op[)Osile page, was born in Coshocton, 
Ohio, April 17, 1845. On the maternal side he is 
of Irish line.age, while on the paternal side he is 
descended from one of the old Virginia families. 
His grandfather, George Smith, was burn in \'ir- 
ginia, and owned a plantation and a number of 
slaves. He was a great lover of Que horses, studied 
veterinary surgery to enable him to properly care 
tor them, and always had several thoroughbreds 
u[)on his farm. His love of horses won him the 
title of Jockey Smith. He emigrated lo Ohio in 
1840 and became prominent in the conimunily in 
which he made his home. When ninety-four 
years of age he took a thirty-mile ride on horse- 
back and losing his way wandered ar<jund for two 
days before he reache(i home again. During this 
time he partially lost his mind and never fully 
recovered the entire use of his mental faculties. 
He died at the age of ninety-six years. The ma- 
ternal grandfather of our subject, John Thomp- 
son, WIS a native of Ireland, and emigrated lo 
America about 1803, locating in Pennsylvania. 
By trade he was a glovemaker and he followed 
liiat occupation until his deatii, which occurred in 
18l'0. 

.I'lcob Smith, the Doctor's father, was l)orn in 
11S02, in Virginia, and upon the old homestead in 
tli;it State was reared to manhood. At the age of 
twenty he went to Washington County, Pa., 
wliire he met and married Miss Mary Thompson, 
who was born in that county in 180J. They 
tliirc began their domestic life, removing after 
fourteen years to Coshocton County, Ohio, where 
the death of Mr. Smith occurred on the home 
farm, Febiuary 9, 1845. He lived an excm])hny 
life and w.as one of nature's noblemen. The Pres 
bylerian Church found in him a most etricient and 



280 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



faithful member and worker and many had reason 
to bless him for kindness and aid received at his 
hand. He was a total abstainer from all intoxi- 
cants and was never addicted to the use of tobacco. 

Like her husband, Mrs. Smith was a consistent 
member of tlie Presbyterian Church and delighted 
in doing good. The poor and needy found in her 
a true friend and the lessons which she instilled 
into the minds of her children in youth did much 
to make them honorable men and women. After 
her husband's death she took upon herself the en- 
tire management of their farm of ninety acres and 
educated and eared for her children. She was 
called to the home beyond in 18(11*. In the 
family were five children — four sons and a daugh 
ter, of whom two sons and the daughter are now 
living. George B. is a farmer of Bowdle, S. D.; 
Mary E. is the wife of Samuel K. Sayer, also of 
Bowdle; Daniel T. was captain of Company I, 
One Hundred Indiana Regiment, duiiug the 
late war, and suffered many wounds. He re- 
ceived a bayonet thrust in his chest, lost his left 
arm, .1 bullet lodged in liis left siioulder-blado and 
another pierced his right hand. He died from 
the effects of these wounds in Millersburg, Ohio, 
in 1870. John died at the age of twelve years. 

The fifth and j'oungest of the family is Dr. 
Smith. His father died before ho was born. In 
liis native State he was reared and attended the 
common schools until sixteen years of age, when 
he went to Hopedale, Harrison County, where he 
pursued a two-years' course of study in a Normal 
school. He then went uo Pittsburgh, Pa., and 
was graduated from the Iron City Commercial 
College, after which he went to Nashville, Tenn., 
where he engaged in clerking for fourteen 
months. Then returning to the place of his na- 
tivity he taught school for two years and at the 
expiration of that period began reading medicine 
with Prof. Joel Pomerenc, of Millersburg, Holmes 
Count}'. He was also a student for three years 
in the Cleveland Medical College, now called the 
Western Reserve University, and after his gradu- 
ation, in 1869, opened an office in Strasburg, 
Ohio, ami entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession, which he has made his life work. Since 
November, 1875, he has practiced continuously in 



Vernon, Mich., with the exception of one year 
spent in Cedar Rapids, low.a, and two years in Lib- 
erty. In 1885, howcve/, he returned to Vernon, 
and at once built up a good practice, to which his 
skill and ability justly entitles him. 

On the 17th of March, 1870, in Strasburg, Ohio, 
Dr. Smith led to the marriage altar Miss Jennie 
Patterson, who was born at that place in 1847. 
She died July 20, 1880, leaving two children, ason 
and daughter, Lillian May, who was born in 1871, 
and Hudson O., born in 1873. The latter gradu- 
ated from the Vernon schools in the spring of 
1891. On the 8th of May, 1887, the Doctor was 
united in marriage with Florence Willhide, who 
was born in 1848, in Hagarstown, Md., where their 
wedding was celebrated. 

Dr. Smith is a member of the Shiawassee Medi- 
cal Association and of the Alumni of the Western 
Reserve Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio. He 
takes considerable interest in civic societies, is a 
member of the Masonic Lodge of Cedar Ra[)ids, 
Iowa, the Independent Order of Foresters, and is 
Commander of Vernon Lodge, No. 337, K. O. T. M. 
In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and has served 
as President of the Village Board. In his religious 
views he is a Methodist, belonging to the church 
of that denomination in Vernon. The Doctor is 
a leading citizen of his community and among 
his professional brethren ranks high. His liberal 
patronage attests his worth and his many friends 
accord him their warm regard and confidence. 

—•> «> ^ - c|> V- 



,ZI B. SEVY. AVe are pleased to present to 
the readers of this volume the worthy sub- 
ject of this sketch and his good wife who 
are among the most notewoithy of the venerable 
and honored pioneers of Central Michigan. Ozi B. 
Sevj' who resides on section 22, Gi-eenbush Town- 
ship, Clinton County, is a native of Genesee 
County, N. Y. and was born September 18, 1824. 
He is a son of David and Rhoda (Baker) Sevy. 
His i)aternal ancestrj^ is said to have been English. 
The subject of this sketch is the ohlest in a fami- 
ly of six children born to his parents, of whom 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



281 



four survive, namely: Ozi B., Kdinund, who lives 
in Dakota; ■loannette, who is the wife of W. F. 
Davies in Greeiibush Township; and Linda, llie 
wife of John Coverstone of Chicago, III. AVIicn 
but fourteen years old our subject came with his 
parents to Clinton County, this State, and in 1839 
they made their liorae on section 23, of Ureenbusli 
Township. Here thcj' settled in the woods and 
David Sevy, the father of our subject, built a log 
c.ibin without a single foot of sawed lumber, and 
within this rude abode they set up a happy iionie 
and cheerfulh' endured the hardships which abound 
in pioneer life. The father died at tlie home of 
our subject where he had made his home for 
thirteen years, on February 28, 1880, and iti liis 
death the county lost one of the bravest of her 
early [lioneers, and a representative man. lie iiad 
faithfully served his township as Supervisor, Just- 
ice of the Peace and Ilighw.ay Commissioner, and 
was a public-spirited and liberal man. His political 
affiliations were with the Republican part\', in the 
progress of which he felt a keen interest. 

The sul)ject of this sketch was born in New York 
but reared to manhood in this county amid scenes 
of pioneer life, and was early inured to the priva- 
tions which must come to the children of tlie early 
settlers. He also suffered the deprivations in re- 
gar<l to education and social privileges wiiicli were 
the lot of Jlichigan's earliest citizens. 

A noteworthy event in the life of Mr. Sevy was 
his marriage upon Christmas Day, 181H. His bride, 
Klvira A., daughter of Kiifusand Louisa Dinsmore, 
was born July 7, 1830. Her [larents were natives 
of Massachusetts, and the little girl came West 
with them when in her si.\th year, to Ionia County, 
where they became early settlers. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Sev3' have been born four child- 
ren; one, Linda, has passed into the other world 
and the others have grown up to take their places 
in the world where they are a credit to tlioir 
parents and an ornament to the societ}' in which 
they move. Alta A. resides in Clinton County; 
Lillian A., is the wife of James Reavies and resides 
at Battle Creek, where Hepry J. also makes his 
home being engage<l in the jewelry business. 

Our subject made a perniaticnt settlement upon 
the spot where he now lives in 1853 apd has re- 



sided here continuously from that d.ay to this. He 
is largely a self-made man, and in the accumula- 
tion of his property he has been ably assisted by 
his wise and noble wife, who h.as been his efficient 
helpmate and counselor through all their wedded 
life. When he came to this region St. John's was 
unknown and as a boy he played the drum in the 
streets of this city at its first Fourth of July celebr.a- 
tion in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Sevy are honored and 
useful members of the Church of the Seventh D.ay 
Adveutists and they are highly rcs|)ccted members 
of society. He is ever active in all movements for 
the promotion of education for the young, and lias 
served .as School Inspector for the township. That 
he is public-spirited and acts for the good of others 
his neighbors will warmly testify, and that he is an 
enterprising, industrious and systematic farmer the 
excellent condition of his buildings, his attractive 
home and his well- tilled farm attests. 



I 



\f?OHN ANDKRSON. Among the foremost 
agriculturists of Clinton County is Mr. An- 
derson, with whose name a visitor would 
not long be unfamiliar. For a number of 
3'ears he has been carrying on his work in Essex 
Township, on section 2, where he has now a fine 
farm of two hundred acres bearing modern im- 
provements of a substantial nature. When he 
look up his residence here, he found a tract of tim- 
ber land from which he had to remove trees and 
sluujps, and then prepare the soil for planting b}- 
liroaking the tovigh soil and cutting deep furrows 
in the "lap of Motlier Karlii." That this required 
an expenditure of lime and strengtii is well under- 
stood by all who till the soil and such can appre- 
ciate his conduct as it deserves, and congratulate 
liim on arriving at prosperity. 

As the patronymic indicates the ancestors of 
Anderson were Scotch, and he, himself, was born 
in Ayrshire, the date of his advent being August 
12, 1821. His parents were (iabriel and Sarah 
(White) Anderson, both of whom were born in llie 
land of Bruce and Wallace. There the son grew 
to manhood and received a fair education, to which 



282 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



he has [addec) general culture by reading and ob- 
servation. He is fond of books and thinks over 
their contents until they become a part of his mind. 
He has four brothers in America: Jauies and 
Gabriel in Essex Township, Thtjmas in Van Buren 
County, and Robert in another part of Clinton 
County. He came. to this country in 1851, taking 
passage at Glasgow on a sailing vessel that reached 
New York forty-six days after leaving the Scotch 
port. He came at once to this State and for awhile 
lived in Northfield, Wayne County, following his 
trade of blacksmitliing. In 1856 he came to Clin- 
on County, and settled where lie still lives, grad- 
ually bringing his property to its present fine 
condition. 

Mr. Anderson was accompanied to America by 
his wife and one child, the former a native of 
Scotland and known in her maidenhood as Mar- 
garet Stevens. She survived their emigration but 
a few years, dying in Wayne County in 1855. Of 
the four children she bore the living are John S., 
.Sarah .J., wife of David Surline, and Margaret, all 
living in Nebraska. To his present wife Mr. An- 
derson was married October 1), 1857, the ceremony 
being performed at her home in Uwosso, .Shiawassee 
County. Her maiden name was Cornelia Britlon 
and she was born in Washtenaw County, tiiis State, 
October 16, 1839. Her parents were Jacob and 
F"inettu Britton, early settlers in Clinton Count3', 
and well known to many of our readers. Of the 
twelve children comprising their family the fol- 
lowing survive: Ivichard; Mrs. Anderson; Mary 
K.. wife of Benjamin Stevens, living in Missouri; 
James, whose home is in Gratiot Count}'; Liberty, 
who lives in Chicago; Ann, wife of Jeremiah Saw- 
yer, in Gratiot County ; John who resides in Durand, 
this State. The children of Mr. Anderson and his 
present wife are: Edith, wife of W^illiam Soule; 
William; Lillian, wife of W. Hicks, and Nellie B. 

Not only is Mr. Anderson a reliable farmer but 
in all business transactions he is to be de|)eiided 
upon to do the light thing ami when a man of 
public spirit is looked for his name is at once sug- 
gested, ill his political views he is a Rei)ublican, 
and the religious home of himself and wife is in 
the Christian Church in Mai'le Rapids. He has 
curved as Township Supervisor several terms and 



has also been School Director of his district. In 
official life he is the same honest, upright man that 
he is in private life, and his efforts are alwa\'s di- 
rected toward achieving the best possible results. 
He and his wife are active members of society and 
no where will there be found a couple more highly 
respected and inthiential in their circle. 



^^ IIARLES D. RICE, a representative farmer 
and stock-raiser residing on section 12, Es- 
sex Township, Clinton County-, was born 
November 27, 1830, in Oneida County, N. Y. He 
is the son of Harlow and Catherine (Devotle) Rice. 
Mr. Rice was a native of Connecticut and Mrs. 
Rice of New York State. The Rice famil}- in this 
country is traced back as far as the year 1600, 
when the ancestors of this branch came from Wales. 
The ancestors on the maternal side arc of French 
blood. 

In 1837 the subject of this sketch emigrated with 
his parents to Macomb County, this State, becom- 
ing pioneers there. The mother died in that county 
and the father after their removal to Clinton 
.County, which, hovvevcr, was not until after Charles 
reached the years of maturity. His early educa- 
tion was acquired in the pioneer district schools 
and upon the jiioneer farm and he had to make up 
in earnestness and devotion to his studies what was 
lacking in advantages. 

ill 1861 Charles Rice was united in marriage in 
Macomb County with Nancy J. Davison, a sister 
of James K. Davison, of Essex Township, this 
county, of whom a sketch appears in this Aijju.m. 
Seven cliildren have come to bless the home of Mr. 
and ]Mis. Rice. They are IJerber',, George, Mar- 
tin, Fr.'ink, I'red, Ray and (Jtto. The last named 
only has been called away from this world, it was 
in 1865 when Sir. Rice came to Clinton County 
and decided to settle on the land which he now 
occupies. It was all woods here and he had to en- 
counter genuine pioneer experiences and do genu- 
ine pioneer work. Since coming to Clinton County 
he has broken about three hundred acres of new 
uround for other farmers besides all that he has 



.'---■'•^, 





/^L/Ia/Vo 



'^ 







PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



285 



done upon his own farm. His land consists of 
eigiity acres, all of wbicU lie has gained by his own 
jiush. pluck and perseverance. 

Mr. Rice has served one year as Commissioner 
of Highways for Essex Township, and has served 
both as School Director and Moderator. When the 
schoolhousc was erected he was placed upon the 
building committee in which capacity he was un- 
usually eftieient and gave great satisfaction to the 
district. He is a Republican in his political views 
and a man of public spirit and activity in regard 
to all movements for the elevation of societj'. His 
wife is an earnest and conscientious member of the 
Christian Church. Besides general farming he has 
taken much interest in raising graded Merino 
sheep and a fine grade of horses for general pur- 
poses. 

-S^^ 




' NDREW J. WIGGINS, M. D. This gentle- 
man was foi some years known as the 
ii leading physician of St. John and indeeil 
of the county, but as he is now on the 
shady side of the hill of time he has given up his 
work to a great extent, although he still visits 
various parts of the State where he is called in con- 
sultation. He has not allowed his knowledge to 
decline, but has always kept well posted and still 
peruses the latest medical journals and otherwise 
keeps abreast of the da}' in his knowledge of the 
work in which he has so long and successfully been 
engaged. He has paid considerable attention to 
the packing and sale of articles of medicinal value, 
and some years ago built a factory for the prepar- 
ation of elm bark and shipped thousands of barrels. 
He gave up the work only when the supply in this 
section was exhausted. He also packed roots of 
Tarious kinds, placing on the market staples of 
freshness and strength. 

Dr. Wiggins is a son of Jacob and Charlotte 
(Briggs) Wiggins, both of whom were born in the 
Empire State. His father's birthplace was in 
Oneida County and he was descended from an old 
Eastern family. He served in the War of 1812 as a 
teamster, although he was but a boy. and hauled 
canuoQ balls and smaller ammunition. He after- 



ward became a farmer and o[)erated one hundred 
and three acres near Rome until 1836. He then 
removed to Wyoming County and continued his 
occupation there. He became known far and near 
as '-Uncle Jake" and was one of the most influential 
men in the locality. He was frequently called 
upon to act as administrator of estates and guardian 
of minors and was always true to the trust reposed 
to him. He died at the age of fifty-four years. 
His political association was with the Democratic 
party. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Briggs, 
a native of New England, but for years a farmer 
near Rome, N. Y., where she was born. She died 
at the home of a daughter In Batavia when seventy- 
six years old. 

The family in which Dr. Wiggins was the first- 
born consi^d of nine children, five of whom grew 
to maturity but three only now survive. He was 
born in Rome, Oneida County, N. Y. June 17, 
1828, and was eight years old when he removed 
with his parents to the western part of the State. 
The journey of one hundred and fifty miles was 
made in the primitive fashion with a team and 
wagon. The lad learned fa-mingand attended the 
district school and also pursued his studies for 
three winters in the Warsaw Seminary. He then 
spent one year at Lima College, where his father 
had a scholarship. He had always desired to stud}' 
medicine and so well known was his taste that he 
was called "Doc" from boyhood. He read medi- 
cine at intervals from an earl}' dale, but did not 
take up the study very thoroughly until he was of 
age. His first preceptor was Dr. Peter Kaner, of 
Warsaw, with whom he read over a year. Later 
he studied under Dr. H. P. Woodward at Burns, 
and in the fall of 1850 came to this Stsite and spent 
the ensuing two winters in the medical department 
of the University of Michigan. In August, 1852, 
he returned to New York and entered Geneva 
Medical College, from which he received his degree 
the following spring. 

The young physician located six miles from 
Cohunbia City, Ind., where he practiced four years, 
then opened an office in (ioshen. For a time he 
was in partnership with a Dr. Wickham. Thence 
he came to Jlichigan and for a little more than a 
year he practiced at Chelsea, Washtenaw County, 



286 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



then foiir\ears at Danville, Ingliam County. In 
1861 he located at St. John anrl is now the oldest 
physician here or in the county. His practice lias 
extended over a large circuit of country and dur- 
ing his j'ounger da3's he had all that he could do 
to answer the demands made upon him. He was 
for a time engaged in the drug business, in partner- 
ship with a Mr. Boyd, but gave it up to attend en- 
tirely to his profession. At one time he was 
engaged iu the manufacture of children's sleds and 
wagons, but the most impartmt work to which he 
has given his attention, aside from his practice, has 
been the preparation of drugs before mentioned. 

In August, 1852, Dr. Wiggins w.as married to 
Miss Irene Betts, the ceremony taking place at 
Blissfield, Lenawee County, iSIich., and the wedding 
journey being their return to New Yorlv", Mrs. Wig- 
gins having been born in Palmyra, that State. It 
was while living in Goshen, Ind., that he was bereft 
of his companion and for more than a decade he 
lived a widower. His second marriage was folemn- 
ized in St. John's, in 1 872, his bride being Miss 
Ilattie Mead, who was born in Lenawee County, 
Mich., and is the daughter of Peter Mead, an earl}- 
settler in Clinton County. The Doctor's first union 
was childless, but of the second there have been 
born two children — Celia M. and George F. The 
dwelling in which the happy family enjo}' the 
pleasures of life is one of the most expensive in the 
county seat and cost more than ^10,000. It is the 
onlj- house in town that is heated by steam and the 
furnishing is the acme of good taste and comfort. 

Dr. Wiggins has been a member of the Village 
Board of Trustees and Health Officer and was 
County Coroner two terms— 1882-83 and 1884-85. 
When Horace Greeley was a candidate for the 
Presidency, Dr. Wiggins was nominated for the 
State Legislature on the Democratic ticket, without 
his knowledge. He did not desire the place and 
had not the time to attend to its duties, as he was 
then the leading medical practitioner of the county. 
It is currently reported that he would readily Irive 
been elected had he not defeated the aim of his 
friends by his own efforts in opposition. He is in- 
terested in the social orders,belonging to the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and Knights of Honor, 
is a Knight Templar and an Odd Fellow while in 




New York. He is also connected with the Clinton 
County Medical Society'. He carries $15,500 insur- 
ance in the Western Masonic A.ssociation of Gmnd 
Ra[)ids and other companies. Politically, he is a 
strong Democrat. Personally he is one of those 
who has ever tried to act the part of a true man and 
has been successful in that aim as in professional 
and financial matters. 

A lithographic portrait of Dr. Wiggins accom- 
panies this sketcii. 

ILLS TUTTLK, M. D., a sturdy old gen- 
ii tleman of active habits and an iron consti- 
^^ tution, still carries on his professional 
business at Corunna, Shiawasse County. 
He is of the Eclectic and Botanic school, and h.as 
practiced in Corunna since 1855 and is the oldesi 
physician there. He was born in Hartford, Conn., 
May 27, 1819. His father. Ransom Tuttle was a 
native of Connecticut and his grandfather was a 
Revolutionary soldier, fighting under "Old Put." 
The family was of English descent. 

The father of our subject was a farmer, and in 
1826 he located in Canton Township, .St. Lawrence 
Count}', N. Y.,, where he carried on farming and 
dairying, and remained there through the term of 
bis natural life. He was a Whig in his political 
views, and later a Republican. He w.as an Elder 
in one Presbyterian Church for fort\'-two consecu- 
tive j'ears and lived to be ninety-four years old. 
The mother, who bore the maiden name of Sallie 
Brooks, was a native of Connecticut, and lived to 
complete eighty-two years. Of their eleven child- 
ren, .seven sons and four daughters, all grew to 
maturity. 

Young Mills was reared in St. Lawrence County, 
and took his schooling in the log schoolhouse, 
which in severe winter weather was so cold that 
the bo}- used to cover with snow] the johnn}' cake 
he took for lunch lest it should freeze. He was 
earl}' set to work and wiicn sixteen learned the 
trade of a carpenter and j.)inai'. .Vfter four j'ears 
of apprenticeship he began the business of con- 
tracting and building, but did not continue in it 



PORTUAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



2«7 



long as his health was not robust. He now begun 
the stud^- of medicine with l)rs. Ciaili and Baicer 
as preceptors, ami practiced medicine tiiere until 
1855, when he came to Corunna, wlicrc he soon 
built ui)an extensive practice, whicli lias extended 
over nearly every county in this State, and he has 
patients from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and 
Ohio. He is a specialist in all chronic diseases and 
one of the oldest [)hysicians in Southern Michigan. 
He uses the Electropathic treatment with great 
success, and compounds his own medicines from 
botanic sources. He pays all his attention to his 
profession, and has the largest practice of any man 
in the county, and a remarkable practice outside, 
having a record of two thousand cases in Saginaw. 
The marriage of Dr. Tuttle and Mary Fish, of 
Madrid, took place in St. Lawrence Count}', N. Y. 
Seven children crowned the union of this couple, 
three deceased. Those living arc, the eldest. 
George R., who resides here. He is a carpenter and 
joiner and has become a master mechanic, llaltie, 
now Mrs. Oaks, resides in Muskegon; Emma, the 
wife of Mr. Bramun, lives in Flint, and Lewis is a 
cigar manufacturer in Detroit,. The Doctor was 
for four years County Coroner and at one time a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and is a true-blue Republican in his political views. 



-^ggi"- 




AVID S. FRENCH, Secretary of the St. 
.lohn's Manufacturing Company, has as 
prominent a pl.ace in business circles as 
any man in the city. He has had con- 
siderable to do with civic affairs here and is inllu- 
ential in social orders that are among the most 
prominent in the country-. In ousiness affairs he 
is one of the chief olHcers as well as shareholder 
and Director in the largest enterprise of its kind 
in the United States, and lias the influence which 
accrues from the firm foundation on which the 
Manufacturing Comijan}- stands. Add to this the 
resi)ectdue him as a Tnion soldier, and it is plain 
to be seen why he is a conspicuous member of 
society and a popular citizen. 

Tracing the paternal line of descent we find that 



the Frenches came from Wales to this country 
several generations ago. The grandfather of our 
subject was Asa French, a native of Berks County, 
Pa., and an early settler in ftHami County, Ohio, 
where he carried on farming. He was a S(>ldier in 
the War of l!^12. The next in the direct line was 
Lewis French, who was born and reared in Miami 
Count}- and wiis graduated from the department of 
law in Dennison University. He practiced his pro- 
fession in Cincinnati during the greater part of his 
life, and his death occurred in St. .Johns while on 
visit to his son David in September, 1885, when he 
was seventy-two years old. He w.as a member of 
the Episcopal Church. His wife bore the maiden 
name of ISIaria Sargent, was born in Cincinnati, 
and alsn died there. Her father, David Sarirent. a 
native of Pieston County, West Va., was one of 
the old settlers in Cincinnati and was a prominent 
manufacturer of lumber. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
French three cliiltiren were born, but David S. is 
the only one who grew to manhood. 

The birtiiplace of David S. French was Lawrence- 
burg, Iiid., and his natal day April 4, 1.S44. He 
was reared in Cincinnati from the age of six 
months and pursued his studies in the city schools, 
being in the last 3-ear of the high school work when 
he laid down his books to enter the arm}-. •• The 
shot heard round the world " had scarcely ceased 
to echo, and the enlistment of the defenders of the 
Union had just begun when young French, then a 
Lad of seventeen years, became a member of Com- 
pany A, Second Ohio Infantry. He entered the 
service in April under the three months' call and 
was mustered tml during the summer, having in 
the ineanliino taken part in the disastrous liatlle of 
Bull Run. In the spring of 1862 he re-enlisted 
and was mustered in at Piqua as a private in Com- 
pany A, One Hundred Tenth Ohio Infantry. With 
this regiment he took part in thirty-two battles, 
and displ.aj'ed an equal patriotism and devotion to 
his country in the experiences of camp and cam- 
paign. He was mustered out .Inly 1, 1.S65, at 
Columbus, Ohio, having the rank of First Lieu- 
tenant. 

For three years following the war Mr. French 
was engaged in the sale of merchandise at Brook- 
ston, Ind., and he then found employment in a 



288 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



manufacliiring compan}' in Piqua, Ohio. Tbis 
company, which was engaged in the manufacture 
of lumber was in business in Piqua until January, 
1871, when its headquarters was removed to St. 
John's. Mr. French came hither as Secretary of 
what has since been known as the St. Joiin's Manu- 
facturing Company and has held that position 
conlinuously. , To his ability in looking aftei that 
part of the work which comes within his province 
and his accurate records of the transactions of the 
corporation, much of its prosperity' is undoubtedly 
due. 

Mr. French has a pleasant home, made attractive 
b}' the housewifely skill, intelligence and amiabil- 
ity of the lady who became his wife May 24, 186(). 
Her maiden name was Cornelia 5L Mitchell and 
she is a daughter of Joseph Mitcliell, a farmer 
living in Piqua. Ohio, in which city her marriage 
took place. Mr. Fjench has at different times been 
Village Trustee and he has also been President 
four terms. lie is a Knight Temi)lar, belonging 
to a Commaiidery in St. Joiin's, and is identified 
with a Consistory in Detroit. The high degree 
whicli he has taken, has made his name conspicu- 
ous in Masonic circles and he is equally prominent 
among Grand Army men. He has at vari nis times 
been Commander of Charlies E. Grisson Post and 
takes an active part in the movements with which 
his comrades are identified, wiiether commemora- 
tive or calculated to promote future welfare. 
Politically he is an enthusiastic Republican. 



■^flOHN H. GORMLEV. Among the agricul- 
tural anil business men of Rush Township, 
we are pleased to mention the name which 

')J) appears at the head of this sketch. His 
record also as a devoted and loyal patriot gives 
him a claim upon every one who loves his coun- 
try. Ills home on section 14, is a pleasant and at- 
tractive one. His birth took place in Jefferson 
County, N. Y., upon Christmas day, in 1830. His 
jiarenis Anna and James Gormley, were born in 
County Longford, Ireland, the father in 1805, and 
the mother in 180y. They were united in marriage 



in 1827 and came at once to America, and located 
in Northern New York. They bought a farm and 
continued there until 1840, when they sold out 
and went to Canada, making their home not far 
from Kingston, and were there until the death tif 
James Gormle}' in 1862. He was a Roman Catho- 
lic in his religious views. 

Starting out at the age of fifteen to fight the bat- 
tles of life, John Gormley learned the trade of a 
carriage maker in Rochester, N. Y. He was there 
five 3ears as an ai)prentice and nearly two years as 
a journeyman and then spent several years in Niag- 
ara Count}'. Coming to Michigan in 1882 he 
bought forty-five acres of land where he now lives. 
He had in 1855 been united in marriage with Jane 
E. Ilosraer, daughter of Prentice and Ellen (Brown J 
Ho&mer. The Ilosmer's were a Connecticut family 
and there were ten children in the household to 
which Jane belonged. She was born in September, 
1831. 

Mr. Gormley is a Republican in his political 
views and cast his first vote for President Franklin 
Pierce and his last for Harrison, and he has been 
an earnest worker for the interests of his part}'. 
While living in New York he filled the offices of 
Township Clerk and Justice of the Peace for twelve 
j'ears, and was also Treasurer and Highway Com- 
missioner for quite a term, and served as delegate 
to many conventions. Since coming to Michigan 
he has also filled the responsible office of Justice 
and is now on his third term in that position. He 
is active in local politics and acts as delegate in 
conventions. 

At the first call of the Governor of New York 
our subject enlisted in September, 1861, and helped 
to raise one of the first companies of light artillery 
in the State. He was made Sergeant in Company 
M, First New York Light Artillery, and in Decem- 
ber of the same year was promoted to the office of 
First Sergeant of the battery. They went from 
Rochester to Albau}', and from there to Washing- 
ton, and during the winter were sent to Frederick 
City, Md., and shortly after went down the Poto- 
mac to Point of Ri.cks below Hirper's Ferry. 

In F'ebruary, Sergeant Gormley was with his 
battery on Maryland Heights to i)rotect men who 
were making pontoon bridges ami also to guard 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



289 



the army while It crossed into Virginia. The bat- 
tery followe'l in tiie rear and was at Winchester in 
the first battle and in several conflicts in Mie Shen- 
andoah Valle3', going as far as Scranton. In May, 
1862, he was in Bank's retreat, took part in the 
second battle at Wincheslcr, and going to Williams- 
port, Md., was there for a short time before return- 
ing into the Shenandoah and Loudoun Valley. 
They operated with the armj' until the battle of 
Cedar Mountain, August 9 and 10, 1862, where 
this division of our armj' was so badly cut up. The 
battery w.ns reduced to one Second Lieutenant in 
command at Cedar Mountain. The next battle in 
which they took part was at. the fords of the Rap- 
pahannock and thej- were in the heat of battle at 
the second Bull Run. and in all the conflicts until 
South Mountain and Anteitam. At the last named 
place the drivers were taken from the teams to help 
man the guns. Here our subject w.as struck by a 
piece of a shell and for a time was rendered insen- 
sible but rallied and continued with the l)attery 
through the conflict. 

Until the battle of Gettj'sburg our young sol- 
dier continued with the army of the Potomac, but ; 
in August, 1863, his batterj' and other bodies of 
troops were sent to the .Southv/estern Army with 
"fighting .loe Hooker." He was present at Wau- 
hatchie Valley, Lookout Mountain and Missionary 
Ridge, and when Sherman look coraraind in the 
Southwest he was under him in all the battles in 
that campaign until the capture of Atlanta. The 
Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps which had 
come from the Potomac under Joe Hooker were 
united during the winter previous to the Atlanta 
Campaign and formed the Twentielh Corps under 
Hooker's command until the capture of Atlanta. 
They were then put under tlie command of (Jen. 
Slocuiii, and this was the corps which entered At- 
lanta and held it. They went with Sherman to the 
sea and were the first to occupy Savannah. 

A promotion to .Second Lieutenant was given to 
Mr. Gormley in May, 1863. I^eaving Savannah, 
the Twentieth Corps went to South Carolina and 
assisted in the capture of Charleston, and were at 
Benton ville in March, 1865, and took part in that 
battle. After the surrender of .lohnslon the army 
went to Richmond and from there on to Washing- 



ton, being present at the Grand Review. There 
the army was disbanded and Lieut. Gormley was 
mustered out of service in .June. 1865, at Roches- 
ter. 

— m^- — 



^ AMKS D. KSTES, editor of the St. John's 
I News was born in Bingham Town.slii|), Clin. 



1 

I ton County, February 19, 1818. His father. 
(^J^/ George W. Estes, was a Vermonter and his 
grandathor, Nathan, of New Hampshire, was a far- 
mer on the shores of Lake Champlain and served 
his country in the War of 1812. His father, the 
great-grandfather of our subject, served in the 
Revolutionary War. Later he located in Niagara 
County, where he cultivated a farm for the re- 
mainder of his days. The family is of l""rcnch 
descent. 

The father came to New York when a boy and 
was reared there as a farmer. He was married to 
Susan Smith in Niagara Coun'.y, and in 1845 came 
to Clinton County this State traveling with a team 
from Detroit. He was one of the first settlers in 
Bingham Township and after clearing part of the 
farm there located in St. John's. He had charge 
of the first Post -office in Bingham Township and 
was Supervisor for seven consecutive years. He 
was a practical veterinary surgeon and made him- 
self very useful in those early d.ays by his know- 
ledge of the proper treatment of that noble animal, 
the horse. During his residence in the town he 
has engaged in the insurance business and is 
County Coroner. 

James Estes is Mie second in a famil3- of eight 
children all but two of whom are living. He was 
reared in St. John's, e<lucaled in the Union School 
and when thirteen he was apprenticed as a printer 
in the otlice of the St. John's Union, a Democratic 
paper. Along with his work he was allowed to 
lake some schooling. Iii 1869 he went to Flint, 
tills State, and took the position of foreman on the 
Flint Ohibe. The next year he returned to this 
city and became a partner with George S. Corbit 
on the Independent. After continuing with him 
for twelve years he bought Mr. Corbil's interest 
and was proprietor and editor of the Independent 



290 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



for six years, until in 1888 he re-sold this paper to 
his forme'' partner. 

In 1889 the ]!^eirs was started by the .SI. John's 
News Comp.'.ny and lie became its editor. This is 
a five column quarto paper. ind('[)endent in politics 
and has in connection with it an excellent job 
olllce. Besides liis newspaper work, Mr. Kstcs is 
Secretary and Treasurer of the Cooper, Boiler and 
Engine Company of this cit}-. His marriage took 
place in Flint in 1870. His bride, Miss Anna E. 
Coonley, a native of Bloomfiold, Oakland County, 
this State, is a daughter of George and Mary (Win- 
slow) Coonley of New York, who were early 
settlers in Oakland County. 

The subject of this sketch is an ollicia! member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for twelve 
3ears h.is been Superintendent of their Sunday- 
school. He is well-known in the Michigan State 
Press Association and is a I'roliibilionist. Besides 
his other branches of business he handles real es- 
tate to some extent. In former years he was a 
Democrat and at one time was nominated by that 
|)arty for the Legislature. 

^. : )g^J#iUg< : I 

StI OHN D. EVENS. The history of pioneers 
is always fraught with interest to the old 
and young, not only to those of their own 
locality but to everyone who takes an in- 
terest in the experiences of humanity. To the old 
it is of interest because it brings up reminiscences 
of like experiences in which the shades of differ- 
ence are the spicy feature. To the young it is al- 
ways a source of wonder how the men and women 
of the past have struggled, endured and overcome. 
They rend of hardships that seem perfectly nn- 
surniounlable to them, forgetting tiuit occasion 
develops latent powers and qualities hitherto 
unsuspected. 

John D. Evens is one of the pioneers of Michi- 
gan, having been born in Royal Oak, Oakland 
Ct)unty, .lunc -1, 1835. He is the second son and 
third child of John 1). and Mary (Barton) Evens, 
and is now well known as the genial owner of the 
largest livery and sale stable in Owosso, Mich. 



w 



Our subject's mother was a native of Ireland and 
born in the cit}' of Belfast. She was brought to 
the United States when only five years of age. The 
father was a native of Wales and emigrated to the 
United Slates when quite young. The young peo- 
ple met and married in Oakland County, Mich., and 
afterward settled on a farm where they passed the 
remainder of their days. 

The gentleman of whom we write enjoyed the 
advantages of the public schools in his native 
county until he was fourteen years of age, when, 
like Tom Sawyer, he determined to see something 
of the world for himself. He made his living for 
a time by fishing and boating. This idyllic em- 
|)loyment does not prove, however, that he was 
without energy and seeking onl^' to cater to his 
own enjoyment, for he was much of the time en- 
gaged in the vigorous work of rafting on Lake 
Huron and afterward on the Wisconsin and Missis- 
sippi Rivers. Those who have been in the lumber 
districts of the North know the quickness of per- 
ception and the vigor of muscle that is needed in 
this employment. He varied his work of rafting 
with that of fishing, which business he followed 
successfully for a period of sixteen years which he 
spent chiefly on the waters of Lake Huron. After 
this he spent two years in Birmingham, Oakland 
County, this State. 

The business of dealing in livestock, cattle and 
sheep was then beginning to assume an importance 
in the Central Slates which promised to be highly 
lucrative and one in which Mr. Evens felt that he 
could engage with great advantage to himself. 
The purchases that he made in livestock were 
shipped to the Eastern markets where they were 
in great demand and he soon found that he had 
built up a successful and paying business. In 1868 
he removed to Owosso and purchased the liver}' 
stock of Sanford D. Wiley, where he continued 
the business at the same stand from 1868 to 1871. 
During the latter year he built the fine brick barn, 
24x77 feet which he still occupies, also a frame 
barn, 20x47 feet. Mr. Evens takes a pride in con- 
stantly keeping on hand a fine supjily of carriages, 
hacks and buggies, using for his trade from ten to 
fifteen horses. 

In 186;? our subject was married to Miss Susan 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



291 



A. Wiley. The lady is a native of Vermont, and 
is a daugiiter of Ada™ Wile}'. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kveiis are the parents of two cliildren, a son and 
daugliU'r: Barton G., llio son, who is in the United 
States mail service and llattie I., who lives at borne. 
Mr. Evens is a member of Owosso Lodge, No. 81, 
F. it A. M., also uf Owosso Cliapter, No. 81), R. A. 
M., and Corunna Commandery, No. 21, K. T. He 
is also Treasurer of the National Union at Owosso. 
As is usu.ally the case with men wiio love liorses, 
Mr. Evens is a genial good fellow — liale fellow well 
met with the whole comnuinit}'. He witli bis 
pleasing family reside in a neat and substantial 
brlek residence on Water and William .Streets. Tlio 
surroundings of the home are as pleasant and at- 
tractive .as money and a love for the beautiful can 
make it. Politically he is a Democrat. He is now 
filling the ollice of Deputy Sheriff, previous to 
whieb he has served as Under Sheriff. 



, ONRAD FRIKGKL, who lives on section 17, 
Benuington Townsiiip, Shiawassee County, 

iJ/J was born in Wurtemberg, Konigreich, Ger- 
many. ISLircii 28, 18,34. His i)arcnls were .loharn 
and .lulia (Ilerringer) Kriegfl. Voung Friegcl 
came to tiie United States in 1853 when only nine- 
teen years of age. He had tiie advantage of a 
trade which wiis all tiial lie brougiit with him from 
home excepting a good constitution and a deter- 
mination to make a success of life in America. 
After coming to Detroit be worked in a brick-yard 
for live years and then moved to Dearborn where 
he was ur.ited in marriage to Miss Mary Johnson. 
Immediately after marrisige he began farming at 
Dearborn, renting the place which he 0|)erated for 
five years. In October, 186."), he came to Benning- 
ton Township and bought eighty acres of land, 
thirty-five of which were improved. 

Longing for a sight of the old home .and familiar 
faces in tlie Fatherlaml, in 18G8, our subject went 
back to Germany and when he returned brought 
Ills mother with him. She failed, however, to see 
the attractions of America and after suffering for 
some time with that mal.ady known to Germans as 



"heimweh," she died six months after her arrival 
here, at the age of sixty-two years. Soon after 
this be lost his wife. The following year he was 
married December 12, to Elizabetii Bender, who 
was born in Hesse-Coburg, September 12, 1841. 

l\Ir. Fricgel has added to his farm until he now 
possesses one hundred and sixty acres of linely- 
improved land. For a |)eriod of three years he 
was a dealer in grain, but losing money in tliis l)usi- 
ness, he gave it up and devoted himself to his 
farming. He was elected Highway Commissioner 
and held the position for two years. Our subject 
is a Republican in politics having voted the straight 
ticket for a good many years. By bis first wife he 
had four children: Julia, now Mrs. Godfrey Haber, 
oi New Haven Township; William; Mary, who 
married George Hiedt, and resides in De Witt, this 
Slate; and John, who works for himself .assisting 
the farmers in the iieighboriiood. His children by 
his second wife areGustav; Lizzie, who is at home; 
Fred, attending school in Lansing; David, wlio is 
at home, and Laura also at home. Gustav is study- 
ing law at Corunna witli A. L. Chandler, having 
taken the complete course in tiie high school of 
Pcrr}'. William was for three years in California. 
He also is a Republican in politics. Mr. Friegcl 
has a well-arranged and attractive ten-room house 
which is always merry with the fun and badinage 
of bis happy family. 

UILLIAM K. BROOKS. The men who 
served in the late War, putting their lives 
'^m in bal.'ince with the chances of warfare 
and often, if lliey survived, bearing home with 
them souvenirs that will last as long as they live, 
deserve always in every work that is meant to com- 
memorate the achievements in .\nierlcan life most 
honorable mention, and their trials must elicit the 
sympathy of every American who is loyal to his 
couiitiy. Our subject long served in the late War 
as a soldier and now enjo^'s the serenity of civil 
life on bis farm that is located on section 35, V^enice 
Township, Shiawassee Count}-. 

Mr. Brooks is of English parentage, his father 



292 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



being John Brooks, a native of England and his 
mother Ann (('roff) Brooiis, also a native of Eng- 
land, where they were married and afterward came 
to America in 1832. At first thej' settled in New 
York, but about 1836 they came to Michigan and 
settled in Lapeer County on a new farm where 
they remained for two years. They then returned 
to New York where the father followed his trade, 
wl)ich was that of a weaver. He lived in that 
State until 1843 and there fully improved llirec 
farms. He then moved to Macomb County, this 
State, and improved a farm of eighty acres. He 
ailded thirty acres to this and made some improve- 
ments, finally selling it. lie then retired to the 
village of New Haven, where he built a tine brick 
residence. This he traded for a good farm in 
Washington Townshii), Macond) County, where he 
moved and remained until his death, which occur- 
red in 18815. His wife died in 1857 and he again 
married, his second wife surviving him; she was 
the mother of three children, all of wlioin are liv- 
ing. By his first marriage he was the father of 
eleven children, ten of whom arc living. Four 
sons served in the Civil War; one as a member of 
Conijiauy h\ Tenth Michigan Infantr}', and died 
at Jcffersonville, Ind., after serving over two and 
one-half years. 

The parents f)f the subject were members of tlic 
Free-Will Baptist Cliurcli but later the father 
united with tlie Methodist Episcopal Cliiuch in 
which body he has held various oHicos. He gave 
his children good educational advantages. 'l"he 
youngest of these is thirty five years of age; the 
eblest sixty. Personally our subject's fatlier was 
short, of sto\it build, having a strong constitution 
and a sunny, genial temperament that endeared 
him to all with whom he came in contact. He was 
a manly man. 

Our subject was born April 27, 1811, on the 
homestead in Lapeer ('ounty. He grew to man- 
hood among the pioneers of that count}'. He saw 
more Indians than white men and wild animals skul- 
ked on the outskirts of the clearing. Deer, bear, wild 
turkeys and smaller game abounded. At eighteen 
years of age he went to Howell, Livingston County 
to learn the blacksmith's trade. There he woiked 
for a year and in the fall of 18G;$ he responded to 



the call for volunteers made by the Federal Govern- 
ment and joined Company A, Fifth Miciiigan In- 
fantry. 

Mr. Brooks' regiment was detailed to the Army 
of the Potomac. He joined the regiment in 
Detroit. In the winter of 1864 he went to Wash- 
ington, was equipped and sent to Brandy Station 
where his regiment was attached to the Red Dia- 
mond Division and belonged to the Second Army 
Corps under Gen. Hancock. They remained at 
Brandy Station during the entire terra of service. 
Mr. Brooks was also in Grant's campaign through 
the Wilderness and was with the army at Peters- 
l)urg, Va., also during the siege of that place and 
at the celebrated mine explosion. His regiment 
then followed Cen. Lee's army at Appomattox and 
was present at the surrender. Tlioy then went to 
Washington and camped at Arlington Heights, 
taking part in the Grand Review. From this place 
they went to JiOuisville, Ky., for the rest of the 
term; from there they went to Detroit and were 
muslorcd out of service. 

Our subject look an active part in many of the 
princii)al battles of the War. He was at the battle 
of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, 
Petersburg anil Hatchie's Run. Dining the time 
of his service he never absented himself from his 
regiment for a single day. The hardest d.w of his 
whole service was April 6, 1865, when he was 
engaged in marching and fighting Gen. Lee's forces 
wlu) were retreating. During the engagement he 
was struck ou the head by a spent ball and seri- 
ously wounded. At Hatchie's Run he was captured 
1)3' the rebels, hut by making a desperate run for 
his life, escaped. He was discharged from service 
July 18, IHC), when he returned to his home on 
the farm in Lapeer County. 

The original of our sketch continued in Lapeer 
County until 1869, when he came to Shiawassee 
County and ))urchased eighty' acres on sect- 
ion 34, ^'enice Township. About half of this 
was improved. He made his home with a 
neighboring f.amily and began the work of improve- 
ment on his farm. He soon purchased another 
eight}' acres, part of which w.as cultivated. 

By this time Mr. Brooks was tired of single l)lcs- 
sedness and attracted by the charms of Miss Julia 




(2^ JP^L^ 






PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



297 



Curtis, persuaded licr to become his wife, which she 
(lid in 1873. She was a (Jaugliter of Lewis and 
L3'dia Curtis, natives of New York State and set- 
tlers in Macomb Couiit3' at an early da}' where the 
father died. Her decease, however, look place in 
Tuscola Count}'. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were the 
parents of live children, four of whom are still 
living. Two sons served in the army. Mrs. 
Hrooks was born January 8, 1845, in Macomb 
County. 

Our subject aud his wife are the parents of six 
children, all of whom are living and the splendid 
inheritance of perfect health is proved b}' the fact 
that none of them have ever been sick. The family 
are Fred. 15., Raymond P., William E., Margie A., 
Joseph C, Lewis C. They have received every 
advantage in an educational way that the vicinity 
affords. Both our subject and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which 
body he is a Trustee, Steward and Class-Leader. 
They both take an active part in the Sunday-scliool, 
tlie gentleman having been Superintendent of the 
same for several j'ears; he now lias charge of the 
Bible class and Mrs. Brooks does efficient work .as a 
teacher. 

Mr. Brooks is a Director on the School Board. 
He takes an active interest in politics, Jilliliating 
with the Republican party, although he is now a 
Prohibitionist. He has two hundred and fort}- acres 
of fine land, two hundred fifteen being under the 
plow. In 1880 he erected a residence that is a model 
of comfort and convenience. It cost him ^1,.')00 
without counting his own labor, the board of his 
employes, etc. Upon his place are three fine barns, 
the dimensions of one being 34xfiC with a good 
basement, another is .■51x4() and the third 30x10 
feet. These barns, as well as a fine granary, 20x28 
feet in dimensions were all constructed by him.self. 

Mr. Brooks has an orchanl which covers three 
acres of land, .'iiid four miles of under drainage has 
been put in. He actively superintends everything 
pertaining to his farm and devotes himself to gcn- 
enil farming. He has some fine-wool sliee|), also 
thorough-bred Shropshires, the whole number of 
his sheep being two hundred and thirty. His cattle 
and horses are of a fine breed. He has also some 
fine Poland-China and Berkshire ho^s. Mr. Brooks 



had the advantage of many farmers in this locality, 
for he brought into the county with him ^2,000 
and a team of horses ; however, he has greatly in- 
creased his worldly possessions by judicious in- 
vestments and constant industry. 



E^^ 



ylLLIAM F. SPALDING, a prominent 
farmer residing on section 35, Rush Town- 
„ ., shi)), Shiawassee County, and a man whose 
services in the Union armj' entitle him to the re- 
spect of every patriot, was born June 3, 1840, 
in Niagara County, N. Y. His father, Jcdediah 
Spalding, a farmer, was born in New York about 
1804 and was married in 1831 to Tamerson C. 
lloUcnbeck. 'I'lie mother of our subject was a 
daughter of Silas HoUenbeck, a native of New 
York and the father of two sons and five daughters 
Tamerson, who was born about 1814, being the 
eldest. 

Jedediah and Tamerson Spalding became the 
parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom 
our subject is the third son and fifth child. When 
only thirteen years old William started out to 
work upon a farm, studying in the winters and 
working during the summer. Having attained a 
comforlnlile independence as well as a fair degree 
of education in this way, he decided to establish a 
home of his own, and was married .\pril 27, 1865. 
ALary A. LymaM, who l;ec.'iinc his wife, was a 
daughter of Alandas and Mary (Kwjng) Lyman, 
New England people, who were the parents of four 
daughters and one son. Mary, the second in order 
of birth, was born January 21, 1841, and at an 
early age acquired those graces of character which 
endear her to a large circle of acquaintances. 

William F. Spalding and his accomplished wife 
have hail four children; Addie and Jessie are twins, 
the former being the wife of Charles R. Duncan, 
of Middle|)ort, N. Y., and the mother of one son, 
and Jessie being Mrs. Frank W. Stiles, of Rush 
Townshii); the third daughter. Bertha, is deceased; 
the son, Charles i)., is at home. It w,as in 1861) 
when our subject came to Michigan and purchased 
eighty acres in Rush Townslii[> where he now lives. 



298 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



It was all woods then but is now well cleared and 
in a fine stale of cultivation. In 1884 he built a 
handsome brick residence which is an ornament to 
the township. 

The war record of Mr. Spalding is a source of 
jnst pride to his family. He enlisted Jul}- 2G, 1862, 
in Company D, One Hundred Twentj'-ninth New 
York Infantr\', and in December of that year the 
regiment was transferred to the Eighth Heavy Ar- 
tillery and stationed at Ft. Federal Hill, Baltimore. 
He did garrison duty until May, 1864, when they 
wire ordered to the field at Spottsylvania and 
North Anna. After that he was in all the engage- 
ments of tlie war in which the Army of the Poto- 
mac took part. At Petersburg he was sliot twice 
with minie balls, one passing through the left 
groin and another striking the left arm and i)assing 
through the right side, injuring his lung and lodg- 
ing in his spinal column. From this injury- he has 
never" entirely recovered. He was sent to Annai)- 
olis into the hospital and from tliere went home on 
a furlough and was in the hos|)ital at Buffalo until 
1865. As a partial comjjensation for his injuries 
he receives a pension of ^16 per month. Mr. .Spal- 
- ding is a strong Prohibitionist in his political 
views and the leader of that party in Rush Town- 
ship and vicinity. 

We are pleased to present elsewhere in ihis vol- 
ume lithogra|)hic |)ortrails of Mr. Spalding and 
his estimable wife. 




ON. WILLIAM H. ROSE, a prominent 
farmer and a man of great energy and push, 
prominent in county politics and well liked 
by all who know him, was born in Bath 
Township, Clinton County, where he now resides, 
July 25, 1844. His father, Silas W. Rose, a native 
of Steuben Count}', N. Y., w.as born April 27, 
1802, and his grandfather, also S. W. Rose, now 
deceased, was a German farmei-. The father of our 
subject was a mcrcliant at Bath, N. Y., and came 
to Michigan in 18:!6, making the journej' first by 
canal boat to Buffalo, then by boat to Detroit and 



thence b}' ox-team to W.ishtenaw County, Mich., 
where he kept an hotel on the road between Detroit 
and Chicago for two years. 

Seth W. Rose came to Clinton County in 1836 
and entered about six hundred acres of land from 
the Government, when there were but five families 
in the two townships of DeWitt and Bath, which 
were all one then. He named this township for 
his old hr)me in New York. He erected a log shanty 
and being a great hunter was able to furnish veni- 
son in plent}'. The howling of wolves could be 
heard about his cabin at night and the friendly 
Indians made frequent visits to his home. He had 
to go to l^ontiac for his milling and tr.-uling and it 
took just a week to make the trii), having to ford 
streams and travel almost impassable roads. He 
was a i)rominent man and a useful one, and laid 
out man}- roads in the neighborhood. He was cut 
off in the prime of lite, dying at the age of forty- 
two years. In his political views he was a Demo- 
crat. 

riie widow of Silas Rose, Margaret (Murtle) 
Rose, who was born in Steuben County, N. Y., 
December 17, 1802, is still living and in good 
health, and makes her home with our subject. She 
has reared to maturity nine children, namely: 
Robert, Louisa, Selvina, Susan, Marilda, Silas. An- 
geline, Caroline and William H. She is of German 
descent. Our subject used to play with the Indian 
chileireu and as he grew larger went on hunting 
expeditions with them. When he could he attended 
tlie log schoolhouse with open fireplace and slab 
benches with pin legs, under the rate bill system. 
He also received instruction from a private tutor, 
John M. Easton, now residing in this township. 
He has never had an}' other home than this and 
has managed the home farm since he was sixteen 
years old, as the older sons had gone out into 
the world to seek their fortunes. He finally bought 
out their shares in the homestead and made it all 
his own. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Harriet 
Gardner occurred October 22, 1866. This lady 
was born in Steuben County, N. Y., in 1845 and 
she has become the mother of one child — Nettie, 
a beautiful little girl of eight years. The home 
farm consists of three hundred acres of arable soil 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



299 



in a fine state of cultivation. His beautiful house 
was liuilt in 1877 and his latge barn erected in 
1885. Here he carries on mixed farming, making 
grain his principal croj), employing from one to 
ten men on the farm. Being earnestly solicitous 
of the welfare of the farming community he is .ic- 
tive in the Grange. He is also a member of the 
hunting club at Bath and goes North every fall to 
hunt deer. He is identified with the Masonic order 
at Lansing and has taken twelve degrees. He was 
elected Representative of Clinton Count}- on the 
Republican ticket in the fall of 1880 and served 
two terras, and was efficient in general and local 
legislation. He has held nearly ever}' township 
oflfice, including that of Jiupervisor. 

For fourteen years Mr. Rose followed lumbering 
in Saginaw Count}' and is still interested in that 
trade as he now buys timber and works it up into 
lumber. He has been a successful man and attrib- 
utes his success to strict attention to business and 
economy. He claims there is plenty of money in 
farming for any one who pays close attention to 
his farm and manages it with wisdom and discre- 
tion. While in the lumbc business in Saginaw 
County he accumulated considerable pro|)erty. 



LMOND PARTLOW. Tiiis name is fa- 
'W i ^i''"'' t*^ many of our readers and to a 
i> large number of commercial travelers who 
^(1 had occasion to visit the town of Eagle, 

Clinton County, within the past few years. Mr. 
Partlow moved into the village in September, 
1889, buying the Eagle Hotel, where he and his 
etlicient wife are conducting a house of entertain- 
ment that possesses many homelike features, duly 
appreciated by those who sojourn under its roof. 
Mr. Partlow has lived in E.agle Township half a 
century and has seen this section of Michigan re- 
deemed from a wilderness into an improved [)or- 
tioii as fine as any in the State. In the work tliat 
has been necessary to bring about this good result 
he has borne a share from his early boyhood, and 
he feels a just pride in his connection therewith. 
Our subject is a son of Palmer and Eliza (San- 



ders) Partlow, natives of Franklin County, Vt., 
and the Province of Quebec respectively. They 
were living in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., when 
their son was born, August 5, 1837, and thence 
they came to Michigan in 1841. The father took 
up twenty acres of wild land in Eagle Township, 
and by industry and economy accumulated a fair 
share of this world's goods, so that his last years 
were spent in comfort. Mr. Partlow lived to the 
age of seventy -six years, dying in 1885, and two 
years later his widow passed aw.ay, aged seventy- 
five. They were estimable people, highly respected 
by their neighbors, and imbued with the spirit of 
brotherly kindness and hospitality so notably 
shown in early days. 

Almond Partlow has but slight recollection of 
any home outside the bounds of this State. As 
his father was poor when he came hither, the lad 
had but limited opportunities for obtainiug an 
education, his only attendance being in the com- 
mon school. He had his part to bear in clearing 
the laud his father had secured, and habits of in- 
dustry and prudence were developed in him at an 
early age. His labors were for the general good 
of the family until he was twenty-three years old, 
when he felt justified in establishing a home of 
his own and secured as his companion Miss Mary- 
Blake, with whom he was united in marriage in 
1860. In 1879 his happy home was entered bv 
the angel of death ami the wife removed there- 
from, the day of her decease being November .SO, 
1879. 

The children tliiis left motherless are Edward 
P., Henry W., Franklin .V. and Alice E. The first- 
named was born in 1862, and is now living in 
Laingsburg, Sjiiaw.assee County, and engaged in 
the drug business. His wife was formerly Miss 
Laura Medcalfe. The second child was born in 
1864, married Nellie Slatterly and lives in the vil- 
lage of Eagle, where he has a dru;,' store ami is 
now Postmaster. Franklin A., who was bom in 
1866, is in the employ of th" Chicago <t Norih- 
western Railway Company and living nt Superior 
Junction, Wis.; he married Miss Delia Summers. 
The only daughter of oursuliject was born in 1869. 
is unmarried and still briyhtcns her father's home 
by her presence there. Some lime after the death 



300 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of liis first wife Mr. Partlow made a second mat- 
rimonial jilliance, tlie date of the event being 
April 19, 1882, and the bride Faun}', daughter of 
Simon Campbell. This excellent lady was born 
in the city of Detroit and possesses many fine 
qualities of mind and heart. 

In politics Mr. Partlow is a Republican, con- 
vinced that the principles laid down by that party 
are best calculated to build up the welfare of the 
Republic, and ready to give an intelligent reason 
for his faith whenever party matters are the topic 
of conversation. Socially he belongs to Clinton 
Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F. The religious home of 
the family is in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 




IIAUNCET S. WOLCOTT, a venerable 
and time-honored septuagenarian and rep- 
resentative pioneer of Clinton Count>', re- 
siding on section 36, Essex Township, is a native 
of Genesee County, N. Y., and was born February 
15, 1820. He is a son of Chauncey D. and 
Lydia A. (Stiles) Woleott, both natives of Con- 
necticut. Oliver Woleott, a relative of his father, 
was one of our Revolutionary heroes. Our subject 
resided in his native county until 1829, when, 
with his parents, he emigrated to Miciiigan, set- 
tling in Oakland Count}'. This was in the days 
when Michigan was a Territory, and his parents 
were among the earlier pioneers. They made 
that county their permanent iiome, and remained 
there the rest of their days. 

The subject of this sketch attended the pioneer 
schools of his native county, and there received 
the grounding in the rudiments of an education 
which tended to make him what he is to-day — a 
self-educated man. His father was formerly a 
school teacher, and the instruction he received at 
home ably supplemented the schooling which he 
received in the log cabin. He came to Clinton 
County in 18-13, and in the following year settled 
upon the farm where he now resides in Essex 
Township. He had been married March 7, 1841, 
and now brought his wife to his new home. Her 
maiden name was Alvertinc E. Friiik, and she was 



was born in New York State May 30, 1857. Her 
parents were Joshua and Martha (Jones) Frink, 
the father being a native of Connecticut and the 
mother of Rhode Island. Mr. Frink was a soldier 
in the War of 1812, and came to Essex Township, 
Clinton County, with his family about the year 
1840. Mrs. Woleott has two brothers and two 
sisters residing in Clinton Count}', namely: Miner 
R. ; Josiah F. ; Amy, Mrs. Coomer, now a widow; 
and Albina D., Mrs. Reuben Becker. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Woleott have been born six 
children, of whom the following are now living: 
Joe] S., Dewey, John A. and Mary E., wife of C. 
T. Luck. Mr. Woleott has served as Highway Com- 
missioner of Essex Township for .several years and 
also as Justice of the Peace for some time and No- 
tary Public. He is a public-spirited citizen, and 
he and his wife are looked ujjon as leading pioneers 
of Clinton County. He can recall many scenes of 
pioneer life and has seen great improvements in 
this section. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woleott are es- 
teemed and active members of society. He is a 
Republican in political views and intelligently in- 
terested in the success of his party. 




RS. SY'LVIA (DUTCHER) JUBB was 
born May 5, 1844, in Burns Township^ 
Shiawassee County, Mich. She lived at 
home until her nia.iriage which took place 
October 9, 1863. She was then united with Wil- 
liam J. Jubb who was born in Cohocta, Livings- 
ton County, Mich. June 29, 1836. His father, 
Edward H. the son of an Englishman settled in 
Michigan in the early Territorial days having come 
from New York thither. Mr. Jubb's mother was 
Maria Countryman, and belonged to an old Revo- 
lutionary family. 

Mr. Jubb learned the carpenter's trade when a 
boy. After marri.age he lived for one year at Ben- 
nington and then moved out on a new farm in Mid- 
dlebury Township, where he remained about five 
years. He engaged in merchandising in Benning- 
ton in 1869, and three years later went onto a 
farm which he carried on until he went to Otsego 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



301 



County ill the fall of 1878. There they settled 
upon .111 unbroken farm five miles northwest of 
O.iyiord which has since continued to be their home. 
Mr. ,)ubb had been a soldier previous to his marri- 
njje iiaving enlisted in Conipau}' A, Third Michi- 
Inf.antry in 18G1. He served until 1863 being 
attached to the Army of the Potomac, and was 
finally discharged for disability. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. .Iul)b;irc: Elliott II., 
now twenty-seven j-ears old; Amanda J., whudicd 
Maj' 14, 188.5, a victim of consumption at the age 
of nineteen; Seth, aged twenty-three, who is n)ar- 
ried and settled near home; Dora S. twenty-one 
years old and Garfield W. a boy of si.\ years. Mr. 
Jubb's political views are in accordance with the 
doctrines of the Republican party. Mrs. Mary 
(Dtitcher) Punches, the sister of our subject who 
was born October 7, 1826, in Monroe County, N. Y. 
has onlj' one son, Fayette P., who lives with his 
mother at Bennington, where slie has devoted the 
last ten years to the care of her mother, as she has 
herself been a widow jince 18GC. 



OSHUA RAPALKE. Among the venerable 
residents of Ovid Township, Clinton 
County, we are pleased to present the name 
which appears at the head of this sketcli. 
This gentleman has long been a resident of the 
place which be still calls home, for he came here 
when there was no such place as Ovid and not even 
a building in St. John's. He was born in Yates 
County, N. Y., Milo Township. July 12, J821. 
His father, Ezra Rapalee, was a native of that 
county, and his mother, who bore the maiden 
of Marjorie Longcor, was born in Orange County. 
He lived at home with his father, who carried 
on a farm, until he reached his majority, after 
which he began life for himself bj' working a 
part of his father's place. This he carried on for 
a number of years before coming to Michigan. 

Mr. Rapalee contracts', a union for life with a 
lady of his native county, Hannah Lewis, of Star- 
key, a daughter of Joseph C. Lewis, a farmer 
and blacksmith of considerable repute in Yates 



County. Their wedding day w.is October 1, 
1842. Two children onl}' came to bless their 
home — Viola Ma3', who was born May G, 1851, 
and Rinda, May 26, 1853. Both of these ladies 
have established homes of their own in Clinton 
County. \'iola is now the wife of Emmet Bur- 
gess, who follows different occupations, and Rinda 
married J. V. Fulkerson, who is a trader. 

The migration of the family to IMii'higan look 
place in 1855, and they made their home at once 
upon the land in Ovid Township which is still 
their home. This section was in p, wild condi- 
tion and Mr. Rapalee can tell wonderful stories 
of his encounters with wild game, especially with 
deer. He often shot them, and at times had great 
ditliculty in getting home witli his booty, as the 
wolves would surround him and fight for the 
venison which he w.as carrying lujme to his famil}-. 
He sliDt almost every kind of game. an<l was a 
great huntsman and fisher and has kept up his prac- 
tice in these customs dear to the pioneer's heart. 
He tells of the pigeons being so thick as to darken 
the sun, and of the gieat abuntlance of wild elk, 
moose, deer, bears and turkeys, which hist were as 
plentiful as domestic fowls are now in Southern 
Michigan. He has often caught as many as from 
three hundred to nine hundred pigeons in one net. 
When Mr. Rapalee came to Michigan he settled on 
the land where he now resides, and clearing otT 
eighty acres set out fruit trees and planted crops. 
He has on his place an apple tree which he planted 
that vrar, which now measures more than a foot in 
diameter, although it was a mere switch when 
planle<l. He lived in .'in old board house, which 
he has still on one i)art of his farm, and has re- 
sided on this place about twenty-five years. He 
did his marketing and trading in Detroit, having 
to travel to and from that point, which was one 
hundred miles distant, and having to haul his 
wheit to that city. The sinok}' period is a time 
which is within his remembrance, when the woods 
at the North were on lire, and for si.v days he 
could not see the sun nor the light of day and 
could not distinguish a man at the distance of 
five feet. 

Our subject has been farming ever since be 
■ came to this State, but of late years he only su- 



302 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



perintends the work and liires otlieis to do the 
heav}' labor. He still h&s the first eighty acres 
whicli he took when lie came here. He is a re- 
markalilc man in one respect among the restless 
multitudes of our American people, as he lias 
never moved but twice in his life. He fully 
illustrates the old adage that " a rolling stone 
gathers no moss," for his prosperity has steadily 
increased with the lapse of years since he made 
his beautiful homo in this spot. 



I 



' ■ ' °^ 



-^ 



■li^^ ATHANIEL LAPHAM is one of tiiose men 
I I/I ^''Oi having worked hard in tiie earlier 
[1\ .i^ \'ears now enjoy ease and prosperity in 
good homes, unharrased by turmoils and cares of 
active life. He was for some years engaged in ag- 
ricultural pursuits and since 1867 his home has 
been in Clinton County, and since 1888 he has 
been living in St. John's. When he came to the 
county he located in the woods, buying eighty acres 
of forest land on section 1, Bingham Township. 
He began his work in pioneer style, removed the 
forest growth, broke the soil and brought the place 
up to par, and added to the properly until the 
farm embraced one hundred and ten acres. He 
has also a farm of one hundred and ten acres in 
IMarshall, N. Y., and in St. John's he has three lots 
and two houses. Abundant worldly goods are his, 
gained bj' close application to the work he hail in 
hand and good judgment in expenditures and in- 
vestments. 

Going back in the ancestral line a few genera- 
tions we find that Mr. Lapliam's paternal ancestors 
came from Wales. His great-grandfather. John, 
wae born in Rhode Island and died in New York. 
The next in the direct line was Nathaniel, a native 
of Rhode Island, who settled in Oneida County, 
N. Y., as earlj' as 1804. He was a soldier in tlie 
War of 1812. His son Joseph was born on the 
New York f.arm and became a farmer and stock- 
buyer in his native county. He was a very suc- 
cessful man and owned from three hundred to four 
hundred acres at one time. He is still living, aged 
eighty -seven years. Politically he is a Republican, 



His wife was Mary Mix, a native of the same sec- 
tion as himself and daughter of Daniel Mix, a 
farmer and stockman who was numbered among the 
early settlers in that county. She died when 
seventy-flve years old, leaving two children, of 
whom our subject is the fifth in order of birtli. 
She belonged to the Universalist Church. 

Mr. Lapham of this sketch was born in Oneida 
County, N. Y., in 183'J, and remained there until 
he was seventeen 3'ears old. During bis boyhood 
and youth he studied in the common schools and 
attended Deansville Academ3- two winters. lu 
1856 he went to Wisconsin and for one season wa.s 
engaged in a mill in the pineries. He then went 
back to his native State and remained two years, 
and early in the 'tJOs made a trip to California. 
He took the ocean loute, sailing on the '•Baltic" to 
Panama and on the "Golden Age" up the Pa- 
cific Coast. He made his way to and for three 
months worked in the silver mines. The Indians 
in that locality became troublesome and life was 
too dangerous there for those who had any regard 
for themselves, so Mr. Lapham returned to Cali- 
foinia. He found employment on a ranch two 
rniles from Sacramento and worked tliere about 
two 3 ears, after which lie returned home via Pan- 
ama. 

In 1864 Mr. Lapham made a second trip to Cali- 
fornia and rented a ranch near Sacramento, on the 
river of that name. He carried it on a year, and 
then, being debilitated by chills and fever, he was 
obliged to give up his work, and he returned East 
via Cape Horn on the clipper ship "Hornet" in 
command of Capt. Mitchell, of New York. He 
bought land near his birthplace and engaged in 
farming, but a few years later removed to this 
State and took up his work here. For some time 
before he retired from active life he was the largest 
cultivator of hops in Clinton Countj-, and he de- 
voted four acres and a half of ground to the vines. 
Altogether his work in hop- raising extended 
over a period of fourteen jears. When he was in 
a countr}- infested by Indians he got along well 
with the red men and was never molested b^' them. 

In Paris, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1860, Mr. 
Lapham was married to Miss Gertrude E. Austin, a 
native of Winfield. Otsego County. Mutual hap- 



rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAinilCAL ALBUM. 



303 



piness has followed in the train of llie woddins; cer- 
eraoiiy anil the joys of Mr. and Mrs. Lai)liaui have 
been enchanced by the presence in tlieir home of 
four children. The fiist-born, George E., occupies 
the homestead; Frank K. is liviny; in iNew York; 
Mary J., formerly a teacher and now the wife of 
W. Williams, lives in liingham Township; Flora 
E. remains with her parents. Mr. Lai)ham is a 
famous hunter and each year visits the north woods 
where for thirty-two seasons he has bagged much 
game. During his hunting trips he has sometimes 
had close conflicts with wild animals and ho has 
killetl six bears. He is of a jovial, pleasant dispo- 
sition — one of those whom to know is to like — 
and few men prove more companionable and en- 
tertaining than he. He has a wide fund of observ- 
ation and experience from which to draw interest- 
ing stories and instructive incidents, and be is also 
respected for the energy he has displayed in the 
work of life and for his good citizenship. Politi- 
cally he is a Republican. 



-mm 

J^.ILLIAM H. McLEOD is the proi)rielor of a 
thriving business establishment in Ovid, 
where dry goods, notions, shoes ;ind ba- 
zaar goods arc sold and in which a flourishing 
trade is carried on. Mr. McLeod has been en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits for some time i)ast, 
sometimes with a partner and again alone, and in 
diffeicnt towns in this pari of Michigan, lie has 
an interest in farm lauds and has become e.Ktensivoly 
engaged in fruiL culluro. Mr. INIcLcod and wife 
have two farms in Ovid Township which Ihcy have 
been operating for some years; they own a nice 
property in .Shei)ardsville and our suljject owns the 
atore in vvhich he does buijiness. He has one farm 
of eighty acres which he himself cleared a.iil upon 
which he made all the improvements. 

Lenawee County claims Mr. McLeod as one of 
her sons, as he was born in Tecumseli April 17. 
1853. His father, Jnmes McLeod, emigrated to 
America from Edinburg, Scotland. He was a Baj)- 
tist minister and a farmer. His wife, mother of 




our subject, was Emeline Whittemore, a native of 
N'ew York City. When our subject was in his 
third year they removed to Laingsburg, Shiawas- 
see County, and since that time he of whom we 
write has made his home in Shiawassee and Clinton 
Counties. Young McLeod had liut limited advan- 
tages for gaining an education, his attendance be- 
ing confined to the district schools during the 
winter months and even this being given up when 
he was seventeen. 

Young McLeod b«gan his career in life at the 
age of twelve years as a vender of pop-corn on the 
train and five years later he became clerk for E. 
G. Bement, at Laingsburg. At the age of twenty 
he and P. C. Hassett entered upon the sale of gen- 
eral merchandise at Shepardsville and the Arm cini- 
tinued in business al)out six years, during which 
time they opened a branch store at Duplain. In 
the spring of 1880 the partucrsliip was dissolved, 
J\lr. McLeod taking the stock at Shepardsville, 
where he carried on the business alone some six 
years. He then took in as a partner Mr. .John 
Walker, but in 1887 bought out that gentleman. 

He and a brother had previously opened a store 
at Laingsburg and he now moved the stock to Ovid 
and also bought out C. IL Hunter and continued 
the business at the same stand. Close attention to 
the affairs he had in hand, careful consideration of 
the wants of the people, combined with courtesy 
and square dealing have resulted in placing Mr. 
.McLeod in good circumstances and giving him an 
ixiellent standing as a business man. 

.Mr. McLeod has a pleasant residence where crea- 
ture comforts arc provided under the oversight of 
llie lady who became his wife November 8, 
1S77. Slie is a native of Macomb and bore the 
maiden name of Cele.stia llaiie. Aiound the fam- 
ily fireside there gathers a bright ami interesting 
gioup, consisting of the f*)ur children boni to .Mr. 
Mild Mrs. McLeod. They are Alton ]).. born No- 
vember 4, 1879; George E., September 1. KhhI; 
Lena E.. December 21, 1884; and Fhueiice, ■lanii- 
ary 8, 18«7. 

Mr. McLeod takes .an intelligent interest in poli- 
tical issues and public movements, but h.'is never 
sought official honors, preferring to give his ntteii- 
lion wholly to his business affairs and his family 



304 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



He votes the Republican ticket. He is a man of 
domestic tastes, actively interested in the mental 
progress of his children and giving them everj' en- 
couragement to develop tlic powers of their minds. 
He lias the close sympathy of their mother and 
both parents are careful to guide their little family 
in courteous ways and good principles. 

■vTOEL BENSINGER. Among the residents 
of Michigan who came here from other 
States, we find none who are better [ireparcd 
to develop the country on sound business 
principles and practical lines than the emigrants 
from Ohio. They are almost without excepti(ui 
representatives of families of intelligence and ster- 
ling worth and bring to their new homes elements 
of success. Among them we are pleased to name 
the prosperous farmer, stock-raiser and lumber 
dealer whose name heads this paragraph. He was 
born in Medina County, Ohio, August 17, 1855, 
and is the son of William an<l Mary (Bensinger) 
Bensinger, natives of Schuylkill County, Pa. The 
father was born September 9, IHIH, and the 
mother's natal day was December 12, 1831. On 
the mother's side the ancestry was of German blood 
and the father was of English decent. 

The lirst of the family who ever came to America 
was George Bensinger, who emigrated to the New 
World in 1710, locating in Schuylkill County, Pa., 
where the family made its home for generations. 
His son George was the father of Moses Bensinger, 
the grandfather of our subject. Moses removed 
to Medina County, Ohio, at a very early date. 

The War of the Rebellion deeply interested the 
family as, like a large proportion of the citizens of 
Ohio, they were strongly loyal to the old flag. 
The fallier of our subject served for one year in 
the One Hundred and Eighty -seventh Ohio In- 
fantry and the Government has recognized his 
claims to remembrance by granting him a pension 
of 18 per month. His eldest son, Edward, served 
llirough the entire war, being in the army for six 
3'cars. After his enlistment he responded to the 
roll-call without a failure during the first three 



months, but was then taken prisoner and languislied 
in Southern prisons for more than a year. As soon 
as he was free and once more able to control his 
movements he re-enlisted. He was only fourteen 
years old when he first entered the army and was 
in every Southern State and was much in the West, 
going as far as Pike's Peak. It was 1866 before 
he returned home to his family. 

William Bensinger was the first of his family to 
locate in Michigan, as he came to Allegan County 
in 1858, but did not remain there long, returning 
to Ohio in 1861. After the war he again moved 
to Michigan, locating permanently in 1866 on sec- 
tion 25, in Dnplain Township, wjiere he still owns 
lift}- acres of land adjoining the farm of his son 
Joel. All of liis five children are living in Michi- 
gan and he feels that this is indeed the [)hice for 
him to spend his declining years. 

Our subject received but a limited education, as 
the nearest school was two and a half miles from 
his home. He began doing for liimself when he 
was about nineteen years of age. He has traveled 
considerably and spent five j'ears in the pineries, 
where he obtained his thorough knowledge of saw- 
ing. Mr. Estey, the manufacturer at Owosso, says 
that Mr. Bensinger cuts the best lumber of any 
sawyer in Onio, Indiana or Michigan. This gen- 
tleman is in a position to know, as he is buying 
continually from all parts of these States, and he 
willingly pays Mr. Bensinger from $5 to 18 more 
per thousand than he does other millers. 

The marriage of our subject to Miss Lizzie Dynes 
took place September 28, 1882. Her parents, Oli- 
ver and Elizabeth (Waring) Dynes, are natives of 
County Down, Ireland, and both have now passed 
from earth. They came to Michigan when she 
was a little girl and throughout her youth they en- 
deavored to give her the best possible advantages 
and she is now a well-educated and accomplished 
woman. Five children have come to share the af- 
fection and solicitude of Mr. and Mrs. Bensinger; 
namely: Edward, born May 14, 1883; William Ol- 
iver, June 7, 1884; Joel Emerson, January 14, 
1886; Orrin Lee, October 12, 1887; Gertie L., Octo- 
ber 13, 1889. Our subject owns one hundred acres 
of land, all of which he has gained by his own 
efforts. Eighty acres are in (^iratiot County and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



307 



twenty acres constitute the home farm, upon which 
he lias good huihlings. He is an earnest Republi- 
can in liis political views, but has steadfastly de- 
clined all offers of public office, as he desires to 
devote himself entirolv to liis agricultural pursuits. 
A view of Mr. Bensinger's homestead accompan- 
ies this sketch. 



DSON SWAUTIIOUT, an extensive slock- 

1—1 raiser, is the owner of the finest farm in 

Sciota To<vnshlp, his home being situated 



on section 5. He was born in Victor Township, 
Clinton County, Mich.. .lanuary 20, 1857, and is 
a son of Thomas L. and Mary (Parker) Swarthout. 
His pnreut-s were both natives of Ovid, N. Y., and 
witli their respective families came to Michigan in 
1837, settling in Victor Township, Clinton County. 
The paternal grandparents removed to Ovid Town- 
siiip, that county, a few years later and named the 
village and town of Ovid. They were among the 
first settlers in that section, where the}' spent the 
remainder of their lives. The maternal grand- 
father resided in Victor, Clinton County, until his 
death, but his wife still survives him. 

The parents of our subject are now making 
their home in Victor Township, Clinton County. 
Thomas L. Swarthout has made farming his life 
o':cu|)!ition and in the legitimate channels of busi- 
ness has acquired a good property. In politics he 
is a supporter of the Republican party and has held 
a number of town ollices. Both he and his wife 
have been members of the Methodist Church since 
childhood and are earnest, consistent Christian 
people who iiave the respect of all who know 
them. In their family arc only two children — 
Edson and Nora, the latter the wife of C. K. 
AVarner, of Falkton, S. Dak. 

In the usual manner of farmer lads Edson 
Swarthout was reared to manhood. His boyhood 
days were spent amid play and work, and his 
early education acquired in the district schools 
was supplemented by study in the schools of 
Ovid. He remained under the parental roof until 
twenty-three ye.irs of age, when he left home and 
began life for himself. As a helpmate on life's 



journe}' he chose Miss Frances Adell W.irren, 
and their wedding was celebrated on the 9Lh of 
November, 1879, in Middlebury, the native town 
of Mrs. Swarthout. Her parents were David and 
Mary (Ingersol) Warren. 

The young couple began their domestic life 
upon the farm where thej' still reside, and which 
was the property of Mr. Swarthout a year or two 
previous to his marri.age. A view of this estate 
will be found elsewhere in this volume, and, as 
before stated, no liner farm can be found in Sciota 
Toivnship. It comprises two hundred acres of 
valuable land, and with the exception of about 
twenty- five acres the entire amount is under a high 
state of cultivation. The home is a fine two-story 
frame residence with a lawn in front, and beauti- 
ful shade trees protect it from the heat of sum- 
mer. Ample shelter is provitled for the stock in 
three large barns, the dimensions of whirh :uc 
36x70, 24xG4 and 35x74 feet. 

Mr. Swarthout raises excellent grades of stock, 
making a specialty of sheep, of whicii he has a line 
herd. His pleasant home, good buildings, the 
the latest improved machinery and the well-tilled 
fields all indicate the owner to be a man of prac- 
tical and progressive ideas who thoroughly- under- 
stands his business, and is therefore meeting with 
excellent success. The enterprise and perseverance 
which has characteiizod liis life have won him 
prosperity, and his fair dealing lias secured him 
the confidence of all. l'oliticall3' he is a Repub- 
lican, but has never taken any prominent part in 
pul)lic affairs. He and his wife are mcnil)crs of 
the Methodist Church, give liberal)^- lo its sup- 
port and in the social circles of the community 
tliej- rank high. 



-M- 



-5- — 



ORON A. DAYTON, one of the young 
farmers who are doing so much to still 
^ further heighten the standard of agricult- 
ural work in Clinton Count}', is located on section 
28, Watertown Township. He owns ninety- 
six acres of fine land and also operates fortj' 
acres belonging to his mother. Mr. Dayton is a 



308 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



native of this county having been born in 1864 
and his life lias been spent Liere amid scenes with 
which he is familiar. His grandfather, Sumuel 
Dayton, came hitlicr from Ohio in the territorial 
days and built the fine large dwelling on the turn- 
pike in Watertown Township that is now occupied 
by the mother of our subject. 

The parents of Loron Dayton were born in Ohio, 
but came to this Slate 3'e vrs ago. The father, Otis, 
died in 17G7, leaving his son fatherless when but 
three years old. The widow, Eosanna (Sheets) 
Dayton, married Horace Wixon, who is now de- 
ceased and she is living on the Dayton homestead. 
Loron lived with his mother and stepfather until 
he was of age and at their hands received good 
training and a district school education. Deciding 
to follow the occupation of a farmer, he soon began 
to find his place among men and he has a firm 
financial standing. 

In March, 1888, an event of unusual interest to 
Mr. Dayton took place, it being the ceremony by 
which he gained the hand of Miss E.sther Chaplin- 
This lady is the daughter of William Chaplin who 
resides in Watertown Township, and she is a well- 
informed, capable woman, fitted to bear a part in 
the affairs of life as wife, mother and friend. She 
has one son born April 9, 1889. Mr. Dayton be- 
lieves m the |)rinciples of Democracy and supports 
the policy of that party by his vote whenever the 
ballot box is open. He does not push himself for- 
ward as a candidate having sufficient to employ his 
talents in the work he has undertaken, and the 
pleasures of domestic and social life affording him 
relief from his toil. 



I ARL STINSO^' II ALL. The history of the 
family of Hall, which is of English origin, is 
as old as that of the State of Vermont, to 
wliich they were Colonists in the earliest |)eriod of 
its settlement. Benjamin Hall, who was the grand- 
father of Earl S. Hall, was born February 20, 1770, 
and died at AVayland, Steuben County, N. Y., in 
1851. He settled at Rochester, N. Y., wl'.en his 
son William, the father of our subject, was about 



ten years old. William married Malinda Stinson 
b}' whom he became the father of six children — 
George L., of Owosso Township; Edward M., of 
Grand Rapids; P>arl S., our subject; William M., 
who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness, 
May 5, 18G4, 4it the age of twenty -six years; Caro- 
line who became the wife of Charles Stinson, and 
died at Owosso, at the age of twenty-four years; 
and Angeline A., who married Ira Rush, of Owosso 
Township, ami died in 1888, at the age of sixty- 
three. William Hall died at Rochester in 1838, 
j and in 1842 the widow and family removed to Shi- 
awassee Count}', where her brother, Ira Stinson, 
then resided he having settled here four ^-ears pre- 
viously. 

When he of whom we write was a lad of liut six- 
teen years of age he with his mother removed from 
their farm, three or four miles west of Owosso, and 
went to make their home with his sister, Mrs. Rush. 
The lad began to feel that the responsibilities of the 
family rested upon his shoulders and that he must 
begin to be a provider for the wants of his mother, 
so he began work by the month, earning 14, but 
kept at it faithfull}' until he became a man grown, 
and even until his twenty-sixth year was reached 
when he became the owner of sixty-five acres of 
land. This was the nucleus of his present large and 
finely improved farm. He at once began to cut 
out the timber and erect a house on the spot where 
his present commodious dwelling stands. 

The energetic young man was soon joine<l in 
wedlock, October 1, 1857, to Miss Angelina S. Fox, 
a daughter of Crawford and Samantha (Dawson) 
Fox, of Bennington Township. Mrs. Hall's father 
was a native of an old historic town of New York, 
his father being Nathaniel Fox. Mrs. Hall's mother 
is still living and for seven years has made her 
home with her daughter. She was born at Utica, 
N. Y., her father being John Dawson, a native of 
Connecticut. Her mother's maiden name was 
Thankful Warren, who was born in Boston, Mass. 
After the marriage of Mrs. Hall's parents they set- 
tled at Redfor<l, Midi., fifty-four years ago, and a 
few years later removed to Livingston County, - 
where tlie husband died in 1855. The widow sub- 
sequently mairied Peter Vroman of Middlebury 
Township, who died August 19, 18.s5. The widow 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



309 



is a hiile and vigorous lady who, altiiouj;ii four- 
score years of age yet has an acute mind and tena- 
cious niemor}-. coupled with a strong constitution. 
She has fair prospects of still having a long lease 
upon life. 

Our subject. Earl Stinson Hall, responded to the 
call of his country when it was in need of men with 
strong and liravc hearts to defend the cause of lib- 
erty and right. He enlisted October, 1863, in 
Company B, Eleventh Michigan Cavalry' and was 
soon made Sergeant, in which ca|)acit3' he distin- 
guished himself in the struggle through Kentucky, 
Tennessee, N'irginia, North and South Carolina. He 
was always with Ids rommand and ever ready for 
service, eager to be at the front and yet magnani- 
mous to tlie foe. 

'riic com|)any in which oui sul)ject enlisted did 
not [larlicipale in an^' of the desperate battles of 
that period, but were engaged in a large number of 
skirmisiies and muior engagements, frequently suf- 
fering severe loss of men. Toward the close of 
hostilities the company was consolidated with the 
Kightii Michigan Cavahy and from this he was 
mustered out in October, 1805. Since Mr. Hall 
left the army he has pursued farming which has 
occupied his entire time and attention. Jvo one 
can boast of a more desirable home. It is sur- 
rounded with all the comforts of life, and he is 
ha|)p3- in the con]panj' of a most estimal)le wife, 
conscious of a lifework honestly done and duly 
faithfully performed. The farm boasts many fine 
improvements, not less than $.3,000 having been 
expended on it. 

Mr. Hall is an example to the community, in 
liiat his life presents no blemish or spot that need 
to have a veil cast over it. The husband and wife 
whose lives have been so congenial within them- 
selves are [iroud of an interesting family-. Tbey 
are 'Willie E., Lewis C, these two composing the 
firm of Hall Bros., grocers; Bertie C. a teacher of 
some years' experience, and one considered as 
standing at the head of his profession. He is also 
the present efticient Township Clerk, besides being 
active in church and educational work. One daugh- 
ter, Myrtle, the mother's darling, is an amiable 
and sweet girl of sixteen 3'ears, now a student at 
the High School of Owosso. She is also so profi- 



cient in music as to call forth the i)raisc of the 
lovers of music in the community. 

Mr. Hall is a Republican in politics though rec- 
ognizing merit in other parties, and believing it 
fight to support the best men irresi)ective of |)nrty 
in local matters. He is considered by his towns- 
people as a level-headed man on all subjects, and 
is frequently honored bj' res|)onsible positions of 
trust. Me is liberal in his religious ideas while 
Mrs. Hall belongs to the Methodist persuasion. 







=7 •El 



HARLES SKICKLE, M. I). One of the en- 
ergetic young physicians of Bancroft wiio 
' has already attained some pronunence. is the 
gentleman whose name heads our sketch. Dr. 
Shickle was born in I'lymouth, Waj'ne County, this 
State, February 1, 1.SC5. His parents were Wi|li:im 
and Mary A. (Thomas) Shickle. The family are old 
residents of Wayne County, his father having died 
April 20, 1890. He was the owner of a farm of 
two hundred and forty acres which he hail made 
a model of its kind. He was a n.ative of Norfolk, 
England, and had been self sustaining from the age 
of five jears. He came to the United States about 
1860. He w.as married in Greenwich, Kent Coun- 
ty, England. The gold fever early attracted him 
to Australia where he worked as a miner for some 
years and then engaged in market gardening near 
Melbourne. Ho came to Shiawassee County in 
1867, where he lived a retired life in Fairfield 
Township until last year when his deaih occurred. 
Dr. Shickle was two years old when his parents 
came to Shiawassee County and remained there 
until be was twent^'-two. During his childhood 
he attended school at Ovid, after which be entered 
the olBce with Doctor J. II. Travis of Elsie. In 
1887 he entered Ann Arbor medical department 
and was graduated with his class, June 27, 1890. 
He was one of a class of ninety-four young men and 
women who started out to alleviate the pain an<l suf- 
fering of mankind. Immediately after his gradua- 
tion he began to practice at Bancroft where he has 
since been. Dr. Shickle is still a single man. Po- 
litically he is a Democrat. 



310 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



For so young a man, he has a complete profession- 
al libraiy. He boasts a fine microscope anfl has a 
large number of good pathological specimens and 
nearly ever}^ specimen of the normal tissues of the 
body. The Doctor has already displayed so much 
energy in the pursuit of his profession for which 
he has an ardent love that his friends predict for 
him a brilliant future. Certainly there is no pro- 
fession in wliicli a man has a wider scope than in 
tlmt of medicine and in these days where every 
man is a specialist, there are chances of attaining 
fame never before offered. 



^ 



E^^ 




ENRY M. BURNES is a farmer and resides 
on section 19, Riley Townshii), where he 
has one hundred and sixtj' acres of fine 
land, all improved and with excellent build- 
ings upon it. He is a son of James M. and Nancy 
(Smith) Burnes. The father was a native of Mon- 
roe County, N. Y., and the mother was born in 
Pennsylvania. The parents of Mr. Burnes came 
to Michigan before their marriage, and after that 
interesting event, located in Ingham County, where 
the subject of this sketch was born. His natal day 
was November 3, 1847. 

Henry Burnes was rcare<l u|)on a farn, and at- 
tended the district schools of his townshi[), work- 
ing for his father until August, 1864, when, 
although being less than seventeen jears of age, he 
decided to enter the arm}', and enlisted in Com- 
pany F, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry. He 
joined the regiment at Atlanta, Ga., and after the 
siege of that city the regiment was sent to join the 
force of Gen. Thomas at Nashville, Tenn. In the 
spring of 186.5 the regiment was transferred to 
Washington D. C , was then sent by boat to New- 
bern, N. C, thence to Raleigh, and there joined 
Gen. Sherman's array on its march through llie 
Carolinas. It was placed on detached duty at 
Salisbury, N. C, where the regiment was finally 
discharged. 

Our young liero was sick in the iiospital at the 
time of the discharge of his regiment, but was fin- 
ally mustered out and discharged at Detroit in Sep- 



tember, 1865. After his return to Michigan he 
worked on the farm until November 25, 1 866, when 
he received in marriage the hand of Miss Mary 
Stone, a daughter of Solomon B. Stone, who was a 
native of New York, but had removed to Lake 
County. Ohio, previous to her birth July 29, 1847. 
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Burnes has been 
blessed with three children: Rosetta was born Octo- 
ber 13, 1867; she is married to Frank Henson, and 
they reside with her parents. Burton was born 
August 21, 1869; and Adelbert, September 12, 
1873. The last two are single and make their home 
with their parents. The father of Mrs. Burnes is 
still living in Riley Township. Mr. Burnes is a 
member of the Josei)h Mason Post, G. A. R., of 
Wacousta, ami is a raeml)erof the Grange, No. 456, 
at South Riley, and is a Democrat in politics, tak- 
ing an active interest in political questions. He 
has filled the olFice of Highway Commissioner and 
some other township offices of minor importance. 



G 



,^^EORGE BIGFORD. Among those who 
became pioneers of Michigan in their very 
early years is the thorough and prosperous 
farmer and stock-raiser whose name we have given 
in this column. He resides on section 36, Duplain 
Townsiiip, Clinton County, and has his post-office 
address at Ovid. He was born in Genesee 
County, N. Y., his natal daj' having been June 18, 
1853. He was also of New York parentage, his 
father, John, and his mother, Amrelt (Stevens) 
Bigford, being born in that State, where the father 
died when George was still a little boj'. 

The widow of John Bigford came to Michigan 
with her sons when George was only four years old, 
and made her home in Owosso. Near here the boy 
was raised upon a farm and received a fair common- 
school education. He had one brother, Edgar, who 
lives in Lansing. Having grown to manhood and 
having now attained a mastery of the work of 
life upon which he had resolved to enter, the young 
man decided to establish a home of liis own, and 
chose for himself a life partner. 'Jhe wedding 



PORTRAI'l AND BlOGliAPHlCAL ALBLM. 



311 



day of George Bigford aud Melissa Woodworth 
was Christmas Day, 1874. This lady is a native of 
Michigan, having been born in Owosso Township, 
Shiawassee County, May 11, 1855. Iler [jarcnts, 
William and Silvia A. (Audrus) Woodwortii, were 
born in New York, and had removed to Michigan 
some years previous to the birth of their daughter. 
After living in Washtenaw County for about eight 
years the young married couple removed to their 
present home, where Mr. Bigford purch.asod eighty 
acres of rich and fertile soil, which was valued at 
*63 per acre. 

Three bright and interesting chikhcn were sent 
to share the parental love and solicituile of Mr. 
and Mrs. Bigford. The oldest, Wilbur, was born 
while the}' were living in Washtenaw County, 
January 30, 1876. Frank, tlie second, came to 
thera October 15, 1877, and Maggie on March 28, 
1880. Mr. Bigford is deeply interested in political 
movements, but takes no active part exceiit to cast 
his vote for the Republican candidates. His sturdy 
character, strict integrity and untiring industry he 
no doubt received from his Scottish ancestiy, as 
his father was born in that land. 



1^%^-^ 



'S^LIJAII FLESHMAN, a prosperous and 
|fe) influential farmer residing on section 1, 
/*' — ^ Essex Township, Clinton County, is a 
native of Stark County, Ohio, where he was born 
February 2, 1838. His parents, Peter and Mary 
(Wolf) Fleshman, were natives of Pennsylvania 
and he is their eldest son. With his parents he 
journeyed West in his eighth year and came to 
Michigan, thus becoming one of the pioneers of 
Macomb County. There he was reared to man- 
hood upon a farm and in the district schools, hav- 
ing scanty op|)ortunities for education but tho- 
roughly improving his advantages and being stim- 
ulated therein by the desire of both parents and 
teacher that he should become an intelligent man. 
Mr. Fleshman was married in Detroit, Mich., to 
Bridget Mc(Jraw, a native of Ireland. He came 
to Clinton County in the spring of 186G and first 
located near Maple Rapids, where he settled in tlie 



woods and cleared ui) sixty acres of ^n eiglity-acre 
farm. It was in 1878 when he removed to the 
farm where he now resides, and which has been his 
home from that day to this. His fine property is 
all the result of his unaided efforts and he had no 
one to start him in life. 

Our subject is earnestly desirous for the uplift- 
ing of the agricultural community, both socially 
and industrially, and is identified with the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. In his political views 
he is a Democrat and is worthy of and receives the 
respect of all who know iiim. Both lie and his 
wife are honored in social life and liave a large 
circle of friends. 



"if]OHN NOURSE. Among the farmers of 
Watertown Township, Clinton Countj% none 
are more worthy of representation in a work 
of this kind than the gentleman whose name 
heads 1 his sketch. lie resides on section 21, of 
Watertown Township, where he has eighty acres in 
that section and forty acres on section 27. When 
we consider this large tract of fine land and learn 
that he started out in life without a dollar in the 
world, we can but give great credit to his indus- 
try', economy ard enterprise. He is the son of 
Thomas and Hannah (Ta3lor) Nourse, natives of 
Norfolk, England, where he was born June 20, 
1828. He worked for his father until he was six- 
teen years old, and then for himself until -of age, 
and b}' this time had saved money enough to pay 
his passage to America. In company with his 
young friend, George Gall, he came to this coun- 
try. They went directly to Lockport, N. Y., and 
when they reached there he had not a cent left, but 
his friend Gall had one dime, and tlie latter gen- 
erously decided to share this small sum with his 
friend over a social mug of beer, and thus to start 
together on the sami! level. 

The young man now hired out on a dair^- farm, 
and worked at various places for four years. He 
then had l)y his economy saved enough money to 
invest in a small tract of land, and he and his friend 
came to MichiKan together in 1810. While living 



312 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



at Lock port. N. Y., he had fonnerl an acquaintance 
with the father of Josh Billings, who was also an 
Knglisliinan, and who befriended hira at different 
times. After he came to Michigan he placed $300 
in the hands of Willard King to invest for him. In 
1853 he was united in marriage with Hannah Gall, 
the sister of his early friend. She lived onl)- two 
years after their marriage. In 1856 he was happily 
married to his present wife, Mary Loomis, a daugh- 
ter of J. A. Loomis, a native of New York State 
who came to Michigan in 1843, and is now living 
in Watertown Township at the advanced age of 
seventy-nine years. Mrs. Nourse was born in New 
York State, November 16, 1838. 

The union of John Nourse and Mary Loomis has 
resulted in a family of four children: Cornelia D., 
born Ma^^ 30, 1856, is now married to Samuel Day- 
ton, and lives at Delta; George T., born Septem- 
ber 1, 1857, married Cora B. Felton, and resides on 
section 27 of this township; AVilliam E., born Feb- 
ruary 6, 1866, is single, and is at home with his 
parents; Kttie, born September 20, 1873, is also at 
home. Mr. Nourse has assisted his children nobly 
and when starting out in life for himself, he has en- 
abled tliem each to get a farm. Besides all that he 
has given them, he has accumulated one hundred 
and twenty acres, and has given to his children sev- 
eral thousand dollars. This prosperity is indeed 
marvelous when one takes into consideration that 
lie can neither read nor write. His political belief 
is in accord with the utterances of the Democratic 
party, and he cast his vote in its favor. 



LNEY P. DeWITT. The city of St. John's 
is the seat of many important business 
enterprises and thriving establishments 
where the st^aples are sold. The gentleman above 
named is the proprietor of one of the large grocery 
stores here and is interested in u wholesale house 
in Grand Rapids and other enterprises in St. 
Jolin's. He carries a full line of staple and fancy 
groceries and provisions and does a flourishing 
trade, which is the more creditable as he began his 
work with a small capital. The house in Grand 



Rapids with which he is connected, was organized 
in 1890 and incorporated under the laws of the 
State under the title of the Lemon & Wheeler 
Companj', for the wholesaling of groceries. Mr. 
DeWitt is a stockholder in the St. John's National 
Bank and Clinton County Savings Bank and is the 
owner of some vnluable real-estate. 

The Empire Slate claims Mr. DeWitt as one of 
her sons, although from an early age he has lived 
in Michigan. His paternal grandfather, William 
DeWitt, was born in New York, on the Hudson 
River and married a New Jersey lady. He was a 
blacksmith by trade. He made an early settle- 
ment in Wayne County, N. Y., and in 1866 came 
to Clinton County, this State, and died in DeWitt 
Township when sixty-nine years old. His son 
John M., who was born in Wayne County, N. Y., 
grew to manhood there and removed thence to 
Onondaga County. He was a saddler and harness- 
maker and carried on a harness shop and for some 
time had the stage route to S3'racuse. In 1863 he 
came to this State and for a year carried on the 
harness business in Oakland County, at Davisburg. 
He then came to DeWitt Township, Clinton Countj', 
and after working at his trade for a time turned 
his attention to farming. He owned five tracts of 
land. He is now living in St. John's and has given 
up active work. His wife, whose maiden name 
w'.iS Eliza J. Griffin, was born in Onondaga Count}', 
N. Y., near Amber. She is the daughter of Ileman 
Griffin, an Eastern man who fought in the War of 
1812. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have three children, 
O. P. being the eldest. The second is Ada, now 
Mrs. M. B. Pincomb, of Big Rapids, and the third 
is William, a jeweler in Hammond, Ind. 

The subject of this notice was born January 24, 
1858, in Navarino, Onondaga County, N. Y., and 
was about si-v yeai's old when his parents came 
West. He attended the common and high schools 
in DeWitt, Clinton County, and when he was 
eighteen years old began teaching. Between terms 
he attended the Commercial College inLausing and 
completed the business course and received a 
diploma. He then became clerk in the general 
mercantile establishment in the capital and wltliin 
three years had worked his way to a forcmanship. 
In May, 1881, he came to St. John's and started in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



313 



tlie grocery trade as a member of the firm of 
DeWitt & Pineorab. The connection was contin- 
uc(l eigliteen months when the business was closed 
up and llie partnersliip diss(ilve<l. Six months 
later Mr. DeWilt bought the slock of Nelson (iris- 
wold .111(1 re-eng.iged in business, carrying on his 
work alone. The clerks whom he employs are 
obliging and trustworthy .and in every respect 
his place of business is worthy the visits of the 
people. 

In Riley, Clinton County, November 18,1880, 
Mr. DeWitt was married to Miss Hattie E. Jones, 
a native of that place and daughter of Nathan 
Jones, one of the early settlers of the county. 
That gentleman w.as formerly' engaged in farming 
but is now living in the county seat. 

Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt are the happy i)arenls of 
•one child — Lee A. Mr. DeWitt is one of the 
Board of Trustees of St. John's. lie is a Knight 
Temi)lar, identified with the home commander}-. 
He has no church connections but conlriljutcs to 
the support of the different societies, having a gen- 
eral belief in their good effect upon society'. lie has 
no political aspirations and no party connection, 
being strictly independent in the use of the elective 
franchise. The character an<l ability of the man 
outweighs in his mind an^- question of party 
polic}'. In social and domestic life Mr. DeWill is 
considerate and agreeable and in business affairs he 
is honorable and trustworthy. 



ZKKIEL J. COOK. One of the men who 
has dared and done so much in the interest 
of the County of Shiawassee is the gentle- 
man whose name heads this sketch and who at 
present lives on section 7, Owosso Township, lie 
was born on the ohl homestead on section 1, Ben- 
nington Township, October 13, 183!). His parents 
were Ezekiel and Barbara Ann (Hodge; Cook, the 
former a native of Rhode Island. His grandfather 
was Seth Cook, also of Rhode Island. Mr. Cook's 
mother was horn in Pennsylvania and married in 
Oakland County. 

Our subject's father came from Oakland t'ounly 




in the fall of 1837, when lie secured a qua.ter- 
section of land upon which he lived until his wife's 
death, January 20, 1874. Her natal day w.as 
November 28, 1808. Our subject's father died 
March 12, 1881, his birth having t.aken place De- 
cember 1 G, 1 71)8. Previous to his marriage willi 
the Lady aliovo named I\Ir. Cook was united Nt)veni- 
ber 14, 1822, to Drusilla Castle, who was born 
November 16, 1801, and died September 9, 1833, 
in Oakland Count}-. His marriage with our sub- 
ject's mother took place February 20, 1834, in 
Oakland County. He had settled in this county 
just before his first marriage, coming hither from 
Rochester, N. Y. 

I\Ir. Cook had several children by his first wife. 
The}' are Chancy C. who died in Saginaw Count}', in 
1888; Elizabeth D., married Edward Curliss and 
lived in Owosso, having departed this life in A|iril, 
1889; Drusilla, widow of Walter (Jammon of 
Sacramento County, C.al. The second family of 
children are as follows: Seth is a citizen of the 
township; Anna, who became Mrs. Hugh Cooper, 
at present resides in Riley County, Kan.; Ezekiel; 
Albert J. is a professor of entomology, at the State 
Agricultural College of Lansing. 

The gentleman of whom we write liveil on the 
farm until his wife's death and there continued 
with Ezekiel, Jr., until his own death. In politics 
Mr. Cook was a follower of the Republican \)\at- 
form. He was connected with the Baptist Church 
of which he had been a leader for many years, 
having assisted in the organization of the Majilc 
River Baptist Church. For j'ears he took a prom- 
inent position in the locality in which he lived and 
was recognized by all as a man to be depended 
upon in any case of emergency. He was progres- 
sive in all things and st)ught to introduce into his 
agricultural life any feature that would lead lo im- 
provement. He was the first man to introduce 
Durham stock into the county and he only bred the 
finest bloodeil animals. He took an active part in 
the Agricultural Association and encouraged hia 
fellow farmers lo ever strive for a better display. 
At the lime of his death he owned four hundred 
acres of land. 

t)ur subject's son and namesake, Ezekiel, re 
mained at home until he became of age. He attended 



314 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the Agricultural College for two years, having 
taught at the age of twent}' and after his majority 
having continued in educational work for five con- 
secutive winters, working on Ihe farm in the sum- 
mer. By popular vote he was made County 
Superintendent of Schools and as such has ilis- 
charged the duties incident to the position most 
satisfactorily for three years. He resigned, how- 
ever, before the expiration of his term on account 
of his mother's death. He has since lived on the 
farm. On June 14, 1866, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Anna Benjamin, who was born in 
Oakland County February 10, 1843. Her parents 
were Miles and Anna (Norman) Benjamin, the 
former a native of Syracuse, N. Y., the latter of 
Connecticut. Ezekiel Cook, Jr., is the father of a 
fine family: Charles B., born June 17, 1867; Clay- 
ton T., born April 1 1,1871 ; will graduate in the class 
of 1891 at the Agricultural College at Lansing, 
Eddy J., born May 20, 1874, died at the age of 
four months. The eldest son was graduated in the 
class of 1888 at the Agricultural College and be- 
came an assistant in the department of entomology. 






-g^'. 

-S)^^ 



s/y 



■^OHN W. OUTCALT, the present Supervisor 
of Olive Township, Clinton County, owns 
and occupies a tract of two hundred and 
forty acres. He was born in LaGrange 
County, Ind., February 2, 1840, and is the eldest 
of three children born to William and Mary A. 
(Richard) Outcalt. His father was born in Portage 
County, Ohio, April 10, 1813, and in 1836 went to 
Indiana, where he had previously bought land. The 
country in which he located was sparseh' settled 
and much of the land was undeveloped. He cleared 
and improved a farm, living upon it until 1854, 
when he came to Clinton County and bought a 
partly improved tract in Olive Township. Here 
lie died in 1869. He was Highway Commissioner 
of Olive Township nine years. The patronymic 
indicates the German extraction of the family aud 
in the Eastern States the first American home was 
made. Mrs. Outcalt died in tiie Buckeye State. 
Our subject had but limited educational privi- 



leges, his attendance being confined to the district 
school and mostly prior to entering his teens. The 
time that he spent in the schoolroom after that age 
was used to good advantage, as after being at work 
for a time he better appreciated educational priv- 
ileges. When about thirteen j'ears old he became 
a driver for a dealer in Wolcottville, hauling grain 
from that place to Ft. Wayne and bringing goods 
back. He was about fourteen when his father 
came to this State, and after the family was settled 
he spent some farther time in school here. He be- 
gan the battle of life for himself in 1866, when he 
purchased eighty acres of wild land in Fairfield 
Township, Shiawassee County. He built a log 
house in the woods and made that his home three 
years, while laboring hard to improve his property. 
The ill-health of the father caused him to return 
to the homestead, the care of which was relinquished * 
to him. Here he has remained, carr}'ing ou his 
work with zeal and energy. 

In the fall of 1863 Mr. Outcalt became a sol- 
dier, enlisting in Compan}' I, Twenty-seventh 
Michigan Infanlr}'. Under the command of Col. 
A. B. Wood, he took up the duties of a defender 
of the Union. The heaviest engagements in which 
he took part were the battles of the Wilderness, 
Cold Harbor, Grove Church and the fight on the 
Weldon Railroad south of Petersbuig, but on 
many other fields he displayed equal devotion to 
his country. At Weldon Railroad he was struck 
by a rifle ball which shattered one of the bones in 
his right leg below the knee, so that several pieces 
were taken out. He lay in Ilarwood Hospital at 
Washington for some time. His wound was re- 
ceived June 18, 1864, at which time he held the 
rank of Corporal but was acting as Lieutenant. 
He was discharged April 18, 1865, and resumed 
the peaceful occupation of farming. 

In 1866 Mr. Outcalt was married to Miss Betsej' 
Gage, with whom he lived happily until 1884, when 
she was called from time to etcrnit3'. She was a 
native of Rose Township, Oakland Count}'. In 
1886 Mr. Outcalt contracted a second matrimonial 
alliance, wedding Miss Roxie Merrihew, a native 
of the township in wiiich they are now living, and 
a well-respected, capable lady. She is a member 
in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 



"f^ 



1 





C t 




nj 



£^a^ 



V, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



317 



Church. Mr. Outcalt has been Highway Commis- 
sioner six years and Township Treasurer one year. 
In both capacities he acted for the good of those 
wlio gave him tlieir suffrages, and as Supervisor 
he is now disciiarging his otlicial duties in a crcil- 
itablc manlier. 



,,.., LLEN BEARD, a prominent and wealthy 
3/ul i farmer whose fine farm and elegant resi- 




lli dcnce are an ornanienl to the comnuuiity, 
was the first settler in Antrim Township, 
Shiawassee County. A native of Ontario County, 
N. Y., he was born January- 11, 1810. His father, 
Joshua, was born February 8, 178C, near llagers- 
town, Md., and when fifteen years old removed 
from that State to New York with his parents. He 
lived and died in Yates County, completing his 
life work March 21, 1864. He was a prominent 
man and connected with the Baptist Church, being 
a liberal contributor and an earnest worker in the 
same, as was also his wife, Martha (Blake) Beard, 
who was born in August, 1700, in Saratoga, X. Y., 
and died in 1852. Nine of Mieir eleven children 
grew to maturity, and five are now living. The 
grandfather of our subject, Adam Beard, was of 
German descent and came from Baltimore soon 
after the Revolutionary War. 

Our subject, wlio was the eldest of the family, 
was reared upon the farm and educated in the dis- 
trict schools, after which he took two terms in an 
academj' at Penn Yan, the count}' seat of Y'ates 
County, which was formed from parts of Ontario 
and Steuben Counties, N. Y. In the 3earl832, 
being then in his twenty-second year, ho took a 
trip down the Alleghany River to Pittsburg, and 
thence down the Ohio to Cincinnati, visiting friends 
in Ohio and prospecting through the country. He 
returned home by w.iy of Lake Erie. In 1833 he 
rented a farm for one year and in November, 
1834, he started with a team of horses for Ohio, 
and arriving in what is now Willoughby, re- 
mained until April, 183G, when he set out for 
Michigan. 

Arriving in the Wolverine State, our subject 



left his family at Lodi, in Washtenaw Count}', 
while he came on prospecting into Shiawassee 
County. He linally selected his present farm, and 
going to the land oflice in Detroit, filed his appli- 
cation, and in time received his deeds, signed by 
President Xan Buren. Building his log shautj' 
and bringing on his faniil\-, he became the lone 
white settler of Antrim Township, and the only 
one for miles aiound. He had to cut his way 
through the woods, felling trees and wading or 
bridging good-sized streams. Deer, bears, wolves, 
and other wild animals abounded. Indians were 
abundant and used often to come to him to ex- 
change venison for tlour. He was familiarly ac- 
quainted with many of the red men. He cleared 
a small spot and turned the first furrow in the 
townsiiip, which he afterward helped to oi'ganize, 
for other families soon followed him and it became 
necessary to have an organization. As soon .as he 
had raised products from his new farm, he went to 
Detroit to market what he did not need for the 
faTuily. He has cleared and improved some three 
hundred acres of land. 

Hannah Arnot was the maiden name of the lady 
who became Mrs. Beard in 1H32. She was born in 
Ontario Count}', N. Y., September 2, 1810, and 
died August 26, 1843. Four children graced this 
marriage: Martha, the wife of (leorge 'I'ylei', who 
lives in Morris; Byron, a prominent farmer in the 
township; Charles F., who was a member of the 
Twenty-third Michigan Infantry and was killed in 
the engagement at Camjibeirs Station during the 
late war; and Mary E., who is also deceased. The 
second marri.agc of Jlr. Beard occurred in 1848, 
when he was united with Charlotte Thompson, of 
New York, who is still living. She became the 
mother of eight children, namely: Allen, deceased; 
.loshua, Walter, Elnora; .lohn, a fanner in the vi- 
cinity; Abraham L., who is the jiresent incumbent 
of the ollice of County Clerk; Sarepta, the wife 
of George Honniker; and George, a farmer. 

Mr. Heard cast his first Presidential vote for 
Andrew Jackson and when Lincoln was a candi- 
date he voted for him, but he has since cast his 
ballot with the Democratic party. He has filled 
for a series of years the offices of Postmaster and 
.lustice of the Pe.ace. He had at one time a tract 



318 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of land comprising about nine hundred acres, but 
having made generous provision for liis children, 
he has now about three or four huiulied acres left. 
This is all the result of his undaunted industry 
and enterprise, as wiieu he came to Michigan he 
had only his Icaui and wagon. He has raised Dur- 
ham cattle and takes an interest in line wool sheep 
and has dealt considerably in lands, having owned 
in all probability three thousand acres. He is one 
of the original members of the Pioneer Society, 
and although now on the shady side of life is the 
active raaiiager of his own farm. 

The many friends of Air. Beard will be pleased 
to notice his portrait on anoiher page. 



— 5-+#=^^=i-!-l— 



VwJ OHN W. POLLARD, M. D. The publish- 
I ers of this Aluum would fail in their pur- 
j pose of representing the notable members 
I of the various comnuitiities, were they to 
omit mention of Dr. Pollard, who is one of the 
most prominent medical men of St. John's, Clinton 
Conty. For one so young he has .acquired a repu- 
tation extremely creditable to his ability as shown 
in the practical work which he has done, particu- 
larly in those departments of which he makes a 
specialty. While versed in general medical knowl- 
edge, he pays particular attention to diseases of 
women and children and to those of the eye, nose 
and throat. It was his desire from boyhood to 
become a physician and surgeon, and he made 
excellent preparation, first grounding himself well 
in Knglish branches such as are useful to every 
man, and then entering one of the best medical 
schools in the country .and taking a Ihorongh 
course of training there. 

Before giving the principal facts in tlic life of 
Dr. I'oUard it may be well to speak of those from 
whom he derived his being, as by so doing we will 
I'ain an insight into his natural abilities. His pa- 
ternal grandfather was born in Kngland and after 
emigrating settled in North Carolina, where he 
followed an agricultural life. He was a soldier in 
the War of 1812. George Pollard, father of the 
Doctor, was born and reared in North Carolina and 



when a young man went to Kentucky and married 
there. His wife was Eliza Hoanl, who was born 
near the Mammoth Cave and was a daughter of 
Stillman Hoard, a A'irginian, who after living in 
Kentucky some 3'ears went to Missouri and died 
there. Mr. Pollard removed to Illinois and was 
one of the early settlers in Douglas County, loca- 
ting on new land and finally becoming the owner of 
two hundred a)id eighty acres in Oakland Town- 
ship. In his boyhood he had become a millwright 
and worked at his trade for some years after his 
removal to the Mississippi Valley-. He was a first- 
class mechanic and had a great deal of work to do. 
He was a prominent and oHicial member of the 
Christian Church and was one of the most highly 
respected citizens. He died in 1881. 

Tlie family of the couple above mentioned con- 
sisted of seven children ami .lohn W. is next to 
the youngest. He was born .July 8, 1S60, in Illinois, 
and reared on the farm, spending what time he 
couM in study and when nineteen years old begin- 
ning to leauli. He was a graduate of the Tuscola 
High School and immediately after finishing the 
course there began professional work, and for three 
years and a half was a Principal, first in Hines- 
borough and next in Ogden. At the same time he 
took up the study of medicine under the guidance 
of Dr. J. P. McOeeof Tuscola, and in 1883 he en- 
tered l\ush Medical College in Chicago. He worked 
his own wa3' through school, and two years after 
going to Rush was graduated with the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine. He opened an office in Nor- 
wich, Kan., and remained thereuntil 1888, when he 
came to St. John's and married Mrs. Athelia Nel- 
son, daughter of J. Stitt and widow of C. C. Nelson 
a merchant here. This lad}' was born in Canada. 
Her wedded life was brief, as she died of la grippe, 
January 14, 1890. 

The fall after his marriage Dr. Pollard entered 
the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery 
and the next year left that institution, having had 
the same degree which he had gained at Rush 
conferred upon him. He at once began practice 
in St. John's where he has a constantly increasing 
number of calls and already the demands upon his 
time are greater than is usually the case after so 
short a residence. He has a thorough understand- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



319 



ing of his profession, and is one of those ambitious 
young men, who are not content without frequent 
and earnest efforts to keep up wilb the limes and 
advance in mental growtli. In 1891 lie took a 
polyclinical degree in Chicago, iiaving investigated 
different lines of surgical work and better fitted 
himself for carrying on business its an oculist, 
aurist and laryngolocist, etc. While he was living 
in Kansas ho was surgeon on the Santa Fc Railroad. 

On March 29, 1891, Dr. Pollard contracted a 
second matrimonial alliance, the ceremony taking 
place in St. John's. The bride was Miss Elinor 
Caldwell, daughter of the late Roland Caldwell, 
who was born in Canada near Hamilton and is a 
graduate of Hamilton University. She is a lady of 
unusual culture and refinement, with fine tastes and 
an intense love for tiie beautiful. Her home is or- 
derly and tastefully- adorned, and her social quali- 
ties and noble character secure the warm friendship 
of those who become acquainted with her; she is a 
member of the Episcopal Church. 

Dr. Pollard is interested in social orders and is 
identified with several lodges in'St. John's — those of 
the Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor and United 
Workmen. He is a member of the Clinton County 
and State Medical Societies and makes good use of 
the current periodicals devoted to physics and 
surgery, as well as ever^' opportunity which comes 
in his way of consultation with other practitioners. 
His political support is given to the Democratic 
party. The attention of the reader is invited to a 
lilliogra|)hic portrait of the Doctor presented on 
another page of tlii.s volume. 

IRAM DAVIS, deceased, a well-to-do far- 
mer of Rush Township, Shiawassee County, 
whose furm is on section 14, was born in 
_ Delaware County, N. Y., November 9, 1813. 
He was the son of a New York farmer, Samuel Davis 
who was born in 1780, and who married, in 1802, 
Sarah ISerry, a native of New York, born 'n Feb- 
ruary 1786. Samuel Davis had a common school 
education and purchased a farm in Delaware Coun- 
ty his native Slate. Five daughlurs and .seven sons 




constitute the family which came to bless him and his 
good wife. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 
and in 1856 he came to Miciiigan and located in 
Shiawassee County. Less than a decade cumprised 
the life of himself and wife in the new home as he 
was bereaved of that companion Decembers, 1863 
and he followed her lo their eternal home, January 
19, of the next year. They were both earnest and 
devoted members of the Presbjterian Church. 

Iliram Davis upon reaching his majority began 
life ill the good old fashioned way b}- taking to 
himself a helpmate in the person of Elizabeth M. 
Harder, a daughter of Nicholas P. anil Margaret 
(Snyder) Harder. Dr. and Mrs. Harder were na- 
tives of Columbia County, N.Y., and llie parents of 
six children, three sons and three daughters, of 
whom Elizabeth is the eldest, being born August 1, 
1814. In 1S37 the Davis family came by way of 
Buffalo to Detroit and thence to Shiawassee Coun- 
ty, Mich., and settled on eighty acres of land, one 
linlf mile west of what is now Bennington Station. 
Mr. Davis was the first man to drive a team from 
Benningum to Owosso, having to cut a road upon 
which to travel. The trip from Pontiac to Ben- 
nington at that time t^iok five days. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davis lived in Bennington till 1843 
when they removed to Vernon and in 1850 made 
their home in St. Charles, Saginaw County, but re- 
turned to Shiawassee Countj' in 1854 and in 187G 
came from Shiawassee Township to Rush Township, 
and bought one hundred and seventy-five acres of 
land on section 14. It was then nearlj' all wild 
land but is now wcll-imprnvcd and in fine condi- 
tion. 

Mr. Davis died here in 1882. He was a Repub- 
lican in his [)olitical views and was Township Treas- 
urer in Clieseiiing, Saginaw County. Nine children 
were born lo him and his good wife, two sons and 
seven daughters, namely: Sarah, who became the 
wife of Freeman Lylle of St. Charles; .laneC, wife 
of Fordyce Potter of Durand, Mich.; Samuel A. I., 
who died June 11, 1855; Delia M. wife of Stephen 
Nonon and lives on the old farm in Rush Townshii) 
with her husband and one son Marcus \'.; Mary A., 
wife of Edwin Ilosmer of Brady, .Saginaw Count}-; 
Janett, wife of Ilarver Johnson of Ingersoll. Mid- 
land County; Emily E., wife of L. P. Smedle}' of 



320 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Durand; Nicholas, who is married and living in 
Spottsylvania County, Va., and Luella, wife of Ira 
Johnson of Rush Township. Mrs. Davis lives on 
the farm and has one hundred and sixty aeres of 
fine land. She is a devoted and useful memher of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church at Henderson. 



I 



'LLIOTT Y. SMITH, the local freight and 

passenger agent at Owosso, Shiawassee 

I County for the Micliigan Central llailroail, 

is a native of New York, being horn July 5, 1844, 
in Walerlown, Jefferson County. Ho is tiie fourth 
in a family of seven children of Martin and Mi- 
nerva (Spaulding) Smith, the father being a native 
of New York, born near Lake Champlain, and a 
son of Jonathan Smith, a native of ScoUand who 
came to the Ignited States when a young man, mak- 
ing his home in Saratoga County, N. Y. The 
mother of our subject is the daughter of Jared 
Spaulding who was a cloth dyer by trade. His 
death occurred in the State of New York at the age 
of fifty-eight years. Martin Smith was a carriage- 
maker by trade and later in life followed farming, 
spending a inunljer of years in Genesee County, 
Mich., and dying in 1872 in his fifty-fifth year 
from injuries received by being thrown in front of 
a reaper and being badly cut. His wife is still liv- 
ing in Littleton, Iowa. 

The school days of our subject passed in New 
York State, and he also attended the Pleasant 
Grove Seminary in Iowa. In 1802 lie responded 
to the call for more troops and enlisted in Com- 
pany C, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, where he 
was then living, as his father removed to that 
Slate when tlie boy was about twelve years old. 
His Colonel was James I. Gilbert. The regiment 
was sent to Minnesota to quell the Indian troubles, 
after which they were ordered to Tennessee and t.lie 
far South and took part in the battles of Corinth, 
luka, Chickamauga, Vicksburg, Meridian, Pleasant 
Hill, Tupelo, Old Tower Creek, Old Lake, and 
other conflicts. He was wounded at Pleasant Hill 
and also at Nashville, and was mustered out of 
service in August, 18G5 having serve<l three years. 



Returning to Iowa, Mr. Smith engaged in farm- 
ing and continued thus employed until 1870, when 
he went to work in the lumbering industry for two 
years in the North Woods. After this he came to 
Owosso, Mich., in 1872, and began railroading, 
being first employed as baggageman for the Michi- 
gan Central Railroad in Owosso. In a short time 
he was assigned to the station at Owosso Junction 
as joint agent in charge of the offices of the Mich- 
igan Central and Detroit (irand Haven and Mil- 
waukee Railroads. In November 1888, he took 
charge of tiic i)assenger and freight business in 
Owosso for the Michigan Central Railroad. 

The marriage of Elliott Smith and Miss Hattie 
Sliatto of Flushing, Mich., took |)lace in Septem- 
ber, 1872. Mrs. Smith is a native of Ohio and her 
birthplace was Youngstown. She is a daugiiter of 
John Shatto who dicil in the service of his country 
during the Civil War. Mr. Smith has for four 
years been the Alderman from the Fourth AVard. 
He is a Representative member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, and is Post Commander of 
Quackenbush Post, No. 205. He is a member of 
the Board of Education and acts as its Secretary. 
At his pleasant residence at No. 52.5 West Main 
Street, a wliole hearted hospitality is extended by 
Mr. Smitli and las amiable wife. 

LBERT PIERSON, a well-known citizen 
of Eureka, Clinton County, is a native of 

I (B Essex County N. J., where he was born 
1^ October 13, 1817. His parents, Silas and 

Phebe (Davis) Pierson, were natives of New Jer- 
sey^ of which State the Pierson family is one of the 
old and well known families. The maternal grand- 
father, Joseph Davis, was a soldier^in the Revolu- 
tionary War and did effective service through that 
period of contlict. 

Of seven children born to Silas and Phebe Pier- 
son, the following have lived to manliood: Oliver, 
Albert, Harriet, Silas, Walter, and Charlotte. 
These boys grew ui) in their native county, and 
their father being a carpenter and joiner, tiicy 
learned much is his line of work. When about 





w - 





PORTRAFT A-SD BJOGRAIMIICAL ALBUM. 



323 



oijjlite<'ii years old, Albert bcsjan learninji; the li.ir- 
ness-niaking Iraile and served an apprentieesliii) at 
this for nearly three years. After having reached 
his majority he removed with his parents to the re- 
gion whieh is now included in Morrow County, 
Ohio, and resided there for several years. 

It was in Ohio that the yonng man met and mar- 
ried his lirst wife, Lucy .1. Linseott, who became 
Mrs. I'ierson in 1841, and and died in 1888. His 
m.arriage with his present wife took i>iace December 
19, 1890. Before her marriage with him she was 
the widow of John Fesler, late of Eaton County, 
Jlich. This lady who bore the maiden name of 
Ellen (iale, is a native of Canada, being born near 
London, Ontario, January 13, 1844. Her father 
was Captain Charles Gale who sailed on the Great 
Lakes. He is a native of Chicago, III., r.nd is said 
to be the oldest white man now living, who was 
born in that great city. He now lives in Ontario. 
Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania of Ger- 
man descent. When two years old Mrs. Pierson 
moved with her parents to Cleveland, Ohio, and 
there grew to womanhood. She married John Fes- 
ler in Gratiot County, this State, November 30, 
185!). and by him became llie mother of eight 
children, six of whom are now living, namely: 
Charles, Lena, Ida, Nellie, Gussie and Etta. 

Mr. Pierson came to Michigan in 1833, and lo- 
cated in Gratiot County, in Washington Township, 
in the unl)roki'n woods. Ho busied himself in clear- 
ing t!u' land I'ud cultivating it. He was one of the 
first settlers and built the second log iiouse in his 
towushi|i. He look his land from the (iovernnient 
paying ^1.25 per acre, lie Miiilerwe'it the usual 
hardships of pioneer life and heliied to turn tiu; 
wilderness into a prosperous farming community, 
lie moved lo luireka in March, 1886, and has since 
resided in that village. Hesidcs what he (jwns 
here he has eighty acres of lan<l in (iratiot County. 

l'>olh iMr. and Mrs. Pierson are earnest and etlic- 
ient nuimbeis of the Christian Church and are ac- 
tive factors in all social ent"ri)rises. He is public- 
spirited and enterprising, and interested in botli 
national and local political movements, being a 
Uepid)lican in his views formerly but now works 
and acts with tiie Prohibition party, having lost all 
faith in the old parties. The parents of Mrs. Pier- 



son reared a family of nine children and no death 
occurred in the family, until September, 1889, when 
one of the sons died. Of their six daughters all 
but one married men by the Christian name of 
John and four of them are now widows. The fa- 
ther is now seventy-four years old and the mother 
sixt^'-six and tlu'y celebrated their Golden Wedd 
ing April 7, 1891. 



i^-V- 



^^ 




ON. GEORGE M. DEWEY. Among the 
men who have helped to mold |)ublic opin- 
ion, both as educators an<l through the pub- 
'(^' lie press, we are pleased lo present the 
])<jr(rait and give a sketch of the life of the gentle- 
man whose name introduces these paragraphs. 
This citizen of Owosso and former editor of the 
Owosso Times, was liorn in Lebanon, Grafton 
County, N. H., Febnuiry 11, 1832, and is a son of 
Granville and Harriet B. (Freeman) Dewey, both 
natives of the same phici', where their son Grst saw 
the light. The mother was born in the same room 
which afterward was the birthplace of her son. 
The grandfather of our subject was .Martin Dewey 
and the great-grandfatlier Elijah Dewey, who set- 
tled in Lebanon ai a very early day, was of Eng- 
lish i)arentage. 

The mother of George M. Dewey was a direct 
descendant of the Plymouth Pilgrims and in the 
direct line of that branch of the Standish family 
which settled in Connecticut. (irauviile, the 
father of our subject, was a soldier In the War <i( 
1812 and was a farmer by occupation, residing on 
the old homestead which had been handed down 
for generations, from father to son. His dc.itli oc- 
curred January 27, 1840. 

The subject of this sketch puisued his earl\ 
studies with great assiduity and when still quite 
young went to Lowi II. Mass., for further educa- 
tional advantages and was graduatcti from llie 
high school there in IHK;. After this he was era- 
ployed by CliarU's E. Smith im an astronomic d 
ex|)edition in South America, wiiich consumed 
about eighteen months. Returning to Lowill he 
undertook teaching, which profession he pursui'd 



324 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



for over three years in the East, after which he 
came West in 1852 and taught for some time. 

Tlic f»-ood repoits made by travelers of tlie fer- 
tile land and fine cJimate of Michigan attracted Mr. 
Dewey hither in 1854, and coming to Berrien 
County, he taught for a year. Here he made so 
enviable a reputation among instructors as to re- 
ceive the appointment of Deputy Superintendent 
of Public Instruction at Lansing. Tliis position 
he filled for eighteen montlis and then tendered his 
resignation, having decided to enter ujion a differ- 
ent branch of work. 

The newspaper business [jroved attractive to the 
young man and he undertook the management of 
the Niles EiKjuin^r, which he carried on for nine 
years successfully. Afterward lie purchased tlie 
Hep lib lien II Bdiincr at Ilnslings, liarry County, and 
edited it for fifteen years. In 1881 he came to 
Owosso and bought the Owosso Times, which he 
afterward incorijorated as a slock company and 
held iiis connection with this paper until l.SilO. 

Mr. Dewey has been connected witii |nil)lic af- 
fairs to a considerable extent ever since coming 
into Uie State and through Ihe medium of the press 
exerted a wide political influence. He 1ms also un- 
usual ability as a stump si)eak(!rand has often taken 
the stump lioth in Micliigan and other Stales for 
the causes of temperance and the Rei)ublican i>arty. 
EIc slumped the States of New York, New Hamp- 
shire, Illinois and New Jersey, making speeches for 
temperance and in defense of Republican princi- 
ples. He has made from one to two thousand 
speeches during his public career. He was Grand 
Master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of 
Micliigan in 1888-89. In 1886 he became a mem- 
ber of the Grand Council of the Royal Templars 
of Temperance. In 187-2 the Sixteenth District 
of Michigan honored itself by electing this gentle- 
man Stale Senator and he served in the sesnons of 
1873-74. He was one of the delegates who or- 
ganized the Republican party "un<ler the oaks" at 
Jackson, Mich., July C, 1854. 

Mr. Dewey's marriage. May 28, 1857, with Miss 
Emma Bingham, of Niles, was a union which has 
resulted in a life of great domestic happiness. 
This lady is a native of Ohio, born in Malioning 
County, that Stale, and a daughter of the late 



Judge Lemuel Bingham, of Niles, who was a native 
of Connecticut. To Mr. and INIrs. Dewey have 
been granted six children, all but one of whom 
have grown to years which are proving their inher- 
itance of the bright intellectual traits and admira- 
ble social qualities of their parents: Hattie, the 
eldest, is deceased; Edmund O. is now one of the 
editors of the Shiawassee Times, the leading Re- 
publican paper of this section; Henry B. is a grad- 
uate of the Stale University and now Superintend- 
ent of the Schools of Shiawassee Count}'; Emma 
G. is Assistant Principal in the Owosso High 
School and was a student in Wellesley College, 
Mass.; George M., Jr., is a cadet in the United 
Stales ftlilitary Academy at West Point; while 
Mary Hannah is still a student in the Owosso pub- 
lic schools. The |ile.isanl family residence on Park 
and Oliver Streets is a center of true social life and 
hospitality. 

— -i^m — 

AUTIN D. COMSTOCK. So niaiiy of 
New York's sons are found in the Western 
Slates who have made a success in mercan. 
tile life that its representatives are always 
expected to be men of prominence and position. 
Tiie gentleman of whom we write was lien at On- 
ondaga County, N. Y., September IG, 1845. He 
is a son of Orange and Rhoda (Dunlap) Comstock. 
who were natives of the same Slate and county 
that our subject was born in. 

Our subject's father died in the county in which 
he lived for so many years in New York in the 
spring of 1858. He had been a farmer all his life 
and his efforts in agriculture bad been rewarded, 
so that at the time of his decease lie left his family 
in verj' comfortable circumstances. Although he 
was quite a prominent Whig, he had no ambition, 
whatever, to hold office. He was a son of Jude 
and Patty Comstock, natives of New York and as 
the name would indicate, they were of Scotch- 
Irish extraction. Our subject's mother married for 
her second husband John Lowry, who was then 
living at Lodi Plains, Washtenaw County, this 
Stale. They moved to Shiawassee County, Mich., 
in 1826 and settled in Burns Township, where 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALP.U.Ai 



325 



Mr. Lowry died. Mrs. Lowry was again mar- 
ried, this time to Porter Sbernuui of Livingston 
Coimly. wIk) is also deceased. Slic now resides in 
HancToft, tliis Slate at tiie age of I'ixty-uiglit ^ears, 
is t!ie only surviving parent of six children, viz: 
ftLirtin, George, Martha, Maitin I)., Eugene ami 
Adella. The lady had no children \>y her seconi) 
and t' ird marriages. 

Our suhject was reared in his native town and 
county on his fatlier's farm and received the ad- 
vantages of a good common-school education. In 
the si)ring of 18(51 he came to Loili Plains, Wash- 
tenaw County, this .State, and there lived until 
September, 18G2, when he joined the army as Cor- 
poral in Company IL Twentieth Michigan Iiifan- 
try\ then commanded by Colonel Williams, of Lans- 
ing. His regiment joined the Ninth Army Curp:; 
under General Buriiside and their first engagement 
was at South Mountain. The next conflict in which 
Mr. Coinstock particii)ated was at Antielam, fol- 
lowed by that of Warrenton -Junction, after which 
time they continued lighting and skirmishing along 
the line until they readied Fredericksburg, where 
they were in time for the engagement. Prom 
Fredericksburg they went to Fortress Monroe and 
from there came back to 'I'ennessee and joined the 
Army of the Tennessee. 

The siege of Vicksburg and that of Knoxville 
under the presiding genius of the immortal (Jrant, 
was an experience that our subject had in conini'.ni 
with many of the brave men who dared to (int 
their lives in balance with the chances of war. He 
W!i8 also in tlie battle of the Wilderness and from 
that time on his company was engaged in lighting 
and skirmishing until Lee's surrender, in A|)ril, 
18G'). The war record of our subject is a long one 
and a most honorable one, in that he was engaged 
in some of tin; most decisive battles of llu" late wa;. 
He was mustered out and received his final (lis 
charge at .lackson, Mich., in June, 18(j.^. Duiing 
the three years in which he served in the Army he 
was never wounded or taken prisoner. 

After the war Mr. Comstock came to IJurns 
Township, Shiawassee County, where he purdiased 
one hundred and sixty acres of wdd land on sec- 
tion 25. It bad no improvements, whatever, and 
the work of chiaring, building, planting aiiil reap- 



ing were before him, but with energy he set about 
accomplishing the hard task of making the wiUler- 
ness bloom and blossom as the rose and now owns 
one of the Quest farms in the county. 

He lived on this farm until the spring of 1883, 
when lie came to Hyron and lived about eighteen 
mouths. He then moved to Bancroft, where he 
lived until 1885, but finding the bold of old asso- 
ciations and friends strong upon him, he returned 
to liyroii where he has since resided. He followed 
the stock business, buying and selling for the mct- 
roi)olitan market for about fifteen years. He also 
engaged in the hardware business in Hyron in the 
fall of 1887. His beautiful farm in the near neigli- 
liorhood claims much of his time and attention. 

Like most of our successful business men .Mr. 
Comstock had small pio[)erty to begin life on, but 
this was rioubtless not a disadvantage to him. He 
is a Ui'publican in polities, but has never held of- 
fice. Like most of the old soldiers, he is a Grand 
Army man and belongs to I). G. Koyce Post, No. 
117, at Byron. In the fall of 186G Miss Helen 
Runyan of Vernon Township, Shiawassee County, 
became Mrs. Martin Comstock. Her native Slate 
is New York, Oneida County, and she is a daughter 
of John and Margaret (Van Lou) Runyan. Three 
children came to bless the home of our sub- 
ject and his wife. Tliej- are Lilly, Orange and Guy 
E., of whom Guy K.. is the only surviving child. 



^-IK^- 



mi 



^w'EROME W. TlKNKR.a prominent attorpey 
of Owosso, is a native of the (ireen Moun- 
tain Slate, ii.xviiig been born in Sheldon, 
/ FranUlir County, .lanuary 25, 183G. He is 
the only son of the Hon. .losiah Turner, an emi- 
nent lawyer of Alichigau. ami was for over a ipiar- 
ter of a century Judge of i.his Judicial Circuit. 
As a leading Repiihlicin he has always been pidiii- 
incnt in the ranks (if his parly. He is now I'liitcd 
Slates Consul at Amherslburg, Canada. He was 
born in X'ermoiit in 1811 and was a grandson of 
Josiah Turner, whose ancestors were of English de- 
scent. The mother, Eveline Ellsworth, also a 
native of the same State and of Enylish de.scinl, 



326 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was born iu 1817 and was a daughter of Dr. Wil- 
liam Ellsworth. 

Jerome W. Turner removed with his [wrents 
from Vermont to Howell, Livingston County, Mich., 
when a little child of three years and grew to 
manhood in this State, taking his early education 
in the village schools and later attending Nortii- 
ville Academy in Wayne County. He took a 
course also at the academy of Lodi, Mich., and then 
entered the State University in 1853, graduating in 
the literary department in 1857. He read law with 
Judge F. C. Whipple in 1857 and was admitted to 
the bar before the close of that 3 ear. Mr. Turner 
associated himself with Judge Wlii[iple but some- 
what later removed to Sliiawassec County and in 
1860 located at Owosso, which lie has made his 
permanent home. 

In 1857 our subject was united in marriage with 
Martha F. Gregory, of Howell, Mich., a daughter 
of the Rev. E. E. ( iregory. Mrs. Turner is a native 
of Michigan, born in Saline, Washtenaw Count}' 
and a lady of rich and varied accomplishments. To 
their seven sons and one daughter these parents 
have given a superior education and three of the 
sons have followed the father in entering the pro- 
fession of law. They are named as follows: Jerome 
E., Willard J., Charles G., Edward E., Horace B., 
Ellsworth P., Milo P., Eveline J., wife of W. E. 
Decker. 

Mr. Turner was elected State Senator for the 
district composed of the counties of Shiawassee and 
Livingston and was re-elected by a good majorit}-. 
He was <lelegate to the Democratic National Con- 
vention at Cincinnati which nominated Hancock, 
and also to tlie one at Chicago when Cleveland was 
nominated. He was Post Office Inspector during 
Cleveland's Administration for the Sixth Inspection 
District, headcpiarters at Chicago. The district 
comiirised six States with Illinois about the center. 
He was elected Ma^-or of the city of Owosso in 
187'J. He was also appointed, in 1864, First As- 
sistant Paymaster in the United States Army, for 
two years, with headquarters at Louisville, Ky. 
Both he and his wife are members of the Congre- 
gational Church, lu 1863 he was appointed Adju- 
tant of the Thirtieth Michigan Infantry, which was 
stationed on the Canadian borders, at Ft. Gr.atiot, 



Mich. The services which this distinguished gen- 
tleman has rendered in his official life entitle him 
to the admiration and honor which he receives and 
makes him what he must ever remain, one of the 
most highly respected members of society in 
Owosso. 




UGUSTUS BAIN. Among the intelligent 
fanners of Shiawassee County this gentle- 
man has a place which he has gained by 
industrious, intelligent efforts and an up- 
life. His home is on section 35, Owosso 
Township, and he and his estimable wife are realiz- 
ing as great enjo^'ment as often falls to the lot of 
humanity. They have an abundance of worldly 
goods, and are not harrassed by pecuniar}' vexa- 
tions, but are able to enjoj' every reasonable [ileas- 
sure, and rejoice in the association of family anil 
friends. 

Mr. Bain was born in Cohnnbia County, N. Y., 
March 17, 18^7, and is the seventh child of Peter 
P. and Mary (Millei) Bain. His father was the 
son of Peter McBain, a Scotchman, whose succes- 
sors droi)pcd the prefix and retained onl}' the final 
syllable of their patronymic. Both parents were 
born in the Empire State, and when Augustus was 
ten years old removed from their earlier home to 
Yates County, whe''e they spent the remainder of 
their lives. Their .lOme was on a farm until less 
than a decade before the husb.and died, after which 
date he was established in the grocer}' trade in Penn 
Yan. Our subject, when in his twenty-first year, 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Freeman, a native 
of Y'ates County, who shared his fortunes until 
Ma}' 8, 1887, when she closed her eyes in death. 
In Laingsburg, this State, July 28, 1889, Mr. Bain 
contracted a second matrimonial alliance, wedding 
IMrs. Laura Mack, whose maiden name was Laura 
M. Place. She was born in Steuben County, N.Y., 
September 7, 1832, her parents being Joseph and 
Mary (Freeman) Place, natives of New York, but 
of English descent. Mr. Place was born in the 
metropolis in 1799, and his father, who was a 
native of Elngland, was interested in ocean vessels. 
Joseph was a teacher and was following his profes- 



:gSii=aa^ife*J:;^^«5a*aStflaga*ii!Wi^ 




RESIDCNGE OF THOMAS M ARVlt^l j 5EC. 9.,M IDDLEBURY TP. , SH I AWA5SEE C0.,M1CH. 




RESIDEMCE or AUGUSTUS B Al N , 5EC. 35. ,0 WOS50 TR,5HIAWAS5£f. CU.,MICH, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUiM. 



:}2;t 



sion ill Sleuhen County, when he married Mary 
Freeman, who was a sister of .lohn Freeman, faliier 
of the first Mrs. Bain. He became the father of 
twelve children, of whom Laura was the fourth iu 
order of birth. Two others of the family are now 
living — Carrie, wife of Charles Lackton of Detroit, 
and Mary Ellen, wife of the Rev. Robert Siuiftoe, 
of Paw Paw, 111. In April, 1853, the Places came 
to this .State, locating in Bennington Township, 
Shiawassee County. There Mrs. Place died. 
March 22, 1879. Mr. Place survive<l until No- 
vember 8, 1883, when he passed away in his eighty- 
third year. For seven years prior to his decease he 
had been blind. 

The daughter, Laura, was married iu Steuben 
County, N. Y., to Albert (Jillett, a native of the 
same county, and lived in the Kmpire Slate until 
18(j'.); when they settled neai- lu'r father in Shia- 
wassee County. Ml-. Gillett was a merchant, 
but as his wife preferred country life, he gave up 
iiis business and turned his attention lo farming. 
His health failed in 1870, he having ovcr-cxerted 
himself at the Centennial K.\i)osilion, and in 1881 
111! removed to Owosso, where lie died November 
27, 1883. His children arc Kniina, who died in 
1879, and who was tlic wife of .hidsun Uowd; 
Flora Dell, wife of Washington Bush, living in 
Perry, this Slate; Mary I)., who married Ruscoe 
Challin and lives in Bennington Township; Henr}' 
A., a resident of Illinois; Carrie E., who died in 
infancy; Minnie, now Mrs. .ludson Smith, occupy- 
ing the homestead in Benningloi! Township; 
Laura E., an attractive and intelligent young 
lady living with her mother, and engaged in teach- 
ing music. 

June 22, 1885, the widow was married in San 
.Jose, Cal., whither she had gone with her daLigliter, 
to Peter W. Mack, wlio was born in Canm'a, .Sep- 
tember 19, 1832. He had settled on a farm in 
Shiawassee Count}-, in 1861, and lost his first wife, 
Jane McRea, in (Jctober, 1883. After their mar- 
riage, Mr. and Mrs. Mack lived in Owosso for ii 
short time, but soon went to California, intending 
to remain there, but in August, 1886, they re- 
turned to Michigan and bouglit the pleasant home 
now owned by tiie survivor. Iti October of the 
same j'ear Jlr. Mack bought the farm upon which 



she is now living, and resided upon it until death 
again severed the conjugal tie, and January 28, 
1888, Mr. Mack breathed his last. Mr. Mack had 
three children by his first wife — lames, Frank and 
Georgie (Mrs. Wilbur Pier[)ont), ail living in 
Owosso Township — and when his estate was settled 
his widow did not claim her dowci-, feeling that, as 
she had been his comiianion for but a few years, 
she would be depriving his children of their rights 
b}' so doing. Instead she bought the interest of 
each child and so retained possession of the estate 
upon which she is now living with iier third hus- 
band, Mr. Bain. 

ISfr. Bain votes the Democratic ticket, but is not 
pronounced in his political views. He is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church, p.nd Mrs. Bain is a 
Baptist. They are whole-souled, genial people, 
fairl>- representing the more intelligent class of 
rural residents, and in their later years arc realiz- 
ing as much enjoyment as life can furnish to con- 
genial spirits who minister to each. other's ha|)piuess 
and together dis()ense hospitality to their friends 
and acquaintances. Mr. Bain fraternizes with the 
brethren of the s^-mbolic square and compass, and 
has traveled the Ijuruing sands w-hen it became 
necessary to shade his eyes from the eastern bril- 
liancy' of the sun. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a view 
of the pleasant homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Buin. 

-'-> -o^-^v^vl^-ofo <*•»- 

sillOMAS MAUVlN,a well-known farmer of 
Middlel)ury Township, Shiawassee County. 
^^p^ was born in Oakland Township, Oakland 
County, Mich., March 29, 1847. His parents, 
Abraui and Margaret IL (Bolsbj') Marvin, were 
natives of New York and New .Fersey respect- 
ively, and his father's occupation was that of a 
farmer. I'pon the farm of Lis parents our subject 
passed his early life in Oakland County, till he ar- 
rived at the age of twenty. He had two sisters 
and two brothers; his brother (ieorge now resides 
in Ovid Township, and his brother William in the 
township of Fail-field, Shiawassee County. 

The advantages olTered Thom.as Marvin for an 



330 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



education were moderately good, and be attended 
the best common sclmols in the county during tlie 
winters until he reached the age of twenty years. 
On May 10, 18G7, he came to Shiawassee County 
and located with his father on section 9, clearing a 
po'tion of that land. 

lll)on reaciiing the age of twenty-one the young 
man worked out for one summer, and then worked 
for ills broUier George. During the next year his 
fatiicr died, and he and his brother William took 
the home [ilace, and carried it on for several years, 
after which they divided it and Thomas took sixty 
acres of the homestead, to which lie has since added 
until now he has a line farm of eighty acres. Wiien 
he took this land it was all cleared of timber, but 
all other improvements he has himself placed upon 
it. An event of great importance in the life of Mr. 
Mravin took place March 14, 1872. This was bis 
marriage to Lydia Bell, of Addison Township, 
Oakland County. One child, liddie E., was born in 
November, 1S7G. 

Mr. Marvin devotes liimself entirely to farming 
and raises only ordinary grades of stock. He 
makes his princijial crop in wheat and raises it ex- 
tensively. In politics he is a Republican, and he 
has held the oflices of Constable and Path master. 
lie is now engaged \v putting np windmills, i)umps 
and all kinds of apparatus in connection with 
windmills. He is earnestly interested in educa- 
tional movements and desires the best schools for 
the youth of the township. He aims 'o give his 
own son a broad and liberal education. 

On anotiier page of this volume appears a view 
of the rural abode of Mr. Marvin, which is one of 
the most pleasant homes in the townshii). 



^:^E0RC4E SCHUYLER CORBIT, editor and 

ill (— - proprietor of the Clinton Independent^ of 
\^y5( St. Johns, was i)orn in Pekin, Niagara 
County', N. Y., August 2i3, 1839. A full account 
of his anceslr}' is given in the biography of his 
l)rotiier, .lohn II. Corbit, which will be found else- 
where in this book. He is the youngest of six 
children of the parental family and was reared in 



his native town until he reached the age of thir- 
teen 3'ears, being but seven years old when his 
mother died. He had onl}' limited school advan- 
tages on account of poor health. At the age of 
thirteen he went to Tonawanda, N. \'.,and viihout 
any money or assistance started out for liimself. 
His first work was in packing shingles. Later he 
went to live with a Mr. J. C. Gibson, of Iluffalo, 
who was in the commission business, but who lived 
in Tonawanda. He then apprenticed himself to a 
printer, the proprietor of the Niagara River I'l'lnt, 
which was published at Tonawamla. This was ed- 
ited by Mr. S. S. Packard, who was connected with 
Bryant & Stratton's chain of commercial colleges, 
and later [jublisher of Packard's Afunthly. in New 
York. After remaining there four or five years 
he went to Buffalo and attended Bryant & Strat- 
ton's Commercial College for one winter. 

In the spring of 1857 this young man came to 
St. John's, and began clerking for his brother and 
also working on the paper, the North Side Demo- 
crat. A year later he went to Owasso and helped 
to establish the Owasso American, at Owasso, with 
Mr. John N. Ligersol, who had purchased the 
plant. In 1859 he went to Princeton, HI., to work 
on a paper. The next year he assisted in taking 
the I'liited States Census in Bureau County, that 
State, and in 18C0 he visited Chicago and worked 
on the Daily Herald and on the Home and School 
Journal. Li the fall of 1861 he returned to St. 
John's and clerked for his brother in a hardware 
store. He may be properly styled one of the early 
and successful pioneers of St. John's. 

Mr. Corbit was not prepared to i)urcliase a paper 
of his own and with J. H. Stephenson, purchased 
the Independent. But this gentleman did not re- 
main long with him a\id soon sold out his interest 
to our .subject who managed it alone. He began 
with a six-column folio and has improved H every 
year while he has owned it. lie has coiiliniied to 
edit his pa()er from 18GG to the present date with 
the exceiition of six years, during which he was 
traveling as a representative of the Detroit Free 
Press, in Michigan and in tlu^ Western and Sontli- 
crn States, spending much of his time in the laller 
with "M. Quad," the world-renowned huraoiist, 
who is now employeil on the New York World at 



FOitTKAIT AND BIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 



.■531 



1200 per wcuk. Wlicn lie iindertouk lliat work hu 
disposed, as he sujiposcd, of iLc Independent, but 
as it fell back into his hands he once more gave it 
new life and restored it to its former part}' useful- 
ness. 

The Independent is now ;i six-column qiiufto and 
is outspoken in its declarations of Democratic 
principles. It is the oflicial county paper and has 
in connection with it a good job ofiice. It occupies 
a fine brick building which belongs to Mr. Corbit, 
and which is known iu the city as the ''Independent 
Block. ' 

Mr. Corbit built for his own residence a ccm- 
modions and attractive brick dwelling, at the head 
of u principal avenue and in a most delightful part 
of the city, where he and his wife reside. His 
marriage took place in Shcplicrdsville and his bride 
bore the maiden name of Cynthia A. Shepherd. She 
is the eldest daughter of H. M. Shepherd and was 
born and educated in Ohio. Mr. Corbit is well 
known throughout the State, and is often iilaced 
upon the district and county Democratic commit- 
tee, where he is now serving as Secretary. His wife 
is an earnest :'nd ellicient member of the F^piscopal 
Church. Our subject may well feel a justifiable 
pride in his success in following the plans of his 
early life. He has been energetic, faithful, hence 
successful in his every business undertaking. 



%s> ON. STEARNS F. SMIl'll, Mayor of the 
|l City of Owosso, was born near Cleveland, 
Ohio, .September 18, 1835. In 1853 he 
came with his [)arents, F^lijah T. and Caro- 
line Smith, to Perry, Shiawassee County, Mich. In 
1855 he returned to Oliio, where he remained until 
the spring of 1859, when he emigrated to the Pa- 
cific Coast where he remained until December, 
1866, and then returned to Perry, resiiling there, 
at Saginaw, and in Willinmston, Ingham County, 
until 1878 when he removed to Owosso. 

Mr. Smith was married to Ellen F. Scofield, 
daugliter of Stephen and Louisa .Scofield, of l>ocke, 
Ingham County, in 1867. Thej' have two children 
— Mrs. Fred Edwards, of Owosso, and Grace, un- 



married. Mr. Smith is a |>rominent lawyer, act- 
ively engaged in the practice of his profession. 
During his residence in Owosso he has held the 
office of Supervisor, City Attorney and .Mnyor of 
Owosso; also the ollice of Prosecuting Attorney of 
Shiawassee. 




lUAM A.\F01iD. A cons(ncuous poaiiion 
among the business men of Owosso is held 
by the gentleman whose name appears at 
the head of this paragraph, who by years of 
well-directed cflFort both in commercial pursuits 
and in agriculture has earned a well deserved lep- 
utation as a thorough and progressive man. 

Mr. Axford is a dealer in dry good.s, groceries 
and provisions, and also handles baled iiay, wood 
and carries on a meat market. He was born in 
the Dominion of Canada February 1, I8J5, and is 
the third son of William and Sarah (Giflford) Ax- 
ford. The father was a native of New Jersey and 
the mother of Canada and she was snatched from 
her home by death when this son was a. prattling 
boy of four ^-ears old. The father was a ftirmer 
and pursued this business until 1864 when he re- 
moved to Owosso, where he resided until his death 
in 1886. Hiram passed his early scin^ol days in 
Canada and aflerwarti in .Micliigai', but w.as not 
long in school as he soon went to work on the 
farm. 

After coming to Owosso, our subject was vari- 
ously engaged for two years. He then operated a 
meat market in West Owosso, liaving for his |)art- 
ner, John Turnbell. Two years later he sold out 
his interest, but soon decided to resume that woik 
and bought out Mr. Turnbell, continuing in the 
business at the old stand. In 1887 he put in .a 
stock of groceries in an adjoining room, and suii- 
sequentl}' added a stock of dry goods. He was so 
successful in his business that he decided to still 
further enlarge it, as he found that he had that rare 
quality of a 3'oung business man, which enable<! 
him to divide his allcntion among varied forms of 
trade. He therefore opened up a wood^'ard. while 
at the same time lie continued with both his meat 



332 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



market aud store. Over this business he lias had 
personal supervision a-id at the same time i\arries 
on his neat htlle farm of forty acres. 

The marriage of our sul)ject with Miss Marj- 
J. Necdhani of Owosso, took place in 1872. This 
lady was born in Ontario, Canada, and came to 
Micliigan with her father, Tliomas Necdliam, when 
she was an infant. Three sons and two daughters 
come to cheer the home of this intelligent and ami- 
able couple. They are, William C, Gertie died 
when ten months old, Freddie T., John N., .Tulia 
iM. and Kiltie Bell. 

Various ofUces of local responsibility liave been 
assigned to Mr. Axford by his fellow-citizens. He 
has been Alderman for the Fourth Ward and mcm- 
bor of liie Water Hoard. He has been a conserva- 
tive in politics, lie is identified with the Owosso 
Lodge No. SI, F. A A. M., also of Owosso Chapter, 
No. 89, R. A. M. His plensant home on Main 
Street West, .adjoins his three store buildings; all 
his hanilsomo proiieily has been gained by his own 
efiorts, as he began with little more than his own 
push, iiluck aud perseverance. 

HAULKS S. WILLIA.MS. Among the many 
pri>s[)erous agriculturists who are making 

i^' Clinton County the seat of their labors 
none .are more deserving of representation in a bi- 
ogiaphical album than the one aljove named. The 
fact that he is the owner of a line tract of land on 
section l,l>ingham Township, is but one of the 
reasons, the most important being found in his hav- 
ing begun the battle of life empty-handed and 
having reached his present substantial and honor- 
able place by persevering industry, good manage- 
ment and honorable dealing. His farm comprises 
two Imudreil and ten acres, nearly all of which 
was pl.aced under imiirovemenl by himself, and it 
sl;inds as one of the well-regulated pieces of prop- 
ert)- in this neighborhood. 

The direct progenitors of Mr. Williams were 
.lohu and Mary (Le Ban) Williams, natives of 
Pennsylvania who removed to Niagara County, 
N. Y.,inl811. There the mi>ther died in 184G 



and the father in 1881, the latter aged seventy-six 
years. He was a farmer from his boj'hood and 
was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. His family consisted of four chihlren, 
three of whom survive to this writing (!>!!) 1 ). 
Charles was born in Northampton County, l*:i., 
March 19, 1833, and was some eight 3'ears <^ld 
when taken to New York. He was reared on a 
farm and first attended the district schools; lie 
then gave a few terms to study in the Loc!<i)oit 
(N. V.) High School and later spent several terms 
at Wilson Academy'. He alwa3's stood at the head 
of his cl.asscs and in the acadcm}- his progress w.as 
very rapid. 

Ikfore he completed his higher studies, young 
Williams had begun teaching and bad given sev- 
eral terms to pedagogical work at from ^16 to ¥22 
per montli. He did not take up farming as his 
business in life until 1860 and five years later he came 
West and located in the township that is now Ids 
home. He bought some land on section 1, and 
began his work here in the woods. Improvements 
were made as circumstances would allow, and the 
estate increased byjudicit)us investments until it 
became the fair and fruitful expanse now to be 
seen. In 18G1 Mr. Williams decided that his duty 
lay amid the smoke of battle, and enlisting, lie 
was assigned to the Twenty-sixlli New York Bat- 
tery. At Scanish Fort he was under fire for four- 
teen days and at Ft. ]?l:ikely he stood a long siege 
of similar liazard. lie was discharged in July, 
18G.'), and relumed home vvitli his health impaired 
by exposure and hardship. He has recently been 
awarded a small pension. 

At the bride's home in Pekin, Niagara County, 
N. Y., September 21, 1860, Mr. Williams was 
united in marriage with Miss Marj- J. Kelsie. The 
marriage has been blest by the birth of three clilld- 
ren, but only one is now living. This is William 
A., a prosperous young farmer who is located on a 
l)art of the homestead and who formerly taught 
school. Mr. Williams held local oflices in his 
native State, but has not tidieu part in public af- 
fairs here. He was but twenty one years old when 
he was elided Township Sclioul Sujierintendonl, 
and the honor conferred upon him at that e.arly age 
"rave conclusive evidence of the interest he was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIUCAL ALBUM. 



.•?:^:? 



understood to have in educational affairs and his 
mental ability and strengtii of cliaractir. He lias 
ever manifested a desire for the pulilic weal, 
whether in the line of material matters or those of 
the higher nature. In politics he is a Democrat. 
He anil his cstimaljlc wife are the center of a pleas- 
ant and intelligent circle by which they are re- 
garded highly. 



LCrrr R. WAUNOIJ, one of the most 
prominent men in Fairfield Township, Shia- 
wassee Count}-, and a citizen who has been 
active!}' interested in the development of the com- 
munity in every line of progress, resides on section 
15, where he has fift}' acres of rich and arable land 
which he has finely improv/>d. Here he catries on 
general farming and stock-raising, in which he was 
very successful. He was born in Herkimer County, 
N. v., M.ay 20, 1828, and is the son of Oliver and 
Avis (Warren) Warner, both natives of the Empire 
State. 

Ill 18;!S, two J ears before removing to Michigan, 
our subject's father came to \'an Huren County, and 
entered land upon which he afterward lived. The 
subject of tills sketch is the oldest in a family of 
four who lived to years of maturity, two only of 
whom arc still living. One brother, Delos, died 
September, 1879, leaving one ciiild. The sister 
Catherine married Mr. Richmond and makes her 
home in Van Huren Count}-, this State, while Oliver 
the youngest brother was a soldier in the Third 
Michigan Cavalry and belonged to the company 
commanded by Capt. iNIencher. He was killed in 
the siege of Atlanta and left a wife and one child. 

Mr. Warnor has been three times married; his 
first wife w.as I.ucinda Carr anil she was the mother 
of three children: Orlie, who married Loren Austin, 
a printer at Klsie; Ava, who married Mr. Haker 
and lives in Vnn Huren County; and Arthur, who 
is married and also lives in Van Huren County. His 
second marriage united him with Harriet Gifford 
and she also had three children. The eldest, Oli- 
ver, lives in Texas; Ina makes her home in Oakland 
County. Mich.; and Hcrnice lives at Grand Rapids. 



The present Mrs. Warnor, whose maiden name \v:is 
Rebecca L. Scott, was born .Inly Ifi, 18:i9 and was 
unileil with Mr. Warnor in iinrriagc April 1 I, IcS.sO. 
No children have crowned this marriage. 

When our subject first came to Michigan in 
1867 he bought fifty acres of fine land, which he 
has ()laced uiuler cullivation and has made it liy 
undaunted industry and perseverance, one of the 
best farms in the county. He has had to work hard 
for all he owns but is proud to s.ay that he owes no 
man a dollar. His early education was limited but 
by a thorough course of reading he has made him- 
self a man of intelligence. His political views 
have attached him to the Democratic party and he 
cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. 
He has served one term as Highway Commissioner 
.•unl is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding 
his membership in Elsie and having been connected 
with tiic order for some eighteen years. 

— •^■ > •>N^- <■ '• — 




LEASON J. YOUNG.S. The fine farm of 
two hundred and three acres, located on sec- 
^^^i|l tions i and .T, Venice Township, Shiawas- 
see County, is owned by one of the early pioneers 
of the State. His early years were fraught with 
anxiety and a struggle for the commonest necessi- 
ties of life, brt he has attained a flattering degree 
of success in the face of many discour.agements. 
His [larents were natives of New York State. His 
father, David Youngs, was born in 1801. His 
mother was Harriet (Gleason) Youngs. They w-crc 
married in their native State. David Youngs was 
a blacksmith by trade, altlK)Ugli he later became a 
farmer. 

In 1834 the family of Mr. Youngs came to this 
State and settled in Washtenaw County, wliere tliey 
remained for one year. They then went to Hart- 
lanil Township, Livingston County, and located 
u[)on eighty acres of new lanil. Had their time 
not been occupied with the routine duties of fann- 
ing, they must have found it unbearably lonesome, 
for their second nearest neighbor lived ata distance 
of four miles. Tlicir first dwelling w.as a log 
shanty, and llierc was but little time to beautify it. 



334 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



The oiil}' flowers that blossomed about the place 
were those that sprang naturally from the sod, but 
these with their sunny little faces cheered many 
lonely hours of the wife. David Youngs died in 
1865, and the mother died iu 1885, at the age of 
seventy-seven years; they were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which body the^' had 
helped to organize in the township. In politics 
Mr. Youngs was a Democrat, and he iiold several 
local positions under his party, having been Asses- 
sor for a number of years. He also discharged 
satisfactorily' the duties of Highway Commissioner. 

David Youngs and his wife were the parents of 
seven children, four of whom are now living, our 
subject being the only one now in Shiawassee 
Count}'. He was the second one of the family, and 
born in Niagara County, N. Y., May 26, 1828. He 
attended the pioneer school in the county, and was 
early taught vigilance in his dealings with the In- 
dians. Tl)erc were many wild animals in the woods 
and when powder and shot were plentiful, better 
sport could not be desired than the hunting there 
found. 

The original of this sketch started out in life for 
himself at the age of nineteen years. He was 
l)rought u\> as a farmer and has ever continued in 
that calling. When he began work for himself he 
had nothing. He worked out by the month, re- 
maining fiye years in one place. In 1852 he came 
to Shiawassee County, and worked in the Valley' 
sawn)ills for three j'ears, after which heseltled upon 
one hundred and sixtj' acres of land where he now 
lives. It was then all wild land and the work of 
clearing and improving must have seemed to him 
a tremendous task. 

In 185C. Mr. Youngs was united in marriage to 
Miss Laura Priest, a daughter of George W. and 
•Judith Ann (Luther) Priest, for whose history see 
sketch of (ieorge W. Priest in this Ai-itUM. Mrs. 
Youngs was born October 4, 1840, in Washtenaw 
Counly, this State, and was only three months of 
age when her family removed to ^'enice Township. 
Here slic attended the district school, went to sing- 
ing-school, and was the belle of many a corn-husk- 
ing and a|)ple roasting. 

The young couple settled upon tlie farn) where 
they now live, and were the proud possessors of 



the onl}- frame house between Lytle's Corners and 
Flushing. They have since added to the house, 
and now it is a commodious and comfortable place, 
charmingly located, and having many natural ad- 
vantages. The farm has also been added to until 
it now comprises two hundred and three acres, one 
hundred and forty of which are under cultivation. 
Mr. Youngs has ever been the active proprietor, 
and all the improvements now to be found on the 
place have been made by himself. 

After marriage our subject had but ^100 in 
mone^', and the comfortable fortune which he now 
enjoys be has earned by his own efforts, with the 
exception of ^500. The}- are the parents of two 
children, Frances A. and Bertha E. Frances is the 
wife of Edward Carr, and lives in Coruuna; Bertha 
married Charles Crowe, and lives at Judd's Cor- 
ners. Our subject and his wife have reared three 
children besiiles their own. The first, Mary Emery, 
lived with Mrs. Youngs for fourteen j-ears, when 
she married Charles W. Shipman; they are the par- 
ents of four children. The second adopted child, 
Ethan Frederick Youngs, lived with them nineteen 
years; he took to wife Frances Baird, and now 
lives in Shiawassee Townsliip. The third child was 
George W. Maj-o. and he was one of the family for 
nine years. All of these children received a good 
education. In tenderly' caring for these homeless 
children, Mr. and Mrs. Youngs have fulfilled the 
Divine command, and will surel}"^ rea[) a blessing. 

Our subject has been a member of the School 
Board in this district for a number of jears. He 
has always taken an interest in politics, casting his 
vote with the Democratic party. For two years he 
was Townsliip Treasurer, and has held the office of 
Justice of the Peace for twelve 3-eai's. He dis- 
charged satisfactorily for six years the duties of 
Highway- Commissioner. He is a temperate man 
in his habits, and the confidence that is reposed in 
him by his neighbors and intimate friends, is shown 
by his having been appointed several times as ex- 
ecutor of estates for others. 

During the Civil War Mr. Youngs was the first 
man drafted in Shiawassee Counly, but feeling that 
the responsibilities of home would not permit his 
leaving, he furnished two men as substitutes, one 
for nine months and the other serving three years. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



335 



These substitutes cost liim 1730. He carries on 
geueial fanning, feeling secure tliat if one crop 
fails another will bring up the sliortage. He has 
some fuU-blooil Merino slieep, and owns some fine 
Jersey cows. 



♦S^^' 



l|.=7r'UEDKRICK A. STOW. This gentleman 
^ '-' is numbered among the substantial farmers 




of Clinton County, !;aving by dint of en- 
ergy and prudent management become the pos- 
sessor of a fine tra'^t of land numbering two hun- 
dred and eighty- acres. The comfortable farmhouse 
in which he abides is situated on section 10, Dallas 
Townshiji, where Mr. Stow first bought one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land. He Game hither in 
March, 1H70, an<l since that time has been carry- 
ing on his enterprise with increasing success He 
cleared and broke one hundred and sixty acres 
of the himl lie now owns, and has made various 
improvements, so that the place is now well regu- 
lated in every respect, with a line of substantial 
buildings, good fences, thriving orchards and adorn- 
ments suited to '.he suiroundings. 

The Stow f:'.mily is traced back to the old Bay 
State, wlience the grandfatlier of our subject re- 
moved to New York many ^ears ago. He after- 
ward came to this State and was among the pio- 
neers of Washtenaw County, where he died of 
cholera during the '30s. His son, Aianson, who is 
next in the direct line, was born in New York 
October 12, 1803, and lived in lliat Stale until 
1835. He then came to IMicliigan and settled on 
a farm in Washtenaw County, liut later removed 
to Jackson County, where he died June 2, 1851. 
He endured the privatiojis of [)ioneer life in Wash- 
tenaw County, where the liowling of wolves was 
often heaul and deer frequently seen l)y those 
who stood in the vanguard of civilization. lie 
cleared and broke mueii land and necessarily lab- 
ored long and hard. He always voted the Demo- 
cratic ticket. an<l he and his wife belonged to the 
Methodist Cliurch. Mrs. Stow, whose maiden name 
was Catherine F. Bennett, w.as born in Seneca 
County, N. Y. Her father, James Bennett, was born 
in Dublin, Iielind, but her motlier was a native of 



Pennsylvania. Mrs. Stow died August 14, 1850. 
They were the parents of four sons ami two 
ilaughters, as follows: James B., onr subject, .Sarah 
E., Henrietta, George and Aslifield, only two of 
whom are now living. George resides in Colorado. 

Frederick Stow, tlic sul)ject of this notice, was 
born in Seneca County, N. Y., April 13, 1832, 
and w.as a child of about three years old when he 
caim to Michigan. His school privileges were 
limited by circumstances to a short attendance 
each year in the pioneer schools, but he had a 
good home training, and like many another born 
and reared in that day and age, developed a 
read}' intelligence that counterbalaneed the de- 
ficiencies in schooling. He remained at liome 
until he h.ad arrived at man's estate, and then 
for about two years worked bj- the month at farm- 
ing. He tiien went to Grand Rapids, where he 
was living wiien tlie war began, and he felt that 
his duly as a patriot called ui)on him to lake his 
place in the array. 

In 18G1 Mr. Stow enlisted and was mustered in 
as a |)rivale in Compauv B, Third Michigan In- 
fantry. June 10 he rose to the rank of Second 
Lieutenant, January 1 following was commis- 
sioned First LiculenanI, au<l October 25 became 
Captain. He served until March 28. 1863. when 
he was lionor.abl}' discharged. Among the fields 
on which lie fought were Blackburn's Ford, Bull 
Hun, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, 
(Jreend.ile, White Oak Swamp. Malvern Hill, the 
second Bull Run, Chanlilly and l''redericksbnrg. 
As all old soldieis and liislorians remember, these 
contlicis followed closely' one upon another and 
liie intervals were fre(iuentl\' spent in hard marches 
and little rest was afforded l\w troops who took 
part. Besides the battles mculioned, Capt. Stow 
was jiresenl during the siege of Yorklown in 18(;2. 

January 2G, 1803, Capt. Stow was tnnrried to 
Henrietta, daughter of P'ranklin and .Mruia (Welch) 
Chubb. Her father, a native of Massaeliusetls, 
came to this Slate early in the '30s, and in 1831 
established a home in Ionia County. He was mar- 
ried in Ann Arbor, his wife being a native of 
New York, anil their daughter, Antoinette, was 
the (irst while female child born in Ionia County. 
Their other cliildren are Hector, Henry, lleiiii- 



336 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ettn, James .iiid Lorettc. IMr. Chubb was aa old- 
line Whig. He W.1S .Justice of the Peace a number 
of years and when he died, in 1859, Ionia County 
lost one of lier principal and honored i>ioneers. 
Mr. Stow and iiis wife have two sons — George F. 
and Artliur F. Tlic cider was graduated from 
tlie Agricultural College in Lansing, in 1888, and 
llie younger is now studying there. 

After his discharge from tlic army Mr. Stow 
engaged in the sale of merchandise in Grand 
Rapids and followed a commercial life until 18G9. 
He then made liis home in Lj'ons Township, Ionia 
County, a year, after wiiicli he came to Clinton 
County and has remained on his farm. Being in- 
terested in the advancement of agriculturists, both 
materially and mentally, he is connected witli the 
Grange. lie belongs to R. G. Hutchison Post, 
No. 129, G. A. R., in Fowler. He is convinced 
that the Rei)iiblican platfoi'm embo<lies tlie truest 
political principles, and lie votes to support it. 
His religious liome is in tlie Presbyterian Cliurch, 
and he is a well-rcspcctcd member of society. 



> . ^^*^c-i ■?»*?<«^"^>>v«- — 



v 



ILLIAM DETWILER. To any one who 
is interested in the commercial prosperity 
of Henderson, Shiawassee County, a sketch 
of its prominent business men will be of value. 
Tlie gentleman of whom we write is the principal 
merchant and grain dealer of this village and his 
career is full of instruction, especially to the j'oung 
who would learn how to attain success in life. He 
is a Pennsylvanian liy birth, being born in Bucks 
County, June 18, 1819. His father, John Dctwilei, 
w.as a well-known farmer in Montgomery County, 
that Slate. He received the education which was 
then available for all young Pennsylvanians, and 
upon reacliing his majority took to himself a wife 
in the person of Anna Detwiler. 

Jacob and Elizabeth ( Hoinsickcr) Detwiler, ilie 
parents of Mrs. John Detwiler, had a family of 
four children, and their daiigliter Anna became the 
mother of sixteen children, which were equally 



divided between sons and daugliters. She and her 
worMi3' husband passed their last years in Bucks 
County, Pa., wliere they lie side by side in their 
last rest. 

A common-school education was ?dl tliat was 
granted to tlie subject of tliis sketch but he gained 
practical knowledge upon the farm where he 
worked until he was eighteen j'ears old, and there 
also learned economy, perseverance and industry, 
which have lioen golden lessons to liim. When he 
left the farm he learned the trade of a miller and 
worked at it for four years in Pennsylvania and 
followed that business for ten years in Wayne 
County, Ohio. Wlien lie had reached a point wliere 
he felt liiuiself independent and able to support a 
family lie took to liiinsclf a wife, being married in 
184G to Elizabeth Wellhouse, daugliler of George 
and Elizabeth (Nyswanger) Wellhouse. Her fa- 
ther was a German and her mother a native of 
Maryland and she was one of a family of ten chil- 
dren. 

The first home of the young couple was in 
Wayne County, Ohio, where Mr. Detwiler w.as in 
the milling business for ten 3'ears and on a farm 
for twenty years, having two hundred and four- 
teen acres in Chippewa Township. In 1874 Ihc^- 
came to Rush Township, buying one hundred and 
twenty acres on section 14. Later he sold that 
and bought land in tlie village, and in 1888 pur- 
chased one hundred and thirteen acres on section 
24. Seven bright and interesting children have 
blessed this liome, namely: Caroline, who became 
tlie wife of G. D. Palmer, of Medina County, Oliio, 
and passed from earth in Henderson, Mich., July 
31,1881. Ella, who became the wife of Hugo 
Prycr, of Cleveland, Ohio, and died in May, 1874; 
Leota who became the wife of Dr. J. II. Bare, of 
Saginaw, Midi. ; George who lives in Henderson; 
John, Harvey and Walter who have all passed 
awiiy from earlli. 

The Methodist E|)iscopal Church is the lield of 
the religious labors of Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler, and 
the latter is especially useful in church work, being 
a teacher in the Sunday-school and active in every 
good work. They are liberal contributors to 
church puriioses and helpful in many waj's. Mr. 
Detwiler allies himself with the Republican party 




'^^.o^') J^^iy^^-e^^^d #^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



339 



and is pleased to rerauinber that his first vote for a 
President was for William Henry Harrison and his 
last vote for the illustrious grandson of that in- 
cumbent of the Presidential chair. George Det- 
wiler is in business with his father and tiiey arc 
handling grain of all kinds as well as farm produce, 
tlicir store being the laigest and most important 
in the village. 



<il IfelLLIAM HAVENS, M. D. The Havens 
\/jJ// family is one of those in which an exccp- 
\!/¥j tionally close sympathy exists between 
husband and wife, extending even into business 
relations, both being students of the same profes- 
sion and successful practitioners. The firm, which 
is composed of Dr. William Havens and his esti- 
mable wife, is one that is well known in and about 
St. John's, as that city has been their home for a 
score of years. They are doing a fine business, 
and both arc looked up to with admiring respect 
liy those whose friends they have brought back 
from the gates of death or to whom pcisonally 
they have lu'ought relief from pain and a rcnc^wcd 
lease of life. 

Dr. Havens was born in Hetliany, Genesee 
County, N. V., January 1, Its;? I, and is the eldest 
and only surviving child in a faniilj' of seven. He 
was a wc.'ik, puny child until he was about nine 
years old, when he began to gain in strength, and 
when fourteen he was as rugged as most boys of 
his years. I'p to that age his home was in Beth- 
any, and he first studied in the district school, 
and then in the seminary. He also aided in the 
ilry-goods store which his father was carrying on. 
In 1845 his parents came to Lansing, and within a 
few weeks were located on a farm, which the father 
developed from its primitive condition to one of 
fair appearance and great productiveness. The lad 
aided in the efforts which were necessary to accom- 
plish this purpose, ami made his home under the 
parental roof until he was twenty-four years old. 
He had previously studied medicine, lieginning when 
nineteen with Di-. McClure, of Lansing, who was 



his preceptor for more than a year. He then at- 
tended medical school there, luit did not enter 
upon the practice of liis chosen profession until 
some years later. 

In Lansing in 1855 Mr. Havens was married to 
Miss Mary P. Baker, a native of Ohio, and they 
established their home in Tomjjkins Township, 
.lackson County on a farm. For a year our sub- 
iect operated a tract of two hundred and twenty- 
five acres, of which he was the owner, but lie could 
not be satisfied with farm life, and so he resunied 
the stud}' of therapeutics. He pursued his work 
in Lansing with Drs. Baily <t Olds, and in 18G8 
entered Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, 
from which he was graduated in 1871 with the de- 
gree of Doctor of Medicine. The next year he 
received the same degree from the Michigan State 
Homeopathic ISIedical College, and in the cai)ital 
he began his medical work. He practiced some 
before he com|)lctcd the course of study, as is often 
the case with those who wish to make practical ap- 
plication of their in.struction in order to better 
l)rep3re themselves for the finishing courses of lec- 
tures. 

In 1871 Dr. Havens located in St. John's imme- 
diately after his graduation from the Chicago Col- 
lege, and his work has only been interrupted by his 
.additional course in Lansing and the visits he has 
paid to other parts of the country-. He h.as made 
a specialty of heart disease. Mrs. Havens is also a 
graduate of the Michigan State Homeopathic Medi- 
cal College, and her own special calls are numer- 
ous. They have three chihlren — Mary E., George 
C. and Lillian 1)., and the son is also a physician. 
He was graduated from Hahnemann College in 
Chicago, and the Commercial College at Lansing, 
and is ))racticing in Fowler, this Slate. 

Dr. Havens has real estate in Lansing and a 
pleasant residence property in St. John's. He is 
also interested in Colorado lands, iiarticularly at 
Aspen, and is quite in love with ihe CciUennial 
State. He visited that section in 1890. He is a 
Mason, connected with l)oth the lilue Lodge and 
the Chapter, and belongs to the State Homeopathic 
Medical Society. Politically, he is a Democrat. 
Mrs. Havens is an Episcopalian. The fine charac- 
ters and abounding intelligence of both give them 



340 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



an added hold upon the people, and their names 
are among those of the most honored residents in 
the city. A lithographic portrait of Dr. Havens 
appears on another page. 



<iY/OHN N. HARDER is the son of Nicholas P. 
Harder, M. D., deceased. The latter, one of 
the early physicians of Shiaw.issee County, 
leftas an inheritance to his family a reputa- 
tion of which his progeny' maj' well be proud. He 
was famed far and near for e.'icelleut judgment, pro- 
fessional skill an.l progressive and practical ideas. 
Dr. Fox testifies that he preferred to pr.actice with 
Dr. Harder rather than with any other of the early 
physicians. He was a brainy man, a great student 
and was active in looking up new methods of dress- 
ing wounds and treating disease. He was a student 
of Kinderhook Institute anil received his license to 
practice from the -State of New York. He was 
considered a man of advanced ideas for his oppor 
tunities. 

Nicholas P. Harder, the first Doctor in this county, 
settled in the township of Siiiawassee in 1837, arriv- 
ing here October 11, from Sullivan County, N. Y., 
whence he had been one month on the way coming 
by wagon. He traveled tiirough Canada with his 
family which consisted of his wife and her baby, 
Nicholas P. Jr., then two or three years old, his 
wife's two sons by a previous marriage, Moses P. 
and Jose[)h L. Gardner, then lads of seventeen and 
fourteen years respectively and his own four child- 
ren by his first marriage, .John Nelson, aged seven- 
teen, Henry, aged fourteen; Hannah, aged fifteen 
and Adeline a girl of ten years. 

Dr. N. P. Hardcr's first wife was Margaret 
Snyder, who had died when our subject was 
fourteen years old. The second wife bore the 
m liden name of Sallie Purvis and at the time of her 
marriage with Dr. Harder, was tiie widow of Jos- 
eph Gardner. One child was born after the re- 
moval of the family to Michigan, Norman A. who 
lives on the old homestead. Tlie Harders are of 
Holland descent and belong to one of Uk; old 
Knickerbocker families of New York. The old 



Doctor died December 8, 186.'5, at the age of 
seventy-seven j-ears. His wife survived him some 
twenty-three years, and passed away at the age of 
eighty-seven in 1887. 

The father of our subject began to practice medi- 
cine when he was about twenty-three years old, 
and he had a broad palrQnage and was the famil}' 
physician of manj- of the first families of this and 
adjoining countries. He accumulated a line es- 
tate of three hundred and eighty-five acres in one 
body. He was a man of fine physique and stood 
six feet in his stockings, weighing one hundred and 
eigiit>- [Mjunds. He was Supervisor for fifteen years 
in New York and also in Shiaw.assee County, where 
he was County Treasurer for a number of years. 
While in this otflce he resided in Corunna but 
afterward returned to his farm. He had an ex- 
tensive ride and often slept on his horse and many 
times iiad to find his way through the woods by 
blazed trees. Politically he was an old-line Whig 
and then a Republican and attended to his practice 
up to almost the da}' of his death which was occa- 
sioned by an attack of pneumonia. 

The subject of this sketch was born June 17, 
1^20, in Columbia County, N. Y., and was 
seven years old when the family removed to Sulli- 
van County and seventeen 3'ears old when they 
emigrated to Michigan. In 1853 he went to Cali- 
I fornia, starting January 24 and crossing the Isth- 
I mus, ijeing gone two years and seven months. He 
had a true love for agricultural pursuits and has car- 
ried on farming all his life. He wiis not married 
until about thirty years old, his first marriage tsk- 
1 ing place June 9, 1850, when he was united with 
j Miss Martha L. Seymour, who died December IG, 
' 1863, just after he had been bereaved of his 
father. 

The second marriage of John N. Harder oc- 
curred February 21, 1865, his bride being Eliza 
A. Austin who died March 22, of the next 
year. On February 13, 1868, John N. Harder was 
united in marriage with Julia Loomis, of Shiawas- 
see Township, the widow of T. C. Loomis. His 
children are: Sidney, who died when two years old, 
was the eldest; Addie, Mrs. I. W. Loomis, of Oceana 
County and Eva, who died at the age of seven years, 
twins; Grace, Mrs. Edward Banner, of Shiawassee; 



POUTIiAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



341 



John N., who lives at Durand, and Kate, Mrs. .7. 
E. Gundeman, who lives in Sliiw:is.ssee Town- 
ship, are twins; Fred IL, who died in infane3'. 
Tliese are all the children of his first wife. The 
second wife had one daughter, Kliza M. who died 
when three years old, and the third wife left an 
infant Frank M. who is now Iwent^'-one years old. 
and a carpenter b}- trade. He was .assist.int teacher 
in the High School at Bancroft in 1890 and 1891. 

Mr. Harder is a prominent member of the Order 
of Odd Fellows, and has passe<l all the chairs and 
is highly honored Ijj' his comrades. The maiden 
name of Mrs. Harder was Julia A. Card and she 
was a daughter of Joseph and Electa ( Wilminiiton) 
Card, who came from Madison Counly, N. Y. to 
Michigan in 184C, when this daughter was twelve 
jearsold. Her father w.as a shoemaker bj' trade 
and died when Julia was fifteen years old, and his 
wife passed awa)' in 187G. Julia was born in 1834, 
on September 16 and when seventeen j'cars old 
married Trumbull C. Loorais. She had three chil- 
dren by this marriage, Ida, Mrs. Frank Rcmer of 
Oceana County; Will.who lives in Jackson County; 
and Fred who died in infancy. 

Our subject is a strong adherent of tlic Repub- 
lican principles and doctrine. 



^ 



E^ 




EV. R. D. STEARNS. This name is a fa- 
miliar one in St. John's, Clinton County, 
as the figure of him who bears it is fre- 
^'^' Qiiently met going about in pursuance of 
the high and holy duties devolving upon a servant 
of the Lord and a shepherd over one of His flocks. 
Mr. Stearns is the Rector of the Episcopal Churcli 
and devotes himself zealously to the work in which 
he is deeply interested, giving all his time to the 
promotion of the interests of the Church. Not 
only does he enter with his whole heart into those 
matters which add to the attractiveness and power 
of the church services, but he is equally zealous 
regarding the societies and other avenues by which 
the cause of Christianity can be promoted. He is 
a fluent speaker, ple.asing in his a<ldress u|)on all 
occasions, and is a scholarly and studious man. 



In the veins of Mr. Stearns there flows a double 
strain of Revolutionary blood, t)oth his grandfath- 
ers having fought for release from British op- 
pression. His paternal gran<lfatlier, wlio was the 
son of an emigrant from Scotland, died in Massa- 
chusetts. In I'ittsfield, that State, Isaac H. Stearns, 
father of the lector, was born, but after growing 
to manhood lie located in Pawlet, \t. He subse- 
quently removed to New York, making his home 
in Otsego anil then in Oswego County. He was 
engaged 'n the manufacture of woolen goods and 
on three occasions had his bu-iiness establishment 
destroyed by fire. He. however, lecovered from 
the effects of these calamities, acquired a compe- 
tence and retired from active life during middle 
age. He inherited the s|iirit of his father and 
fought in the War of 1812. He died in Oswego, 
in Oswego County, N. Y., during the '60s, when 
sixt3'-four years old. He was a consistent mem- 
ber of the I'.aplist Church, and his wife, who also 
died in the Empire State, was a Methodist. Mrs. 
Stearns bore the maiden name of Lois Doaiie and 
was born in Powlct, Vt. The parental family con- 
sisted of nine sons and daughters and the name of 
R. D. was f<iurtii oii tiie faniil\' roll. 

The Rev. Mr Stearns was born in Edmonston, 
Otsego County, N. Y., February 18, 1821, and 
was but six months old when his parents removed 
to Pulaski, Oswego County. He attended the 
common schools and then took a preparatory 
course in Mexico and Belleville. When nineteen 
years old he became a stuticnt in Union Col- 
lege at Schenectady, matriculating in the jun- 
ior class of the classical course. He was grad- 
uated two years later and spent the ensuing 
three years in an Episcopal Theological Sem- 
inary in New York. At the conclusion of his 
course of study there he was ordained by Bishop 
De Lancy, the ordination services taking place at 
Grace Church, New York City, in 1841. The 
first parish over which Mr. Stearns had charge was 
that of St. John's Church in Sackett's Harbor, 
where he was rector four years. Two thirds of 
his congregation belonged to the arnij' and navy 
and among them were such men as Gens. Grant 
and. Hunt, and Capt. Sawyer, of the navy. With 
Grant he was on (luite intimate terms, and he re- 



342 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



calls many an occasion on -which thej- were togeth- 
er enjoj'ing a delightful time. 

From Sackett's Harbor the Rev. Mr. Stearns 
went to Medhia, Orleans County, where he was 
rector of St. John's Cluirch for nineteen years. 
Thence he removed to Boonton, N. J., where he 
labored five years, during which period the parson- 
age was l)uilt. He ne.\t spent eight years in White 
AVater Wis., following which he was the rector in 
St. Louis, this State. Here he was located four 
j'cars and brouglit to completion, a !iilO,000 church, 
lie rcxt came to St. .lolin's, Jlich., in 1885 and 
here he has continued the record of former years, 
bringing up liie standard of ciiurch membership and 
work, and increasing tiie value of church property 
by good iniiirovements. The rectory which lie has 
l)ut up is an ornament to the [ilace and the church 
property is well located and valuable. In fact it 
is the finest in the county seat and one in which 
people, whetiier members of tiie society or not, take 
pleasnre and pride. 

In his aims and labors the Rev. Mr. Stearns has 
tlie wise and hiving sympathy of liis wife, who dis- 
plays an eqnnl activity witli himself in religious 
work. She lias been organist and an active mem- 
ber in the ladies' societies, ami active in every so- 
cial effort in whi'h tlie churcli can take a part. 
She was known in iier maidenhood as Miss Eliza- 
beth Cooke, and became Mrs. Sterns at Water- 
town, N. Y., September 23, 1850. She was born 
at the r>rooklyn Navy Yard, N. Y., her father be- 
ing a suigeon in tlie United States Navy. Dr. An- 
drew B. Cooke went through the war of 1812, and 
was Fleet Surgeon on the Mediterranean when 
taken sick and bro'igiit home to die. He had 
sailed around the world three times. Mrs. Stearns 
was educated at Mrs. Willard's Seminary in Troy, 
N. Y., and acquired a degree of culture that in- 
cluded the best qualities of her nature in its force, 
and gave iier especial Illness for the jjosition to 
whieli she was called v;lien she became a wife. 

Of children horn to her four passed the age of 
chililliood, but one only now survives. William 
R. dieil in Medina, N. Y., and Emily B., in Boon- 
ton, N. .1., when fifteen years old. Charles W. 
breathed his last in Elgin, 111., in ISSI), when twen- 
ty six 3'c:us of age; lie was then engaged with tiie 



Elgin Watch Company. Edward A., the third 
child, is a resident of South Omaha, Neb., and be- 
longs to the reportorial staff of the Stockyards 
Journal. The Rev. Mr. Stearns was connected 
with a Masonic lodge at Boonton, N. J. and is 
still identified with the Royal Arcanum, He exer- 
cises the right of suffrage with the Republican Re- 
pul)lican i)arty and is as firm a believer in its prin- 
ciples as one could hope to see. His efficiency as 
a minister is due to some extent to iiis personal 
qualities, which gain the friendship of those to 
whom he becomes known and attract to his servi- 
ces those who otherwise might not enter the 
ciiurch. 



TIS L. RICE, a well-known farmer and 
stock-raiser of Essex Township, Clinton 
County, and a native of Macomb County, 
this State, was born August 22, 1839. He is a son 
of llarlow and Catherine Rice, the former being a 
native of Connecticut and the latter of New York 
State arid botii early settlers in Macomb County, to 
vvliicli they came in the '30s. Our subject was 
reared to manhood in iiis native county and has 
been a life long farmer. He received the advan- 
tages of a common-school education and enjoyed 
the instruction of earnest and <levoted teachers, 
whose inlluence made him an extensive reader and 
stimulated him to self improvement through life, 
but the curriculum of those |)ioiieer schools was 
not broad and his course was cutshort I)}' the neces- 
sary demands of a pioneer life. 

Mr. Rice was in 1871, united in marriage with 
Mary Sligiit, who is a daughter of George and 
Helen Slight, natives of England. They came to 
this State in the year 1853, and live in Travis 
City. Mrs. Rice was born September 2, 1848 and 
became the mother of four children, namely: 
Lewis, Clayton, Mabel and Ethel. It was in 1865 
when he icmoved with his family from Macomb 
County, to Clinton County, and finally settled on 
the farm where he now resides. He m.ade his home 
in the unbroken forest, building a log cabin, meas- 
uring some 14x2() feet, before bringing on his fam- 
ily. They lived in this rude dwelling for many 














JIJUA^ 



rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAl'llICAL ALBUM. 



345 



years until in 1888 lie erected the liaiulsomc resi- 
dence whicli is llie crowning beauty of liis farm. 

Mr. Rice owns sixty acres of laml and lias il all 
under good cultivation. His prosperity i.s tlic re- 
sult of his own industry and enterprise, coupled 
with sterling integrity and worth, lie lias done 
much pioneer work here and has received many 
hard knocks in his struggle with the rude forces of 
nature. He earnestly desires the promotion of all 
efforts for the elevation of the social and industrial 
(condition of the farming coranuinity. lie h.as 
served as Assessor in his district for three years, 
and is a Republican in his iiolitical views. Hotli he 
and his worthy wife are earnest and active mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church, in whici'. he 
has served as Treasurer, and is now Trustee, lie 
enjoys the confidence of the business community- 
and is regarded as one of the most trustworthy 
citizens in his township. 



-m- 




)ENJAMIN M. SHEl'ARD, an enterprising 
and prosperous farmer of Clinton County, 

V^)]tl ''■''° ^ good piece of land in Ovid Townslii|ii 
where many conveniences may be seen. 
He was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., Novem- 
ber 24, 1816, and in both lines of descent is of old 
families of the Empire State. His i)areiits were 
Samuel and Eunice (l)akc) She|)ard. who gave 
their sons and daughters as good an education as 
opportunity permitted and taught them many 
tilings not found in text books but necessai-}- U> 
prosperity and happiness. Our sul)ject remained 
on the paternal acres until after he was of age, and 
learned how to carr3' on a farm and develop the 
resources of the land. 

When he had attained to his niajorit\ young 
Sliepard began tiie work of an agriculturist in his 
own behalf, his location being in Erie County, Pa. 
He was about tweiUy five years old when he went 
to Ohio, and established himself in Seneca County 
in whica he owned his first farm. There he re- 
sided ten years, cariying on his chosen work and 
also speculating some. When the period mentioned 
had elapsed, he returned to I'ennsyivania and 



bought his father's homestead, .ind from that time 
uiilil nigh a score of years had passed he made 
the old place his home. He tliou soM out and 
came to this State, choosing Clinton County as 
Ihe seat of his future laliors. He settled uiion a 
partially improved farm iii Oviil Township and 
finished the work of placing the quarter section 
under cultivation. Fioni I8(!l to 1880 he lived 
111)011 that land, then removeil to the tract he now 
occupies. 

During more than thirty years the cares and 
hopes of Mr. Shepard were shared by a trne-hearted 
companion and she bore lier part in the toils and 
pleasures as well. She had borne the name of 
Matilda Stilwcll, was a native of the Keystone 
State and b.'came his wife .laiiuary 1, 18:38. Her 
death occurred at She()ardville, August 17, 1871, 
and she left eight children, whose record is as fol- 
lows: Ijenjainiii E., born September 18, 1839; 
Cyntha A.. November 17, 1811; Samuel C., De- 
cember 5, 1844; Matilda, October 13. 1846; Helen, 
October 11, 1848; Barton, August 30, 1851;.Ianics 
B., March 12, 1851; and Ida .lane, October 31, 
1800. Two of these — Samuel and .lames are now 
engaged in business in Denver, Col., and Benja- 
min died in Lincoln, Nebraska, in February, 188P. 

The piesent wife of Mr. Shepard was united to 
liiiii ill marriage January 6, 1878, at which time 
she was known as Mrs. Elizabeth (Jates. Her for- 
mer home was in the same townshii) in which she 
resides. She is an estimable woman and is cai)ably 
managing the domestic machinery of her home 
anil surrounding her family and friends with good 
cheer. 

William Shepard, brother of our subject, came 
to Clinton County before the latter and around 
his farm a little town sprang u|) that is called 
Shepardsville. lie of whom we write has never 
sought ollice, caring littl'? for the plaudits of the 
crowd and feeling that Hie respo'isililities would 
far outweigh the pleasures. He keeps himself in- 
formed regarding political and other issues, V(iti s 
the Democratic ticket and takes special interest in 
educational matters. He has held some school 
offices, and gives his support to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which he ami !iis wife are 
Ijienibers. He is a lirni believer in the power ot 



346 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGR-APHICAL ALBUM. 



Christian principles and thinks the good of the 
people is subserved by religious souietics even 
though they are not of liis denomination. 

A litliogr.aphic portrait of Mr. Shepard a|)iiear3 
on another page of this volume. 

■^ AMES GOFF is a farmer, residing at Byron, 
Mich. He was born in Argentine, Genesee 
County, this St.ate, February ;!. 1847, and 
is a son of George and Azuba (Stevens) 
Goff. The former was l)orn in East Broomfield, 
Mass., in 1810, where he remained willi liis parents 
until ten or twelve years of age when tlie family 
removed to Caiiandaigua, Ontario County, N. V., 
at which place our subject lived until early in the 
'30s, when lie took up land from the Government 
in Argentine Township, Genesee County. Here he 
lived uutil 1872, when he removed to Byron, tliis 
State, and there he resided for the remainder of liis 
life; he died May 7, 18'JO. He was a farmer, and 
when in early life he came to Michigan, the coun- 
try was a wilderness. There were few roads even 
to point out the path of civilization. He took ui) 
a large tract of land originally, but retained only 
two hundred and forty acres wliicli he cleaied ami 
improved. Like most of the emigrants from tlie 
East, Mr. Goff came to Michigan with only limited 
means and made here what he had. At his deatli 
he had attained a very comfortable competency. 

The father of our subject was a strong Republi- 
can in politics, although he was an ardent upliolder 
of his party, he never held any office. He was a 
consistent and conscientious member of the Chris- 
tian Cliurch. The paternal grandparents of our 
subject were James and Martha (Case) Goff, who 
were natives of New England. They died in On- 
tario County, N. Y. Our subject's motlier was 
born in Chemung Township, Chemung County, N. 
Y., March 5, 1821, and was the daughter of Brins- 
ley and P^lizabetii (Hunt) Stevens, both of wliom 
were natives of New York. They removed to On- 
tario County, N. Y.. and in 1837 came to Mieiii- 
o-an settling in Argentine, (ienesee County, where 
tliey spent the remainder of their lives. The fatlier 



was a soldier in the War of 1812; he was also a 
farmer all his life. 

Our subject's parents have had six children, 
namel}' : Marvin, Martha E., James, George, Cora 
and Isabelle. The eldest and youngest are de- 
ceased. James Goff was raised in Argentine Town- 
ship, Genesee County, on his father's farm and re- 
ceived his education from the district scliools in 
the neighborhood, finishing at Fenlon, Midi. Af- 
terward he attended school at Ovid and at Byron. 
His life thus far was spent on the farm and until the 
fall of 1889 he was content to remain where he was 
brouglit up until he removed to the village of By- 
ron, where he is iiow living witii ids mother. 

Mr. Goff's farm comprises eight}' acres on section 
18, Argentine Tovvnsliip, and on it he takes great 
delight in raising a very high grade of slock. Like 
so many others in Michigan, in 1861 when tliere 
was a call for volunteers, Mr. Goff was among the 
first to respond. He joined the army as a private 
in ComfiMny I, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, and 
served willi the Army of tlic Cumberland until tlie 
close of tlie war. He was mustered out at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., in September, 1865, and received his 
final disciiarge at Jackson, Mich., in Octolier, 1865. 
In July, 1864, he was promoted to First Duty Ser- 
geant, and served in tiiat capacity uutil the close 
of the war. He was in tlie battles of Burnside's 
campaign in East Tennessee, and his regiment 
joined Sherman's arm^- immediatel}' after the Re- 
saca (Ga.) fight. They remained in the Georgia 
campaign, and proceede<l down the State as far as 
Atlanta, participating in the battles of Kenesaw 
Mountain and in the siege of Atlanta and the 
Stoneinan raid. After the battle of Atlanta his 
regiment was sent back to Tennessee, where it 
joined tlie army under Gen. Thomas, and partici- 
pated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. 
During his service in the arm}- he did not miss 
dut)' for a single day, and never sought to be ex- 
cused. He escaped the hardships of a prisoner's 
life, but was at one time five days and nights in the 
woods getting aw.ay from the rebels. 

Mv. Goff is an ardent Republican in politics, and 
although he has served his party well, he has never 
sought emolument in the w.ay of appointment to 
office. He is a Grand Army man, belonging to liie 



I'OKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



347 



D.G. Royce Post, No. 117 at Byion^and is a mem- 
ber of tlie I'liion \'eteran's I'liiuu. He believes in 
llie proU'i-tlon of the farmer, and Is a stroiifj ineiii- 
ber of Uie Fanners' Alliance. October \G. 1872, 
Mr. OolT married Miss Fanny Monroe, of liyron. 
She v.as a native of New York .Stale, born October 
2, 1817, and was a dan<rhler of Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Palley) Monroe. The gentleman whose name 
lieads our list, and his wife, have had two children 
whose names are Howard and Daisy. Their ages 
are respectively (ifteen and nine years. Mrs. (ioff 
died March 10, 1891. She was for many years a 
member in good standing of the Methodist Church. 



ylLLIAM C. PATRICK. This gentlemai 
is the fortunate owner of a line farm con 
sisting of two hundred and thirty one acre 



gentleman 

uon- 

rty one acres 

on sections 5 and 8, Eagle Township, and among the 
agriculturists of Clinton County he occupies an 
honorable position both by reason of his ability 
and character. He has done well in life (inancially 
speaking and has been useful in his day and gener- 
ntion by setting a good example and by the exer- 
cise of valor as a defender of the I'nion. He spent 
several of the best^ears of his earl^' manhood in the 
Fnion Army and no duty was too hard and no 
danger too hazardous for him to endure i.i his 
country's behalf. The farm he now occupies he 
has called home since his boyhood and he has Iht re- 
fore become widelj' known in this part of the State. 
The parents of our suijjeet, Jolin and Eliza (Cole- 
man) Patrick, as well as their son, were born in 
N<irlhami)lon, England, and came to America hi 
1853. They settled in Livingston County,, N. Y., 
but after living there four years came to this Stale 
and took possession of land now included in the 
son's farm. William was liorn January 17, 18 11, 
and received i)ut a common-school e(iMealion,s|)enil- 
ing the intervals of study in work for his father. 
He was twenty years old when he determined to 
enter the army and give the strengtii of his j'oung 
manhood to the I'nion cause. lb' enlisted in Sep- 
tember, 18GI, in Company E, One Hundred and 



Fourth New York Infantry, and was sent to the 
Army of the Potomac. When the troops were 
organized into corps he was attached to the First 
Arm3- Corps. The first engagement iii which the 
regiment took part was at Cedar Mountain, Va., in 
the summer of 1862. This w:is followed by a light 
at Rappahannock Station and this in turn by one at 
Thoroughfare Gap, where they were sent to inter- 
cept Lee. Here the [hn\)n troops were repulsed 
and not long afterward tliey took part on the famed 
field of Bull Run. 

In September, 18t;2, Mr. Patrick and his com- 
rades fought at Autietam, where the regiment lost 
heavily. After the victory there they went south 
to the Rappahannock and took |)art in Burnside's 
campaign, fighting at Fredericksburg and elsewhere. 
They al.so fought under Gen. Hooker at Chancel- 
lors ville in the siiring of 18(i3, arriving there in 
time to sui)port the Eleventh Corps, that h.ad been 
stampeded. They were detailed on picket duty and 
covererl the retreat next d.ay. When Lee invaded 
Maryland and Pennsylvania in June, 18C3, their 
corps was in the advance following him, and reached 
Gettysburg in time to make the first attack. 
Among the killed at that point was the gallant 
Gen. Reynolds and but thirty-five of the regiment 
were left to answer roll call, all the others being 
killed, wounded or missing. Mr. I'atrick was badly 
wounded in the hip during the first day's fight and 
being in a serious condition was left on the field, 
while others who were but slightly wounded were 
carried along by the rebels in their .etreat. After 
the soldiers had passed he was taken to a field hos- 
l)ital where he remained three months and was then 
sent to Philadelphia. In that city he remained 
nine months, when he w.as discharged on account 
of wounds received while in the service. For over 
four years he carried the ball in his bod}'. From 
the date of his discharge he drew a pension of 18 
per month and this has recently been increased to 

After his discharge Mr. Patrick returned to his 
old home and located on section 8, of the same 
township. In the course of time he returner! to the 
section on which he had spent his youth and where 
he has continued to make his home, .\mong the 
members of his household is his agerl father, nnw 



348 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



seventy-five years o!rl. In charge of the domestic 
affairs is liis devoted wife to whom lie was marrieil 
November 28, 1868. She bore the maiden name of 
Rebecca Morris and is a daiigiiter of William Mor- 
ris, a native of England, where she also was born 
June 12, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick are the happy 
parents of five living children and they sorrow for 
the death of a son Meade, who died vvlien three and 
a half years old. Their surviving children are John 
J., AVilliam, Charles, Henry C. and Rose May. 

In his use of the elective franciiisc Mr. Patrick 
supports candidates named on the Republican 
ticket, as he firmly believes the priiicii)les they are 
pledged to support are best calculated for the needs 
of the nation. He and his wife belong to the 
United Brethren Church in Portland and earnesti}' 
endeavor to carry the jjrinciples of Christianity 
into the actions of every day life. 



UTHER RYON, who is engaged in general 

farming and stock-raising on section 4, 8ci- 

^ ota Townslii|), Shiawassee County, was born 



in Kendall, Orleans County, N. Y., April 1, 183;), 
and is a representative of one of the early families 
of this count}'. His parents, Daniel and Mahala 
(Stanhoi)e) Ryon, came to Michigan in 1845, and 
settled in Calhoun County, where they made their 
home until 1856. In that year, they took up their 
residence upon section 34, in the town of Middle- 
bury, where they are still living. In his 3'ouuger 
j'ears, Mr. Ryon learned the cooper's tr.ade, which 
he followed in the East, but on coming to Michi- 
gan, he embarked in farming, which he has since 
made his life work. At tlie time of his arrival here, 
the land was all wild, not a furrow having been 
turned. He built a log cabin, 16x20 feel after 
clearing a small patch of timl)er away and wiien 
his family were established therein, he turned his 
attention to the development of the land, making 
an excellent farm. In |)olitics, Mr. Ryon is a Dem- 
ocrat. In the family are seven children, all of 
whom are living — Willard W., Luther, Sarah L., 
John J., Austin, Nancy D., and Charles. 

Since his seventh year, Luther Ryon has been a 



citizen of Michigan. He was reared in Calhoun 
County, and received a ver}' limited education as 
his famil}' was then in poor circumstances, and his 
services were needed at home vipon the farm. He 
remained under the parental roof until twenty 
J'ears of age, when lie left home and began to work 
by the month as a farm hand. He came to this 
county with his parents in 1855, and after working 
for others for a yenv or more, he and his brother 
Willard purchased eighty acres of land, the farm on 
which he now makes his home, then a wild and un- 
improved tract. After a time he bought out his 
brother's interest and bj' hard labor, untiring en- 
ergy and perseverance has developed one of the 
best farms in this locality. His outbuildings are 
models of convenience, his machinery is of the lat- 
est imjiroved styles, and his well-tilled fields pre- 
sent a most pleasing appearance. la connection 
with general farming, he engages quite extensivelj' 
in stock-raising, and has some fine specimens of 
blooded thoroughbred cattle, including Short-horns 
and other breeds. He also has a fine imported 
horse, Duke of Hamilton, valued at 12,000. 

On the Oth of October, 1863, Mr. Ryon was 
united in marriage with Miss Cornelia A. Balcom, 
of Sciota Township, who was born in New York, 
September 5, 1841, and was a daughter of Charles 
and Caroline (Hills) Balcom. By their union one 
child was born, a daughter. Bertha A. The death 
of Mrs. Ryon occurred May 5, 1890, and was deeply 
regretted by man}' warm friends. She was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church, as is also the daugh- 
ter. 

In politics, Mr. Ryon is independent, having 
allied himself with no party, but holding himself 
free to support whoever he pleases regardless of 
party alliliatioiis. He has held a number of town- 
ship ollices, the duties of which he discharged with 
promptness and fidelity, and is a member of the 
Patrons of Industry. He also holds membership 
with the Methodist Church, and is an active 
workei- in its interests. To every enterprise or 
movement calculated to upbuild or benefit the 
community lie gives his support and is accounted 
one of the leading and valued citizens of the town- 
ship. He owns one of the finest farms and most 
beautiful homes in the vicinity which is the result 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



^:,\ 



of his own efforts, and lie may trnlj' be called a 
sclf-inadc man. 

Tlie allenlion of tlic reader is invited to a view 
of the fine homestead of Mr. Ryon and also to his 
portrait presented in uonneeliun with this brief 
biographical notice. 



<| felLLIAM F. HALL. In Ovid Township, 
\rJ// Clinton County, is a pleasant far n of 
^(^ eighty-five acres, owned and occu|)icd by 
the gentleni.in above named. Wlieu Sir. Hall 
came hither in the fall of 1864 he found the tract 
covered witli iieavy limber, and in clearing and 
devcloi)iiig his pro|)erty ho did nuich pioneer work'. 
He removed the trees from forty acres and made 
all the imi)rovements now to be seen upon his 
estate. He has a good house, barn and sheds and 
a small but thrifty orchard, and his fields are in a 
high state of cultivation. 

Mr. Hall was born in Wayne County, N. Y., 
September 1, 1832, his parents being .lacob K. :\nd 
Huldah (Wood) Hall. They removed to Michigan 
in 1835, settling in Macomb County, where the 
father cut a way into the woods and cleared up a 
large farm, hewing out his home from the foi'est. 
He had two hundred and twenty* acres, a [larl of 
which he placed under cultivation before his 
decease, wliich occurred when his son William was 
about twelve years old. The mother of our sub- 
ject had breathed her last some six years before, 
leaving seven children, of wiiom lie was the 
youngest. 

The lad received such an education as farmers 
generally give their sons, but after the deatii of iiis 
father he had his own career to carve out. He 
worked in Macomb County until he w.as of age, 
then went to Oakland County and for some time 
worked in the store of his brotiier, John C, in I'on 
tiac. In that city he began his wedded life and 
he remained there some two years after his tnar- 
riage. He then came to the farm he now occu- 
pies, where he and his wife have gathered about 
them many comforts and conveniences. During 
the year made famous by the great Chicago (ire 



and the destruction of forests in the Northwest, he 
had to light against the devouring clement which 
occasioned the farmers in this section much anxiety. 
April 5, 1861, Mr. Hall and Miss Ruth Wood- 
ard of Macomb County were united in marriage. 
They have had three children, whose record is as 
follows: Jenny K., who was born March 18, 1802. 
married George 1'. Casler, a farmer of Middlebur}' 
Township; Hattie, born January 19, 18G6, is the 
wife of George \'incent and their home is in Oviil; 
(ieorge J., who was born October 25, 1868, mar- 
ried Kdith Allen and resides with his parents. Mr. 
Hall has never held oflice except one connected with 
eJucational affairs, in which he has ever been much 
interested. For about nine years he has been a 
School Director and his interest in good schools is 
well known to his neighbors and ac(|uaiiilances. 
He is one of those who believe that llie regu- 
lation, or rallier the proljil>ition of the manulacture 
and sale of liquor, is aii act for which all lovers of 
their country should work and he li:is enlercl the 
ranks of the rroliiliitiou part}'. He is a well res- 
pected member of the community, carries on his 
farm intelligently anil with earnestness, and in 
social and domestic life, is kindly and considerate. 



^p^EORGK EASLEU. We are alw.ays ghul to 
*[ (— , welrome to Ameiica natives of (Jermany, 
^^^^ for they represent one of the best classes C)f 
people that have so greatly helped to develop the 
resources of our country, (ieorge Easier, the 
owner of the farm located on section 17, \'ernon 
Township, was born in Elsus, Germany, June 18, 
1830. His father was Frederick Easier, also a 
native of Germany, and was a grain and fruit buyer 
in that country. He came to America about 1838, 
going direct to Sullield Township, I'ortage County, 
Ohio, and located on a twenty- live acre faun. 
Here he bent his energies to work out the Herman 
idea of agricultural improvement, which means t<) 
make land produce three times as much to the acre 
as does the ordinary American. 

The father died in Ohio at the age of about sixty- 
two years. He was a member of the Lutheran 



352 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 



Chiucli. Oar subject's motliei's maiden name was 
Lena Wagner, also a native of Germany. She 
lived to be about fifty years of age and was also a 
strict member of the Lutheran Cluircli. Our sub- 
ject was tlie second child of tlie family and about 
eight years old when he canio to America with his 
parents. He started out in life for himself at the 
age of fourteen years, working by the mouth on 
adjoining farms. He then went to Aitron/Ohio, 
where he entered a hotel in order to learn the trade 
of a pastrj' cook. He worked there for one month 
for $i, tiience went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he 
learned to make rope. He remained with the 
master for six years, having bound himself for that 
length of time. At the expiration of this time he 
went to Louisville, Ky., where he remained one 
summer, working at his trade, that of rope making. 
A visit to his home was made about this time and 
then he returned to Pittsburg, Pa., where he staid 
for one month. Thence in the spring of 1851 he 
went to St. Louis, Mo., there working at his trade 
for one sumuKr. He removed to Lexington, Mo., 
and remained one winter and then, attracted by the 
gold iraze in California, he took his way Westward. 
He was one of one imndred and sixteen men wlio 
drove sixteen hundred and sixtyQve head of cattle 
and two hundred head of mules across the plains. 
Arrived in California, he took up mining •-vhicli he 
followed for two years, during which time he was 
more fortunate than man3-, in that he was able to 
take away willi him -i!;5.000. With this he i)urchased 
a farm in Summit County, Ohio. The i)lace com- 
prised one iiundred acres and was well improved. 
Having acquired a home, Mr. Easier needed a 
wife to brighten and make homelike the |)lace and 
he was united in marriage to a lady whose maiden 
name was Catherine Henr}-. She was a native of 
(icrmany. Mr. an<l jNlrs. Easier became the parents 
of three children, one daughter and two sons. 
Sarah A., the daughter, is book-keeper in a dry- 
goods store at Jsorth l>r;uich, Lapeer County, 
Mich.; George W., resides on the farm with his 
father and manages the [jlace; Edward resides in 
Vernon Township, his farm immediately joining 
that of our subject on the soutii. In 18G9 our 
sulijcct lost his first wife and his second union was 
with Martha Ewell, a native of Port.agc, Ohio; she 



was born May 22, 1841, and was the sixth child of 
Lorenzo Ewell. She has presented her husband 
with one child — Fred L., who resides at home. 

In 1875 the original of our sketch sohl out his 
farm in Ohio and came directly to ^'erIlon Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, this Slate, and purchased 
the place where he now lives. He owns one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of well-improved land and has 
a dwelling, pleasant and comfortable, which cost 
him ¥5,000. It is a two-story frame wiih a |)leas- 
ant outlook and beautifully tinishcd inside in hard- 
wood. Mr. Easier prides himself that his house is 
exceptionally well built and that there is not a 
board in it which has a knothole as large as a 
silver quarter. He pai<l ftjr his farm and suili im- 
provements as it has upon it at that time, ¥10,000 
and has since refused ^yo per acre for ihe [)lace. 
He has expended $1,000 in laying tile on the farm 
and each year adds to the perfection of the drain- 
age. He is a Democrat in principle, allliough he 
is indei)endent in that he votes for whom he 
considers the best man. Mr. Easier is a self-made 
man, is modest and un.assuming and thoroughly 
well liked in the community-. He has made of his 
farm in ^'ernon Township one of the finest in the 
count}' and it is a place of which indeed the Slate 
may be proud. 



-^^ 



W 



ILLIAM SIMPSON is a furniture dealer 
and undertaker of Laingsburg. Of the 
'"^ many worthy citizens which New York has 
furnished to Shiawassee County none are more 
deserving of representalion in this volume than the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was 
born in Diana, .Teft'erson County, of the Empire 
Slate, .luly 10, 1814, and is a son of George W. and 
Susan (Coats) Sim[ison. The father was a native 
of New Hampshire and when a young man removcil 
to New York, where he met and married M\ss 
Coats. He was a man of some means who follo"' d 
farming as his chosen oecuiwtion, but his last d:ixs 
were spent in .Mexandria, X. Y'. In poliiic<lu' 
was a su|>porler of the Whig party and in religious 
belief was a member of the Methodist Church, 



PORTllAir AND HIOGUAPHICAL ALBUM. 



353 



while Iiis wife held membership with the B-iptist 
Church. In their family were seven chililren: 
George W., Mary J., William, Irvin, Priiclla and 
two who died in infancy'. Irvin was a member of 
the Eighteenth New Yorlv Cavalry and died of 
sickness at Brazier City, La. 

In the usual manner of farmer lads the subject 
of this sketch was reared to nianliood and in the 
district schools of his native Stale he acquired his 
education. He began life for himself at the age of 
sixteen years, at which time he went to Clinton 
County, Mich., where he worked as a farm hand by 
the month for two years. At the expiration of 
that time he once more returneii to his old home in 
the State of his nativity and on the 2yth of Decem- 
ber, 1861, offered his services to his country and 
joined the boys in blue of Comi)any E, Xinely- 
foui'th New York Infantry. He served willi the 
Army of the Potomac for three years and partici- 
pated in a number of important engagements, in- 
cluding the battles of Bull Uiin, Antietam, Freder- 
icksburg, Getty sl)urg, the battles of the Wilderness 
and many others of less importance. lie was very 
fortunate in that he was never woiuiiled, but at the 
battle of Gettysbuig he was taken |)risoner. How- 
ever, he was soon (Kiroled ami with his regiment 
continued until the tiiree years of his enhstment 
had expired, when at City Point he received his 
discharge, December 29, 180)1. 

After being mustered out of the service, Mr. 
Sinii)son returned to New York and remained at 
home upon liis father's farm until October, 180.5, 
when again he took up his residence in Clinton 
County, Mich. He purchased a farm in \'ictor 
Townsliip, but after a few months sold his land and 
began working by the month, conliuuing that 
course of action until tlie s))ringof 1871. He then 
came to Laingsburg and started his present busi- 
ness. The following year he was united in mar- 
riage witii Miss Frances Le Bar, daughter of Dan- 
iel anrl Mary (Lewis) Le Bar, and a native of 
Mason, Ingham County, Mich. Tlieir union was 
graced by one child, Zella. The motlier departed 
this life in 187 I and on the 20th of May, 1875, Mr. 
Simpson was united in marriage with Miss Georgie 
Teachout, of Laingsbnrg. She was born in Massa- 
chusetts and her i)arenls, John and Lydia (Springer) 



Teachout, were also natives of the Bay State. 
Three children have been born of the second mar- 
riage: Ray E., Roy P. and Herbert L., all of whom 
are still at home with their parents. 

On coming to Laingsburg Mr. Simpson em- 
barked in mercantile pursuits and has since carried 
on the furniture and undertaking business. His 
store is one of the llRCst and most conii)lele in the 
town and from llie beginning his trade has con- 
stantly increased until now he has an excellent pat- 
ronage. Thereby he has gained a handsome com- 
petence, and in addition to that which he has in his 
business he has money loaned. On attaining his 
majority INIr. Simpson identified himself with the 
Republican party but is now a Prohibitionist. So- 
cially he is a Master Mason, has taken the Scarlet 
Degree of the Odd Fellows and is also a member 
of Henry Deming Post, No. 192, (i. A. U., of 
Laingsburg. He is not oidy ■! npresenlative busi- 
ness man but is also a valued citizen of the com- 
munity who niaiiit'esls a commendable interest in 
all that pertains to the upbuilding and welfare of 
the town and county. 



^^HAULES E. PHELPS, Supervisor of liath 
[11 ^1 Townsliii), Shiawassee Count}', was liorn 
^^/February 15, 1841. His father, EdwinL. ^ 
Phelps, a native of X'ermont, worked in a furnace 
in'lus'iiative Slate, and alto after coining to Michi- 
gan during the early da3's of the '30s. After 
operating a furnace at Birmingham, Oakland 
County, Mich., for a few years, he came in 1838 to 
Clinton County, giving up his furnace business on 
account of his health. He and his brother, both 
single men, kept "bachelors' iiall" for three or four 
years. He assisted in surveying out the site for 
the State Capitol at Lansing. He never hunted 
much, but was on friendly terms willi the Indians, 
but his brother Ozias was a great huntsman. There 
were onlj' three or four settlers there anywhere 
near their home. 

After improving the eighty acres in wliicli he 
and his brother held joint ownership, our subject 
bought eighty acres where he now resides. At one 



354 



PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lime he owned one Irundrert and twenty acres of 
land. He used to so to Dexter, Waslitenaw 
County, to trade, and later to Cuninna. He was a 
Kepiiblican in politics, and for .some time the High- 
way Commissioner, and helped to lay out many of 
the roads in tliis township. His death occurred 
when lie was about sixty years old, in 1873. 

The motlier of our subject bore the maiden 
name of Susan Rose. She was a native of New 
York, and became the mother of eight children, 
four of whom grew to maturit}', namely: Charles 
E., Eraeline, who died at eighteen, Ozias and 
Amos. Tne mother of these children was a con- 
sistent member of the Free Will Baptist Cliurch, 
and died in 1863. 

The childhood of our subject was spent in the 
woods playing with the Indian children, going to 
school in tlie log sclioolhouse, and helping upon 
the farm. Many a drove of deer has he seen brows- 
ing in the woods near his father's home. He be- 
gan for himself when only twenty-two years of age, 
although he had left home somewhat earlier, as he 
enlisted in the army, February 15, 1863, becoming 
a private in the Fifteenth Michigan Infantry, Com- 
pany K. He participated in the siege of Vicks" 
burg and the batile at Jackson, Miss. He was also 
present at Lookout Mountain, but did not engage 
in the lighting. He was mustered out of service 
at Detroit in February, 18G4, after which lie en- 
gaged in farming. 

The futlier of our subject gave his son forty 
acres of line farming land, and to this he has 
added so that he now has eighty-eight acres. 
Having a home, he now bethought himself of tak- 
ing a wife, and on April 26, 186C, he married Anna 
Markham, a native of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., 
where she was born July 6, 1848. Her parents, 
Seth and Nancy (Briggs) Markham, both natives of 
New York State, and farmers, settled in Lorain 
County, Ohio, where they carried on a farm for 
ten years, and in 1861 came to .Shiawassee County, 
and settled in Woodhnll Township. He died in 
1868, and she in 1881. Eight of their eleven 
children grew to maturity. Both of them were 
earnest and active members of the United l?rethren 
Church. 

To Mr. .anil Mrs. Phelps have been born four 



children, who are by name, Minnie Adelaide, Rob- 
ert Seth, Alton J. and Roscoe C. Both parents are 
identified with tlie Free Baptist Church, uliich is 
situated one-half mile south of their residciu-c. 
Mr. Phel|)s is a man very generally known 
throughout this section of Shiawassee County, .ind 
being well liked and much above the aver:im: in 
intelligence, has been (ilaced in such oflices of trust 
as he was willing to undertake. He has lici'n 
.Justice of the Peace for one term, Towi ship 
Treasurer for four years, and is now serving a 
second term as .Supervisor. As a Republican and 
an old soldier, he is an ardent member of the 
Grand Army of the Hepulilic, and being earnestly 
desirous of the welfare of the farming comiiiiinilv, 
he is an active member of the Farmers' Alliani;e. 
He h.as also been a delegate to the count}' conven- 
tion of tlie Republican [larty, and is a memljcr of 
Lodge No. 121, I. O. 0. F. at Bath. His wife, who 
is a true heliiniatc in every cajiaeit}- of life, is most 
highly esteemed and admired by those who have 
known her longest. 



ON. KDWIN A. TODD. This honored cit- 
\ zen of Owosso is one of the comparatively 
few men now living who are thoroughly 
conversant, by actual e.xiierience, with the 
scenes through which this section of the country 
has passed since it was an almost untrodden wihkr- 
ness. He was born in Poutiac, Oakland County, 
Mich., on the 16th of January, 1828, and dur- 
ing his infancy his parents removed to Flint, where 
they were the first white settlers. There the son 
spent his boyhood and youth, his chief playmates 
being Indian boys and girls. When old enough lo 
wield an ax and guide a plow he begin lo lake his 
part in the work of development and crossed the 
country vvitli articles in which his father was carry- 
ing on trade, t'.. us becoming thoroughly aequainted 
with the scenery and sible to note every change in 
the appearance of the hands uf Central Michigan. 

In order lo belter undersland the traits devel- 
oped in ou\ subject, we will make a brief mention 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



355 



of the career of his parents. His father, John 
Todd, was born in Batavia, N. Y., and came to 
what was then a vast territor}' in 1817. He made his 
home in Pontiac, Mich., liicn a smell village, where 
he wooed and married Miss P0II3' M. Smith. This 
lady was born in Fleming County, N. Y., near Au- 
burn, and was a dauu^hter of Abram Smith and of 
Kuijlish ancestry. The Todds tra^e their lineage 
to Scotland. After some years Mr. Todd settled 
on a farm in Oakland County, but in 18;50 removed 
to Flint. That jilace was only a trading post and 
Mr. Todd laid out the first wagon road or trail to 
Saginaw and built the first bridge across the Cass 
River. He was an Indian trader, exchanging vari- 
ous articles for furs, pelts and such other things as 
tiio red men had to dispose of. He had manj' 
thrilling adventures with tiic Indians, butgenerally 
got along with them peaceably. He remained at 
Flint until late in life, then rcTnoved to Owosso, 
whcio In; died at the venerable age of ninety years. 
Mrs. Todd al.so died Irmv, her age being sixty-nine 
years. She was a woman of great force of charac- 
ter and will-powor, as she had need to bo to spend 
her lime <m tiic frontier and make a true home in 
the midst of untoward sunoundings. 

Besides llie subject of tiiis biograiiliical sketch 
the cliildrcii of .lolin and Polly Todd were May L., 
Juli.''. I. und Albert S., all living except Julia. He 
of whom we write went onto a farm in (Jencsee 
County when seventeen years old and remained 
there until he was of age. He then joined the 
great army that was beginning to head for the Pa- 
cific Coast, where gold lia<l been discovered a short 
time licforo, and starling from the States in IfSll), 
he reached California the following year, via the 
Isthmus of Panama. IJe engaged in mining, in 
which he proved successful and during the five 
years spent on the Coast am.'issed considerriblc 
wealth. During the latter part of the lime he was 
interi'i-ted in water-works connecled with placer- 
mining. When the five years had elapsed Mr. 
Todd returned to Michigan and invested his money 
in various ways. In 1 !S')o he came to Owosso and 
built the second sawmill and the first run by steam, 
being in partnership with David Oould, his brother- 
in-law. The old mill is still standing and lia.s re- 
cently bfcn occupied as monument works by Rollin 



Pond. Mr. Todd retained his interest in the mill 
about three years, after which he sold out, having 
other a£fairs to which he preferred to give his at- 
tention. 

From the beginning of the construction of the 
Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay, now the Jack- 
son, Lansing it .Southern Railroad, until 187.'5 Mr. 
Todd was connected with that cnteri)rise. That 
year he formed one of the firm of Nason Gould ife 
Co., whose headquarters were in Chcssening, Sag- 
inaw Countj-, and the connection continued about 
four years, when it was dissolved, as the timber on 
lands held by it was exhausted. In 1878 Mr. 
Todd entered upon another |ieriod of mining, go- 
ing to Leadvillo, Colo., where he remained about 
three years, operating very successfully-. In 1886 
ho visited Mexico and invested in silver mining 
property, his first venture being iji Zacatecas. 
Thence he went to the .State of .lelisso on the Pa- 
cific Co.ast, where .again he became [irolitably inter- 
ested in silver mining. From that point he went 
to Aguaeallientes and again engigcd in mining 
He returned to Owosso afler an absence of about 
two j'ears and has not since been actively engaged 
in business save in looking after his investments 
and in work connected wllh the Tolclo & Ann Ar- 
bor Railroad, of wlii('h he is a Director. He has 
considerable city propei'ty, including tlii'ee substan- 
tial dwellings, from which he receives a good rental. 

In March, 1855, Mr. Todd was married to Miss 
Martha Johnson, a native of New York, who came 
to this Slate with her [):ireuts when a young lady of 
eighteen years. Her agreeable manners, refine- 
ment and line ch.aracter have ende;ued her to many, 
and in her own home she is respected and belove<l 
bj' those to whom she has been devoted for years. 
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Todd arc four in num- 
ber: William A., the eldest, is engaged in the 
insurance business in Tennessee; Kdwin A., Jr., 
has charge of the Claini.s Departmcrit for the To- 
ledo, Ann Arbor it Northern Railway; Fred A. is' 
assistant physician at Toledo, Ohio, in the asylum 
for the insane; Frances K. is the wife of James H. 
Wheeler, cashier of the Oklahoma City Bank, in 
Oklahoma Territory. 

The first connection of Mr. Todd with the muni- 
cipal aft'airs of Owosso began in 1871, when he was 



356 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



elected Mayor. He was again chosen to take his 
place at the head of the government in 18'J0 and 
once more did what he could in an official capacity 
to promote the interests of the town in wliich he 
had chosen to reside. The first Presidential vote 
of Mr. Todd was cast for Franklin Pierce anfl he 
has always been a Democrat. During the war he 
was numbered with the class known as War Demo- 
crats, taking a strong stand on the side of the 
Union. He joined the Masonic lodge at Flint and 
is a raemljer of the Odd Fellows lodge of this citj', 
and one of tlie oldest Odd Fellows in the State; 
and his religious home is in the Episcopal Church, 
of wl)ich liis wife is also a member. Mr. Todd lias 
been a Vestryman for many years. He is genial 
and entertaining and stands higli as a citizen and a 
in;\n. 

,:^g g' - — SH F^ „ . , ^ ^=-, 

'fw^OHN KING, a well-known and [trosperous 
resilient of section 13, Ilazclton Township, 
Sliiawassee County, is tlie son of John King, 
; a native of County Longford, Ireland, of 
which county his raotlier also (whose maiden name 
was liridget Murtaugh) was a native. They were 
married at llieir old home and came to America 
in 1846, landing at New York Citj". Here they 
remained for three j'ears, and in 1849 came to 
Michigan anil scetlled in Flint Township, Genesee 
Count}', on an unbroken farm covered willi oak 
openings. Upon this they remained for four years 
and cleared some twenty-five acres of the land. 

Selling tlieir first Western farm, the parents of 
our subject removed to Hazleton Township in 
1853, and settled on section 13, which was all 
wild land. Before reaching their home they were 
obliged to cut the road through the woods for a 
mile and a half. Here they finally acquired a 
handsome property of four hundred and eighty 
acres. They encountered many hardsiiips in tiieir 
early life in the West as they were unused to 
sucii experiences. It was so solid a forest that it 
was with difficulty that they found their way from 
jjoint to [loint, even by the help of blazed trees. 
Thcrt were but few families then in the town- 
ship and only nine voters were registered that 



spring. The farm was greatlj' improved during 
the lifetime of the father, who passed away in 
1871, at the age of sixty -six. His worthy com- 
panion outlived him ten j'ears and attained the 
age of eighty-one. They were the parents of six 
children, who grew to maturity. 

Joseph King, one of the sons of these parents, 
was a soldier in the Twentj'-third Michigan Infan- 
try during the War of the Rebellion, and being 
taken i)ri.soncr at Knoxville, underwent the hard- 
ships at Andeisouville for eighteen months, but he 
lived through them and with eleven other com- 
rades escaped and returned to the Union army. 
He was relegated to his own regiment and returned 
to Detroit, waiting to be mustered out. He was 
taken sick the night after reaching Detroit, and 
died there. He was a man of great populariuy, 
not only among his comrades in arms, but also 
with the citizens of Flint, where he made his 
home. 

The subject of this sketch was born upon the 
Green Isle of Erin April 17, 1836, in the Parish 
of Cloonglish, County Longford, and was nearly 
eleven years old when he came to America. He 
was well educated in his native countj', and at- 
tended the Grammar School in New York City. 
He was fourteen j'ears old when he came to Mich- 
igan and almost eighteen when he made his home 
in Shiawassee County. Until after he was twenty- 
two years old he remained at home helping his 
parents upon the farm, and he then worked out 
by the month for a few years. His father had 
been unfortunate in contracting debts and he as- 
sisted him in lifting them. His father gave him 
a one-tiiiid interest in the undivided three hun- 
dred acres which constituted the farm, and when 
they were finallj- divided he received the one 
hundred acres lying west of the remainder of the 
tract. 

In 1860 John King had some chopping done 
upon his land and built a little frame house, 16x24 
feet, and November 17 of the same j'ear he be- 
gan keeping bachelor's hall in this new home. A 
yoke of oxen was the team with which he assisted 
himself in his arduous labors. The young man 
found that man was not made to live alone and 
November 19, 1861, betook unto himself a wife 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



357 



in tlic person of Bridget E., a daughter of Pat- 
riciv Trainor. an old settler in Flint. Slie was 
born November 1, 1814, in Ireland, and lived 
only five years after marriage, dying December 
(!, 18GG. .Siie was the mother of two diildren, 
both of whom were snatched from her arms by 
death: .loseijh Patrick was born October 15, 1862, 
an<l died September 1, 18GC; and Annie, born 
July 21, 18(5 1, died December 28, 186.5. The 
mother and both children died within twelve 
months of each other. This left the little home 
indeed indeed desolate. 

The second marriage of .John King took place 
August 5, 18G7, his bride being Briilget Dele- 
liaiily, daughter of Patrick and Bridget (McNa- 
mara) Delehanty, natives of County Claie, Ireland. 
Mr. and Mrs. Delehanty camo to .\merica in 1850, 
and after s|iending a year in New York City came 
West, spending four years at Cleveland. In 185(1 
he came to Michigan, settling in (Saines Town- 
shii), denesee Count}", upon a farm. Mr. Dele- 
hanty was a man of intelligence and woith, and 
for some time was section foreman on the railroad, 
lie died March IS, 1801, having reached the age 
of seventy-eight years, and his widow, who is 
now eighty-four, still survives him. They were 
the parents of ten cliildren, six of whom arc now 
living. 

Mrs. King was born Sei)teml)er 5, I8IG, in 
County Clare, Ireland, ami she has become tiie 
mother of fourteen childr(!n, eleven of whom are 
now living. I'hej- are named: .losei)hine, born 
April 30, 18G8; Francis J, born June 17, 1869; 
Hannah, .lanuary, 20, 1871 (deceased); Mary, born 
January 2, 1873 (deceased); Ambrose, born March 
11, 1874; Cecilia, October 17, 1875; Ellen, .Inly 
1, 1877; an infant unnamed (deceased); John Al- 
bin, born January 3, 1880; Ann Lilly, May 25, 
1882; Elizabeth, November 7, 1883; Agnes, De- 
cember 12. 1885; Esther, July 13, 18H7; and 
Stephen A., March 7, 181)0. 

The farm has been greatly improved since Mr. 
King went upon it. and now he has one hundred 
and twenty acres. The original one hundred Is 
the finest farm and assessed the highest in the 
town.slii|). In 18H5 he built his resilience at a cost 
of over ^1,000, liesides his own labor and haul- 



ing. The front part is 18x28 feet and nineteen 
feet high, and is built of brick with a cellar wall 
under the whole house. This wall is seven and 
one-half feet higli and two feet thick. The cellar 
has a cemented floor and is thoroughly under- 
drained. The front wing has the dimensions of 
18x28 feet and the rear wing of 18x30 feet. 11 is 
the handsomest house in the township and is as 
well built and attr.active as any in the county, 
being finished in graining. It contains thirteen 
rooms, convenienti}' iirranged and lighted, with all 
improvements. Mr. King does not enjoy good 
health as he has suffered with si)asmodic astlim.i 
ever since 1863. Both he and his wife; are devout 
members of the Catholic Church. 

To his cliildren Mr. King has granted a good 
education and the younger ones are many of them 
attending school. Josephine h.as held a teacher's 
eertificate since she reached the age of sixteen 
jears. She is a graduate of the Fenton Normal 
School and lias taught for five years, being con- 
siilered a very successful young woman in her 
profession. Our subject is active in school mat- 
ters and a member of the School Board. He is a 
Democrat in his [)ollti'jal views, but is indepen<l- 
ent to a considerable degree, and in local elections 
votes for the man rather than for the party. He 
has been Higliw.ay Commissioner for three years 
and for five years in succession lillcd the ollice of 
Township Treasurer, and filled it well. He re- 
ceived the unqualifioil support of his fellow-citi- 
zens although this is a strongly- Kepuhlican Town- 
ship. He also serves as Clerk of township elections 
and is a member of the Board of Review. 



. «. gJ9- 
■ r-^'a- 



^^ 



■SjOHN H. CLEMENTS. The subject of this 
! sketch, living in De Witt Tf)wnship, ( linton 
County, belongs to a well-known famil}', 
(|2^/ which has for many j'ears been noteworthy 
for its intelligence, Christian char.acter and patriot- 
ism. He himself is a man of unusual business 
ability which he has proved by his success in life. 
He was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., September 
4, 1821, and his father, Henry Clements, of Cerman 



358 



rORTKAIT AJSiD BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



descent, was boin in New York Slate in 1801 and 
carried on farming in Dutcliess and Cliaiitaiiqua 
Counties in tlial State. He came to White Oak 
Townsliip, Ingiiam County, Mieli., June 1, 1836, 
traveling iiy lake to Detroit, and thence by team. 
He took up from the (iovernment seven hundred 
and twenty acres of land and was among the first 
to penetrate the forests of White Oak Township, 
where he estahlished his new home. He was three 
miles from his nearest neighbor, twenty-five miles 
from n grist mill, eleven miles from a sawmill, six 
miles from a tavern and four miles from a religious 
meeting which was held in a log scboolhouse. 
Wheal w.'is then v.'orlh nine shillings per bushel, 
corn sevenly-livc cents and (lour ^7 pei- barrel. 

riic Indians were very numerous tlien and Henry 
Clements was on friendly terms with lliem. The 
country also was full of deer and game. He was 
an unusually hard worker and altcnded closely lo 
business anil thus developed a great [jortion of his 
large faini. At his death in ISIil he had reached 
the age of sixly-lhree years. He was a AN'liig lirst 
and then aUcpubliean in politics and was an active 
member of the Methodist Church and a man of 
many good (pialilies of mind and heart. 

'I'he wife of Henry Clements was Catheiine Da- 
mon, a native of New York State, of Holland de- 
scent. She was a kin.d, Christian mother and reared 
with great care and wisdom her ten children, live 
sons and live danghleis. Four of her sons served 
in the army during the war of the rebellion and 
one of them mn'er returned as he died in service. 
She was a consistent and earnest member of the 
Metliddist, Church and died at the age of firty-nine 
years. 

The subject of this sketch was but fourteen years 
old w'len he came to Michigan with his parents in 
1H;?(!. Up lo lids time he had received his educa- 
tion in the district schools of Chantauciua County, 
N. Y. lie bad an unusually strong liking for 
hunting and he spent much of his time until he 
reache(l maturity in hunting deer ajid other wild 
game. I'robably f<'w young uicn at that lime 
killed as many deer as he. He bellied lo curry 
the chain to survc}- the present site of the city of 
Lansing. 

In 1MI« Mr. Clements took up his lesidence in 



Lansing and engaged in the general merchandise 
business. Here we must record the only financial 
failure of his life, as he did not succeed here, and 
had to close his business in 1850 at a great loss. In 
December of that j-ear he went to California by 
water and there engaged in mining. He was suffi- 
ciently successful to be able to send money home 
to his wife from time to lime with which she hon- 
orably i)aid the debts which liis misfortune had 
brought u|ioii him. 

He returned October 2, 18.'')2 and resided in 
Lansing until l.SOG when he bought the farm where 
he now lives which then comprised two humlred 
and forty acres of the finest land iu Clinton C'ounly. 
He has since parteil with a part of this land lo his 
children. It is safe to say that there is not another 
two hundred and forty acres of land in the county 
so well situated, so level and so rich as this tract, 
lying as il (Iocs between the swamp land and the 
upland. At the time of purchase the |)roperty was 
much run down, but he has itn|)roved il and built 
a large fianic barn and a frame residence. This 
however he has now supplanted with a palatial 
white lirick residence which he erected in 1883. 1 1 
is siluate(l upon a well shaded lawn and is one of 
the finest places in the township. 

This gentleman o.vns an extensive holel at the 
sumnu'r resort of Iniliau River in CHieboygan 
County, Mich., where he and his good wife spend 
the summers, while they wintnr on the farm. He 
is independent in politics. The lady who became 
his wife in 1813 was known in her maidenhood as 
Mary Nenell and is one <.)f the finest of wonjen. 
She was born at Morrisonville, Madison Count}', 
N. v., .luue 20, 1S22. Her father, Aaron Newell, 
was a native of Connecticut and oiierated a mill in 
New York State. He came lo Michigan in 1843 
and settled on a farm in Ingham County, an<l died 
the following year. His wile, Mary (Tidd) Newell, 
was born in Massachuset,ts. .She was a Irne-hcarted 
and kindly woman, a member of the Presbyterian 
Church and of iMiglish descent. One of the six 
children whom she reared to maturity died in the 
service of his country during Ilia War of the Re- 
bellion. She i)assed away from ea'-lh in 1864. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clements have had six children, 
namely: Mclvina, who died iu her fifth year; Helen, 










'/^^iiyy^^i^- 




^^^2>?'-^&<z^. 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



361 



Mrs. Church ; Newell; Dora, who died wlieii twenty- 
nine years oltl; DeLoss, who (lied ivlien two years 
old and Charles. This family both in the past 
generation and tiie present stands among the most 
hii;;lily esteemed and most popular in the county 
and they have helped in a thousand ways to make 
the neighborhood in which they live what it is con- 
sidered to-da_v, one of the most intelligent and 
cultured countrj- districis in Southern Michigan. 



•■J-#" 



FATHER HENRY C. KOENIG. This gen- 




I 



^1 tleman is a well-known figure on the streets 
of St. .Tolin's and in the neighboring town 
of Portland, and to him is due to a large degree 
tiie present condition of St. Josepli's Calholic 
Church ill St. John's. lie took up his work when 
the affairs of the church were in a bad condition, 
ttie congregation having run down in number and 
finances, and a debt hanging over it that it seemed 
scarcely possible to lift. He was worked his way 
gaining tiic confidence of his people, and encour- 
aging tiiem in their efforts, and li.is succeeded in 
clearing the charge of indebtedness, improving the 
church and parsonage and placing the affairs on a 
basis that promises well for the future. In the 
twenty-three years that have elapsed since the 
church was established, thirteen men have labored 
here and no one has staid so long as Father 
Koenig. 

Tiie father of our subject was Adam Koenig, a 
farmer and garde-ier in Saxony. He came to 
America in 1873 and located in Detroit, where he 
still lives retired from active life. He is a son of 
Lawrence Koenig, who also a farmer and was quite 
wealthy. The mother of our subject bore the 
maiden name of Catherine Kuhn, and she too is a 
native of Saxony, where her father, (Jeorge Kulin, 
was engaged as a tailor and a farmer. Her chil- 
dren were seven in number, six sons and one daugh- 
ter, as follows: Nicholas L., Henry C, (the second 
in order of birth) Barnard J., Theresa M., Charles, 
William and August W. Our subject was born in 
Saxony (Jctober 11, 1858, reared in the village of 



Pfaffschwende, and attended the parochial school. 
He accompanied his parents to America, sailing 
from Bremen and after a storm3' voyage of seven- 
teen d.ays landed in New York. Soon after the 
family was settled in Detroit he fcjund employment 
and for two years was variously occupied, and 
during the time took up the studj- of languages. 
His father in the meantime spent some months on 
a farm in Macomb County, and while making his 
home there the lad combined work and stud}-. 

When nineteen years old young Koenig entered 
St. Jerome's College, at Berlin, Ontario, and re- 
mained there until he had completed a four years' 
classical course. He was graduated June 2y, 1882, 
and received a valuable modal for his jiroficiency 
in mental philosophy, in which he had the best 
record of any student in the institution for many 
years. At the wish of Bishop Borgess he then en- 
tered Sandwich College, and continued his studies 
there a twelvemonth. He next went to St. Mary's 
Theological Seminar3', at Baltimore. Md., but was 
not able to remain there for the entire course, as 
the climate did not agree with him, and the con- 
finement of such protracted studies also aflfetted his 
health. He was oblige<l to give up his studies after 
a gear's attendance and came home nearer dead 
than alive. When able to resume his work he did so 
and his theological training was coui|)leted in St. 
Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, from which he was 
graduated in 1886. 

The riles of ordination wore held by Bishop C. 
H. Borgess at Sandwich, Canada, June 16,1886, 
and after a vacation of two weeks Father Koenig 
was at his post in St. John's. The outlook was 
very discouraging and so little did he seem able to 
accomplish I hat he was ready to abandon his work, 
and went to Detroit hoping to be given a different 
field or to receive some encouragement regarding 
his work. A visit with the Bishop cleared his men- 
tal sky, and having the support and counsel of that 
gentleman, he entereil upon his labors with renewed 
zeal, and at length saw the result. In addition to 
the charge in St. John's he has been the i)astor of 
'^t. Patrick's Church in Portland. He believes in 
honest}' in politics and religion, and in his work 
for the young, advocates giving each child a fair 
education, and at the same time teaching iiim in 



362 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



early life to help his parents, and so St himself for 
work in future years. Fatlier Koenig, with his lib- 
eral education and genial nature, is a royally enter- 
taining companion and he has many warm friends, 
while bj' his people he is looked up to as one from 
whom they receive the best of counsel and care. 

In connection with his biographical notice, a 
lithographic portrait of Father Koenig is presented 
to our readers. 



-^^ 
"^^=^1^ 






^SSn HARLES L. moon, son of an early settler 
j^(^-^.^ in Clinton County, who resides just south 
^i^' of the village of DeWilt, was born in DeWitt 
Township, August 22, 1841. His father, Henry 
Moon, was born about forty miles from London, 
England, in 180C, and came to America with two 
of his brothers when he was about twenty years 
old. He staid for a short time in Canada with two 
other brothers who had |)reviously come over, and 
then came on to Michigan, making his home in Sa- 
lem Township,Washtenaw County, in 1833. There 
he worked by the month for four3'ears, and in 1837 
came to this county, and took one hundred and 
sixty acres from the Government in the south part 
of the township. He built a log cabin with pun- 
cheon ll'jor in the midst of the dense woods, and 
had to cut a track througli tiie forest in order to 
get his ox-team to the new home. He was obliged 
to go to Detroit to get any milling done, and his 
most numerous neighbors and most frequent call- 
ers were Indians, deer, bears and wolves. He was 
on friendly terms with the red men, and as he 
lived on an Indian trail saw much of them. They 
would come to DeWitt to get whiskey, and on 
their way home at night, wildly intoxicated, would 
keep him awake for many hours by their war whoops 
and shrieks. 

In the spring of 1850, Mr. Henry Muun went to 
California by the overland route, being four 
months on the way. He engaged in raining, and 
was gone some three and a half years, and accumu- 
lated some money while there. After his return to 
Michigan he lived here until his death at the age 
of seventy-nine years. He was a Democrat in his 



political views and cast his vote for that party. 
He married Susan Frazier, of Washtenaw County, 
who lived to the age of sixty-nine years. She was 
a member of the Baptist Church, and reared to 
maturity six of her seven children. 

Tiie log schoolhouse where our subject attended 
school was of a very rude |)attern. It had no 
chimney and the fire was built in a corner of the 
room, and a hole was left in the roof for the escape 
of the smoke. He remained at home until he 
reached the age of twenty-seven years, and bought 
a small place of eighteen acres. He has been 
School Inspector of the township, and is a Prohi- 
bitionist in his political views, believing thereb}' 
he will advance the cause of temperance and 
morality. Mr. Moon was married to Miss Mary 
Vincent, March 8, 1871. Four children have been 
born to them — Flory, Harr^-, Bertie and Ro^' — all 
livinof. 



•^^^ 



E^ 




ELVIN W. DRAKE. Brave and patri- 
otic service in defence of our Nation's 
(lag, has set the seal of nobility upon many 
a man who is now a quiet agriculturist of 
Rush Townsliii), Shiawassee County. Among them 
we find iMr. Drake, who resides on section 20, and 
is a native of this State having been born in Oak- 
land County, F'ebruary 9, 1844. 

Walter Drake who became the father of our sul)- 
ject, was a native of the old Bay State, and born 
May 20, 1808. Twenty years after he made 
a beginning in life for himself by working on 
the farm, and in 1829 he went to work on the 
Ohio and Chesapeake Canal in ^'irginia, but re- 
turned to New England and in 1830 came West. 
He was engaged in fishing and sailing in Detroit 
until 1831, when he went to Oakland County, and 
purchased a farm of one hundred anil twenty acres 
in Southlield Township. 

The famil}- of Elisha and lluldah (West) Hunter 
came from Rhode Island to Oakland County about 
the year 1820, bringing with them three sons and 
three daughters. Their daughter, Adeline, the 
youngest, born December 27, 1808, became in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



36S 



1831 the wife of Walter Drake, and in time the 
mother of our subject. Mr. Drake resided in 
Oakland until 1844, when he was appointed by the 
Government to go to Grand Traverse as instructor 
to the Indians in farming. Three years later he re- 
turned to Oakland and remained there until l^tSO, 
when he spent five j'ears in Genesee Count}- and 
five years in Owosso and then came to Rush Town- 
ship and bought one hundred and sixty acres on 
sections 20 and 28. 

Our subject is the youngest of two sons and two 
daughters. His mother died in 1881, and his 
father, who was a sturdy old Jaukson Democrat, 
still lives with him. M. W. Drake has a good 
common-school education. His marriage took 
place upon Christmas Da^-, 1875. The lady who 
thus celebrated with him this sacred holiday bore 
the maiden name. of Ada L. bleaker. Her parents 
were Joshua and Marj' (Nelson) Meaker, who had 
three children. Her father had had three children 
by a previous marri.age, and came to Michigan in 
1838. He was the son of Eli Meaker, of New 
York, and his father also bore the name of Joshua. 
The family lived near Binglianipton, N. Y. The 
grandfather of our subject, on his father's side, was 
Larnard Drake, a farmer and stonemason of Mas- 
sachusetts, whose nativity was about June 5, 178.'!. 
He was married in 1802 to Susannah Phillips, who 
was born September 5, 1783. They were the 
worthy parents of nine children, and removed to 
Michigan where Larnard Drake died in Oakland 
County, March 21, 18G3. 

Mrs. Drake was born October 15, 1817, and she 
became the mother of six children: Kva J., Ir- 
ving L., Lula E., Mary A., Walter J. and Herbert 
E. During the Civil War Mr. Drake had been a 
soldier in the Union army, having enlisted in Com- 
pany C, Twent3'-tliird Michigan Infantry, in Au- 
gust, 1862. He was ordered from .Saginaw to 
Louisville, Ky., and from there went on to Frank- 
fort, New Market and Bowling Green, and finally 
wintered in that place. In 18G2 he was in the hos- 
pital when his regiment left Bowling Green, but 
joined them at Cave City, K}'., when they were in 
pursuit of John Morgan's band of raiders. They 
reached Paris, Ky., in time to save the railroad 
bridge from the Confederates, and thence went 



to East Tennessee over the mountain range. They 
were in that portion of the State from October, 
1803, until the beginning of the Georgia cam- 
|)aign. They marched "with Sherman to a point 
below Atlanta, and then returned and were engaged 
with Hood's army for some time. They followed 
him to Clifton, Tenn., and then marched to Wash- 
ington. The}' were stationed for awhile at Smith- 
land, near Ft. Fisher, and afterward at Wilmington 
and Raleigh, and were in all the conflicts of that 
campaign, being in twenty-seven battles in all dur- 
ing their time of service. 

Air. Drake is a prominent and popular Prohibi- 
tionist and was a candidate for Sheriff at a time 
when he ran two hundred votes ahead of his ticket. 
He is County President of the Patrons of Industry 
and has filled that office ever since its organization 
in the county. With his wife and two eldest chil- 
dren he is an earnest and devout member of the 
Methodist F;piscoi)al f/hurch, where they find a 
broad field of labor and influence. 



'Sr^i EV. HENRY KIN(i, JR., who resides in 
|L<*I Henderson, is an Englishman b}' birth, 
Jm\i being born in Loudon, September 13, 
^^; 1834. His father, Henry King, Sr., was a 
wholesale tobacconist who was born in 1811. His 
educ.'ition was that of an ordinarj' Englishman and 
in 1818 he came to Canada and made his home 
there, settling in Kingsville. Ontario. His good 
wife, Susannah W. Smith, was also a Londoner and 
some two years younger than himself. They were 
the parents of four daughters and two sons, and 
lived together in great hap|)iness until 1877, when 
the wife passed from earth. They wore promi- 
nently identified with the Wesleyan Church, in 
which Mr. King was a leader and an active worker. 
He has ever been deeply interested in Canadian 
politics and was a stanch and loyal supporter of 
Sir John McDonald. 

Upon reaching his majoritj' j'oung Henry King 
undertook the profession of a teacher and some 
four years later removed to the United States, 
making his home at Memphis, Mich. Here he took 



364 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 



up the work of the ininistiy, taking charge of the 
Baptist Churc'li in tLiat place for some two years. 
Previous to i;is coming to tlic States he hail taken 
to himself a wife in the person of the second 
(laughter of Henry and Rachel (Wilkinson) Ful- 
mer, who was born in March. 1837. The wedding 
day of Henry King and Jane Fulmer was August 
31, 1856. i\Ir. Fulmer was born in 1812 and his 
wife in 1813 and they were both natives of Ontario, 
Canada, and became the parents of a large family 
numbering seven sons and six daughters. He 
liassod from earth in 1870 but his good wife makes 
her home with her daughter .lane. 

After preaching for some time in connection 
with the Baptist t'hurch tlie Ucv. Jlr. King felt 
drawn to connect himself with tlie Methodist 
Kpiscopal body which he did in 1884 and four 
years later he became the pastor of that chnrcli at 
Henderson. To Mr. and Mrs. King has been 
granted a fine family of ten childien, all but one of 
whom arc still living and a numl)cr of them arc 
already' filling positions of usefulness and respon- 
sibllit}'. They arc namely: Amelia R., wife of S. 
ConUlin, of Oakland County; Kmil_y S., wife of 
Albert Grow, of Saginaw, Mich.; Theodosia; 
Fannie; Hattie, Mrs. Kdnin IMorris; Aurelius: 
Jennie; Hcnr}- A., died August 28, 1871; Addie, 
and Ellsworth. 

The suliject of this sketch was a Republican in 
bis political views and vote until 1888 when he be- 
came a Prohibitionist and he has ever been a 
worker for the i>olitical principles which he has 
espoused. lie has been idcntilied with tin- order 
of Odd Fellows for some twenty-live ^ears and has 
held the (jllice of Vice Grand and Noble (irand in 
the Lodge at Rochester, Mich. He was also Repre- 
sentative of the Grand Lodge in ISSO and was 
Chaplain of that body in 1887. 

The story of Ihelifc of the Rev. Mr. King would 
be quite incomplete were we to omit therefrom a 
record of his military service. In 1801 he enlisted 
in Company G, Third Michigan Infantry and was 
First Sergeant therein. The regiment was at once 
ordered to Decatur, Ala., and their (irst engagement 
was at Murfreesboro. He was at ()ne time quite ill 
and had to be in the hospital for three months. He 
remained in the service until the dose of the war. 



and has ever felt an earnest interest in the Grand 
Armj^ of the Re|)ublic, being commander of the 
T. C. Crane Post, No. 128, of Henderson, a position 
which he h.as filled for three j'ears, and is now 
Aide-de-Camp on the National Staff with the rank 
of Colonel by appointment of the Commander-in- 
Chief. 



-^^ 



-h 




F. BREWER. This progressive townsman 
v^) and energetic farmer living on section 15, 
Hazelton Township, Shiawassee County, is 
the son of one of the pioneer settlers of the .State 
and himself knows what it is to clear as well as cul- 
tivate a new farm. His parents were Archibald 
C. and Parthena (Pettit) Brewer, natives of New 
York State. The father was a i)ainter b^- trade, 
although he later became a farmer. Thej- were 
married in New York State and there resided 
until they came to Michig.an in 1846. They landed 
at Detroit and first settled in Genesee County on 
a farm which the father had partially improved a 
year previous. 

The first home of the Brewer famil\- after mov- 
ing to this State was a little log house, and after 
th(y had paid for moving their goods and the 
erecting of their home thej' had exactly seventj'- 
livc cents in money and a team of horses with 
which they had come to their new home from 
Detroit. The country- about was thinly settled. 
Mr. Brewer, Sr. bent his energies to improving 
this farm and then trailed it for eighty acres of 
wild laud in Flint Ttuvnship, same county. He 
divided the farm and gave the sul)ject of this 
sketch forty acres and together they began improv- 
ing and cultivating. Our sid)ject's mother died 
Maj' ;?, 1866, having attained the age of sixty-six 
3ears. The father, who was born April 25, 1801, 
departed this life in 1880. They were the [jarenta 
of seven children, four of whom are now living. 
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and in politics Mr. Brewer w.as a strong 
Rei)ublicau. 

He of whom we write was born September 21, 
1831, in Livingston County, N. Y., and w.as fifteen 
years of age when his parents came to Michigan. 




M . L . K 1 h4 G 



PORTRArr AND BIOGRAl'HICAl. ALBUM. 



367 



Previous to tliis time he hfid received h good com- 
mon school ediie.itlon an<l afterward it was tlioiight 
that ho was old eiioiigh and r-npaljle of takiriir his 
l)art in the development of the new farm, for wliich 
lie proved himself to liave siilliciont business capa- 
city, for he conducted his father's liusincss and 
managed the work of the farm until he was twenty- 
one j-ears of age. He has alw.ays been a farmer 
and has alw.ays studied to nialce his farm yield as 
much as nature will allow. 

Being provided with a home, he invited Miss 
INIary Jane Palmer to preside over the domestic 
realm. She was a daughter of Amos and Lydia 
(Curtis) Palmer, who were both natives of New 
York, being there married, after which they 
removed to Wyoming Couiity, Pa., living on a 
farm. Her father died in 1813, after settlin;; in 
Genessee County, this State, in 1842. He ha<l 
located on a raw farm and was the fathe" of seven 
children, three of whom are now living. Mrs. 
Brewer's parents were members of the Free Will 
Baptist Church. She was born September 5, 1837, 
in Wyoming County. Pa., and was only five years 
of age when her i)arents came to Michigan. Hei-e 
she received a district school education. 

After marriage our subject settled on liis forty 
acres in 1860, after which thc}^ removed lo his 
present farm of eighty acres, about twenly-five 
acres of wiiich at the lime was under cultivation. 
There was originally a small log house and a log 
barn upon the place. Tlie farm now coinpri.ees 
eighty acres, sixty-live of it being under culti- 
vation. 

Our subject and his estimable wife .are the 
parents of six children, four of whom are nc.w 
living. They arc: Elva P., Alice .)., Arlliui- .1. 
and Herman A. Those deeeased aie Knima ].. and 
Oscar F. The eldest child was born Febrnary 3, 
1855; Emma L. was liorii October 27, l.s;')i!. and 
became the wife of .lolin WaUvoith; she was the 
mother of four children and died January 23, 
1889. Alice J. was born October II, IH.'iH; she 
became the wife of Alexander Frasier; sIk; has 
four children and her home is in this township. 
Oscar was born March 2, 18G2. and died the same 
month. Arthur .1. was born June 22. 1803; he 
wa-s married to -Sarah A. Porterfield and lives at 



Sevart's Creek; he is the father of thie^- children. 
Herman A. was born .September 12, 18()a,and lives 
at home. The family are members and efficient 
workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
wliich denomination Mr. Brewer h.as been Superin- 
tendent of the Sund.ay -school. He is a member of 
the Masonic order and has been a member of the 
School Board and Poslni'ister of Hazellon Post- 
office eight years. Politically he prefers the 
Republican partj% under which he has been elected 
Township Clerk and Treasurer. He serve<l for 
seven]] j'ears"as Township Supervisor. He is an 
advocate of temperance and is much interested in 
the Pi'oliibition movement. His delicate health 
has always been a di.iwback to him in the work 
that lie has planned. 

jk/i ARCUS L. KING. The owner of llic f;iiin 
III Iv '"'^"'■^*^ ^" sectKjn 27. Venice Townslii|), 
i' w Shiawassee County, is thegeu'leman whose 
* name is seen at the he.ad of this sketch, and 

whose portrait appears on the opposite page. He is 
of good parentage, his father being Ansel King, a 
native of New York, a fainier by calling and a 
soldier in the War of 1812. His mothe: was 
Pha-be (Willis) King, also a native of New York 
where she was married and resided until their com- 
ing to Michigan, in 1827. 

On lirst coming into the State Ansel King settle<l 
with his family on a farm in Macomb Counly 
where they were pioneers. He [uirchased the land 
directly from tlie (iovernment and it was as wild 
as it could wi'll be. The human beinirs lli:it llu^y 
most frequently saw were the Indians, and wild 
animals prowled around their very door. On lo- 
cating their tract Ihey were obliged to tear (ii)wn 
four Indian wigwams to get a site for their lo" 
cabin. They weie in very straightened circum- 
stances when they came to this State; the lather 
supported his family by plying his trade, which 
was that of a shoemaker, and went about the lo- 
cality to "whip the cat." 

The farm was elearerl an<l many improvements 
were made before the death i>f our subject's father, 



368 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



which occurred in 1846, tlic mother following liim 
in 1854. They were tlie parents of eight cliildren, 
two of the ciglit now surviving. In religious 
matters they held the view of the optomistic Uni- 
versalists. In polities the father was a Democrat, 
and was appointed to fill several local iiosilions, 
being a member of the School Board, Highway 
Commissioner and Supervisor. IIo gave his chil- 
dren as good educational advantages as circum- 
stances would penult. In his day he was a very 
hard-working man and wiiat he ac()uircd was accu- 
mulated by unrtagging effort. 

Our sidijecl's father had a hical ri'putation of 
being the greatest ciiopper in tiic region of Seneca 
Lake, N. Y. He accomplished Herculean tasks in 
felling the nionarclis of the forest, but his cham- 
pionship was declared iu a contest, which took 
place at one time. The prize offered was $"25, and 
Ansel King won the money by felling more trees 
than his opponent. 

Mr. King was born March 25, 1827, in Seneca 
County, N. \'., and was only six months of age 
when his parents brought him to this State. He 
grew np in the wilderness and his intimates were 
the squirrels, rabbits and i)li(is, which in later yoai's 
he declared his power over by killing anil pieparing 
for the larder. He at first had no schooling and 
there were but few advantages in that direction 
during his early life. He began for himself at the 
age of sixteen j'cars since which time he has alwa3s 
been a farmer. 

When Mr. King first started out in life he hired 
out by the day ov month on a farm. Thus he con- 
tinued for a few years and then worked his nu)ther's 
farm after the death of his father. In 1850 he 
persuaded Sarah Ellen Ilerrick, a native of New 
York, to unite her fate with his. Her natal year 
was 1835. He continued to work for other pei^ple 
until he came to Shiawasse County, in 18G.'i, when 
he settled upon the farm which he at [Hesent occu- 
pies. At that time it bore but few imitrovements 
and their home was for some time a log house, but 
gradually he erected all necessary and conveident 
buildings anil added other improvements. He now 
has eighty acres, seventy of these being under cul- 
tivation, and he carries on the work of his farm 
himself. Mrs. King passed away from this life De- 



cember 6, 1890. She was a most excellent woman 
and possessed of all the virtues that belong to the 
model wife, mother and neighbor. She was a de- 
scendant of a good family and was a worthy repre- 
sentative. Although she is passed away her good 
works yet live in the memory of those who knew 
her and we might justly say of her in the words 
of Ilerrick, "None knew her but to love her; none 
name<t her but to praise." 

Mr. King and his wife were the parents of five 
children, three of whom are still living: Laura, 
the wife of Samuel Shumaker, lives in Grand 
Rapids, this State, and is the mother of three 
bright children; Ansel took to wife Nettie lUonnt, 
and lives at Flint, thej' have two children; Cora 
May is the only one of the children at home. 

In 1862 Mr. King responded to the call of his 
country for volunteers and enlisted in Company 15, 
Twenty -second Michigan Infantry. He went to 
Kentucky under (Jen. Rosecrans and was taken 
sick at Lexington. There he was left in the hos- 
pital where he nearly died. He was then sent to 
Louisville, Ky., for a time, thence to Detroit where 
he was honorablj' discharged in June, 1863, on ac- 
count of disability. He has never fully recovered 
from the eff<!Cts of the sickness contracted in the 
army anci is drawing a pension from the Tnited 
States Government. Our subject believes in per- 
fect justice to his fellow-men first of all and tries 
to live in accordance with the Golden Rule. He 
takes an interest in politics, casting his vote with 
the Democratic parly. He is a temperate man and 
always has been, advocating temperance principles 
among the youth of the community where he 
lives. 



v|? OHN BROOKS, among the business men of 
! Owosso, is notable as a sterling and ener- 
getic man who well deserves especial notice. 
He is the manager of the ficni of K. M. 
Brooks, dealer in coal, lime, cement, and seeds. 
They also handle grain of various kinds and also 
farm produce. Mr. Brooks is a native of Michi- 
gan, having been born in Oakland County, near 
Pontiac, August 31, 1836. His worthy parents. 






PORTRAIT ANO HfOilRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 



361) 



Daniel and Kliza ( Harris) IJrooks. wore botii liorn 
near Ovid in Seneca County, N. Y.. nmi llieii- 
natal year is tiie same — 1807. They were married 
in Seneca County in 1831, tliey locatcil in Oak- 
land Count}', Mich., whence after a shurt sojourn 
they returned to New York liul after reniaii;in>j 
there a short time removed West again, making 
their home in Sangamon County, 111. 

Miehiiran again claimed the attention of Daniel 
and Kliza IJrooks, who returned to Oakland Coun- 
ty and subsequently located in Shiawassee County, 
half a mile west of the city of Owosso, where they 
remained until about the time of the death of the 
father, which occurred in 188.0. His wife is 
still living and is the daughter of Geoi'ge Harris 
of German descent. As the IJrooks faniil}- is of 
Scotch-Irish descent our subject combines the sterl- 
ing <]ualities of those three hardy and industrious 
nations. 

John Brooks took his common-school education 
in Oakland County, and began his career upon a 
farm quite early, continuing to follow his agrlcuh 
al pursuits untd he reaclie<l his twenty-fifth year. 
In 18()1 he enliste<I in the service of his country 
in Company I), First Miciiigan Cavalry, under the 
command of Col. Broadlio.ad. This body of troops 
was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was 
detiiiled for duty in that part of the countr}'. Mr. 
Brooks w.as discharged on a surgeon's certificate 
on account of wounds an<l disability, in Octcjber, 
18G2, having served for fourteen months. 

Returning to Owosso, Mich., he entered u[)on 
the business of handling stock and keeping a nn-at 
market, which he carried on for some tliree years. 
In 1865 he embarked in the mercantile business 
in Bay Cit}', and remaining there for four years. 
He then sold out and returned to Owosso ami 
slarteil in the grocery and [)roduce business whnh 
he has followed up U> the present time. The lirm 
handles all kinds of grain and h.-us erected an ele 
vator on the track of the Michigan Central 
Railroad, whose capacity is about live thousand 
bushels. They also run a woodyard in connection 
with the other business and haii<lle tile and ground 
feed, also all kinds of coal. 

Miss Electa M. Burnett of Bay City, became the 
wife of John Brooks, May 14, 1807. This lady is 



a native of Maine, and a daughter of Albert Bur- 
nett. Her eldest child, Frank K., is already a part- 
ner with his father in the business and Alice B.. 
who is at home with her mother, is the congenial 
companion and delight of her parents. She with 
iier mother has made the beautiful home on Cedar 
Street a pleasant social resort for all their neigh- 
bors and friends. Mr. Brooks is the owner of two 
good brick business houses which are a credit to 
the town. His jjolitical views lead him to afliliate 
with the Republican party and his public spirit and 
enterprise make him a friend to every movement 
which will redoun<l to the credit of the city. This 
family is pleased to point with honor to one of 
their ancestors, (ien. David Brooks, whose histori- 
cal record is a subject of just pride. 



^RANK F. IIOYKR, I). D. S., a popular 
llr^J» ''cntisl of Owosso, Shiawassee County, 
Ij^ Mich., is like many of the best citizens of 

tills section, a native of the iOmpirn State, being 
born in Royalton, Niagara County, N. Y., April 
15, 1857. His parents, Benjamin and Malinda 
(Dyseninger) lloyei-. were for 3-ears residents of 
New York and tiie mother was a native of that 
State, iier mother being a native of Pennsylvania 
and her father of Germany. Tlie father of our 
subject was also of German birtii and came to lliis 
country many years ago. He followed tiu' calling 
of agriculture throughout life and is still living ami 
with his worthy wife now resides at Shclliy. Orleans 
County, X. V. 

Of the live cliihlren of l!iis intelligent foiiple 
four are sons and one a daughter and the Dicior 
is the third in order of birth. He prep.ared for 
college at Medina, N. Y. and llien eiitend the 
riiiversity of MichlgJin at Ann .\rbor, taking his 
diploma in the? dcp.artment of dentistry in !««(). 
He then opened an olHce and coininenecd his 
practice at Corunn.a. In 1888 he movecl to Owosso 
where he established hi-jiself in business, having 
his olllce supplied with all the latest and best ap- 
pliances known to the profession. 

The young dentist in 18!I0 took a step of gn'ai 



370 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



importance to his happiness and future prosperity. 
It was his union in marriage witli Mallie Mitchell 
tlie accomplished daughter of the late James 
Mitchell of Ann Arbor. Dr. Hover is a member 
of Corunua Lodge F. A A. M. and of Corunna 
Chapter R. A. M. and also of Corunna Com- 
mander}', No. 21 K. T. Me is an ardent Re- 
publican in his political views and is deeply interest- 
ed in tlie prosperity of his party. The happy home 
of this pleasant young couple is at 4.'3.5 East Oliver 
Street. 



■«-s- 



^^UGUST H. AMO.S, JR., a farmer residing 
(©yLlI on section 13, Rush Township, Shiawassee 

/// 14) County, was born in Germany, Marcli 27, 
<^ 1853. His father, who bore the same 

name, was born in 1810 and was a farmer in Macni- 
sheim, Wurtemberg, German^'. He was ediaated 
in the common schools of that Empire and started 
out for himself when he reached the age of twenty- 
one. About the year 1838 he married Louise 
Seiglow, who was born in 1812, in the same place 
as himself. Thcj- came to America in 18.)3 and 
after passing one year in Buffalo came to (ienesec 
County, Mich., remaining there until 1860 at which 
time they came to New Haven Township, Shiawas- 
see County and from there to Rush Township, 
where they bought forty acres on section 34. He 
remained there until his death. He was an earnest 
andetticient member of the Methodist Church. 

Our subject had the usual common school edu- 
cation and started out for himself when only 
thirteen years old. He worked on farms for about 
two years and then went into the lumber woods 
where he labored for seven years. In 1872 he 
bought one hundred and twenty acres, going into 
this enterprise in connection with two brothers. 
In 1874 they built a house upon their farm and 
two years later one of the brothers sold out his 
interest to the other two. 

The marriage of August Amos, Jr., to Emma 
Horn, was solemnized in 1876. Mrs. Amos is a 
daughter of Solomon and Mary Jane (Bowers) 
Horn. Mr. and Mrs. Horn were from Ashland 
County, Ohio and had nine children, four sons and 



five daugliters, of whom Emma is the fifth child 
and third daughter, having been born January 20, 
1830. 

The house where Mr. and Mrs. Amos now make 
their home was built by them in 1882 and in 1884 
the}' removed to Owosso, where Mr. Amos was in 
the employ of D. M. Estey. in the furniture busi- 
ness. Two and one-half years later he returned to 
the farm, but still owns some property in Owosso. 
The home farm contains sevent} -five acres and it 
is all in fine shape. Mrs. Amos is an earnest and 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and her husband is a supporter of it though not a 
member. He is earnestly interested in the welfare 
of the farming community and belongs to the 
Patrons of Industry. He is a Democrat in his 
political views and has been unusually successful 
in business. 

The attention of the render is invited to a view 
of the ])leasant homestead of Mr. Amos, presented 
in connection with this biographical notice. The 
cosy residence and commodious barn are among the 
finest in the community, while the many improve- 
ments apparent on the place make it an ornament 
to the township. 



Gi 



,^^^EORGE E. KITTLE. One of the most 
pleasant rural homes in Clinton County, 
is pleasantly situated on section 26, Water- 
town Township, and comprises one hundred and 
sixty acres of fertile land. I'nder the skilled man- 
agement of Mr. Kittle the earth is made to yield 
bountiful harvests, and thrift is apparent in every 
detail of the farm work. The place is the property 
of Alexander B. Kittle, father of our subject, who 
resides with him. The various cereals are raised 
here, while a large barn, one of the best in the 
neighborhood, is used to store the products of the 
estate. The family residence is a two-story frame 
structure, with neat porticoes, and a large lawn. On 
one side a neat driveway leads past the dwelling, 
while on the other, beautiful trees throw a pleasant 
shadow on the green gr.ass. 

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Kittle were 



&>atA.a - cMt.. r . 



^■■M^^^ 




RLSIulNCL ur bEORoL E . KITTLE, SEC. 2S., WAT EK TOWN TR , CLl NTON CO ,MICH , 




RESIDENCE OF AUGUST H . AMOS , SEC. I3.,RU5H TR , SHIAWASSEE CU.,MlCH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



373 



Dow and Mary (Becker) Kittle, natives <if tlie Slate 
of New York. The former who was a iiiiller by 
trade, was drDwiicd, and his son. Alexander U., was 
thus left fatherless and early thrown upon his own 
resources. When ten years old lie was liireil out 
at farm work, and after working on a farm three 
years, learned the trade of a tailor, at which he 
served an apprenticeship of seven years. lie then 
started out in life for himself, and for nearly forty 
years worked at his trade. His birth occurred 
September 26, 1812, and he was accordingly in his 
early manhood when he was ninrrie<L Octolier 8, 
1835, to Mary Ann Barringer. This estimable 
lady was born December 10, 1813, in Dutchess 
Count}^, N. Y., and was the daughter of .I.acob W. 
Barringer. 

Six chililren were born to the iiaronts of our 
subject, and the following is a brief record of 
them: William Dow was born May G, 1828, mar- 
ried Nora McC'ollough, and now lives in ludianai)0- 
lis, Ind.; Mary Jane, who was born April 20, 1840, 
married E. L. Wright, and to them were born two 
children: William IL, who is married and has a 
daughter, Nellie N.; Nellie M.; Sarah C'., born 
August 31, 1843, is the wife of William Warner 
and resides in Cleveland, Ohio; Julia V.. lioru 
March 20, 184C, married Artemus Baldwin, who 
served as a Captain in the Civil War and was acci- 
dentally killed through the discharge of a gun. To 
them was born a daughter, Jessie; Eleanor, born 
April 12, 1849, is the wife of ('apt. Stephen Chil- 
ton, resides in Lansing, and is the mother of two 
children Georgie K., and Ilattic D. 

in 1-853 the father of this family came to Michi- 
gan, and after making some pre|)aralions for the 
reception of his family, sent for his wife and chil- 
dren, who made the journey in safety. The trip 
was a tedious and dillicull one, .as the}' were com- 
pelled to cross the Detroit River on the ice aud 
endure other hardships incident to travel in those 
earlier years, (leorge E., the subject of this sketch 
is the 3'oungest in his father's household, and was 
born July 22, 1851. He passed the days of his 
boyhood and youth in aiding his father at home, 
and gaining such an education as was possible in 
the common schools of the district. 

Upon reaching man's estate our subject estab- 



lished domestic ties of liis own, and was married 
to FAxza. Barber, a native of Ihe Buckeye Slate. 
The union was blest by the liirth of three children, 
viz: (;erty, born October 28, 1«81; Robert I)., 
December 13, 1883, and Alexander 1'... July 31, 
188S. Mr. Killle is a [)i-ouiiiienl member of the 
Farmers' Alliance and his good wife is a C()nsisle!it 
member of tiie Methodist Episcopal C'liurch. Al- 
fred Mosher, who helped to cle.ir the present f:irm 
of the heavy timber and inii)rove the same, still 
remains a member of the family circle. 

A view of Mr. Kit'-lc's homestead appears on an- 
other page of this volume. 



-o»o-^;>><\J^-o«o~ 



<^NDREW J. PATTERSON was i)orn at 
S^/i-M Ladd's Corners, Monroe County, N. Y., 
11 May 31, 1833. His father, Robert Patter- 
son, was a native of Pennsylvai'iH. having 
been born in Little York and died in 188.J at the 
age of seventy -eight. F'or manj' years he conducted 
a popular hotel. Our sulijcct's mother was Ann 
Eddy; she was also born at Little York, Pa., from 
which she removed to Monroe County, N. Y., 
where for many years her i)aients kept an hotel al 
Ladd's Corners, on the Ridge Road. In 1844 Mr. 
Patterson's father removed to the West with his 
family and located at Lapeer, this Staie, where he 
kept an hotel for a year. He also owned two farms 
on one of which his decease took place. He filled 
the office of Township Treasurer, also Comity 
Treasurer. 

Of the seven children that were llu^ result of the 
union of our subject's parents Andrew ,1. was the 
sixth. He was eleven years of age when his par- 
ents came to the West and twenty-three when they 
removed to Lapeer. His childhood years until he 
reached the age of fourteen were occupied in the 
usual devotion to his studies, when he entered a 
printing office in order to learn that business. He 
worked up in the trade until he became partner 
of the firm which published the Lapeer Democrat. 
After selling out his share in the i)aper he went to 
Saginaw where he was employed on the Saginaw 
Enterprise. Continuing there but a short time he 



374 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



returned to Lapeer where he remained a twelve- 
month and in the spring of 1855 he went to Brocl<- 
port, N. Y. Here he remained one summer, dur- 
ing which he took the important step of uniting 
himself in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Grcswold, 
of ]5rockport. 

Returning to Lapeer with his liride Mr. Patterson 
spent the following winter and spring in work on 
the local paper, when an opening was found in To- 
ledo, Ohio, for his talent. Here he did most accept- 
able work on the Toledo Blade So many young 
men are attracted to Chicago that it is not surpris- 
ing that our subject should hope to find a good 
field in whicii to work and he was successful in 
getting on the Chicago Times under Storey. He 
remained on this paper until August, 1856, wiieii 
he returned to Saginaw and resumed work on the 
Enterprise. He returned to that place at the re- 
quest of the proprietor of tliat paper in order to 
set up in type llie tax list of four counties for that 
journal. 

On the completion of this undertaking our sub- 
ject came to Owasso, Siiiawassee County, in tliefall 
of 1856. He was employed by E. Gould who was 
publishing the Owasso American where he remained 
for two years. .Tune 19, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, Fiftii Michigan Infantry, Col. Terry com- 
manciing the regiment, which was assigned to duty 
on the Potomac. He was discharged in 1862 on 
account of disabilities. Returning to Owosso he 
began the publication of wlmt was known as tiie 
Corunna Journal, which he continued until its 
sale to Mr. Ingersoll. He remained in Owosso 
until llie fall of the year 1863, when he went 
to work in tlie ofUco of Lyon Hanchott on the 
Owosso Press, and was foreman of the paper until 
June, 1864. At this time he was commissioned 
Captain of Company E, of tlie Twenty-ninth In- 
fantry and was assigned to tlie Army of the Cum- 
berland, remaining with the regiment until it was 
mustered out in September, 1865, when he re- 
turned home after the war and cng.iged in general 
merchandising for six years. In April, 1871, he 
became proprietor of the National Hotel. Shortly 
after he purchased the property, rebuilding and 
adding to the original house until it is hardl}' 
recognizable. He carried on the hoti'l unlil Maj', 



1891, when he leased the property. Everything that 
he has undertaken has been successful. He has 
built three good brick business houses for which 
he finds a ready rent. He still owns the ciiiire 
property. He has four children, three so;is :ind 
one daughter. His eldest sou is Charles . I. ; Lhe 
next is Arthur D; the daughter, Carrie A ,is now 
the wife of J. Turbush, a merchant of Owosso; 
Frederick R. is still at home. 

Mr. Patterson was City Clerk for eleven years 
in Owosso and Alderman for the Fourth Ward for 
two years, Marshal one year and Mayor one year. 
He is a member of Owosso Lodge No. 81, F. A A. M., 
Charter member of Lodge No. 89, R. A. .M., also 
First Commander of (Juackenbusk Post No. 205, 
G. A. R. Politically, he has always been a Dora- 
ocrat. 



-W^' 




!t/_^ ON. JAMES M.GOODELL is well known 
) even outside of his public position as a prom- 
inent attorney and old settler of Corunna. 
He is a man of delightful social qualities 
and broad and liberal public spirit, and is most high- 
ly respected by the communitj'. He was born al Le- 
Roj', N. Y., and is the son of George W. Goodell, 
who was born June 10, 1815, in Sudbury, Rutland 
Count3', Vt. The grandfather. .Tacob, was a native 
of Massachusetts who came with his paients to 
Vermont when a young man. His father was also 
named Jacob, and lie took part in the Revolution- 
ary War from beginning to end, from Bunker Hill 
to the Siege of Yorktown, being most of the time 
an aid to Gen. W.ashington. He was in almost 
everj' prominent engagement and lived till 1828, 
when his days ended in Vermont. The (iuoclell 
family is of Fjiiglish descent and the name was 
formerly spelled Goodail. 

The grandfather of our subject was a iiu'rclianl, 
farmer and manufacturer of lumber before the VV:ir 
of 1812. He and several others invested their all 
in lunilier, which they rafted to Quebec just bcfo:e 
the dc'hiration of war. It was seized by the Ivig- 
lish Goveriuueut and these unfortunate specu!.ilo:s 
were thus leduced to [loverty. Mr. Goodell then fil- 
tered the army and look part in the battle of Plaits- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



37 



burg. He remained in Vermont until his death in 
1820. When George Goodell was eighteen years old 
he left Rutland County, Vt., and came to Hochester, 
N. Y., where he engaged in farming and mechani- 
cal work. He then went to Le R03' and engaged 
in collecting and work in that line. He studied 
medicine at Bergen and became a physician but did 
not practice. In 1855 lie came to Michigan an.l 
made his home in Corunna. 

About a 3'ear and a half after coming to Corunna, 
Mr. George Goodell was elected Register of Deeds of 
.Shiawassee Count}'. For two 3'ears, beginning in 
1856, he was in the drug business, from which he re- 
tired and busietl himself in the insurance and real-es- 
tate business. He died in 1885 December ID. He was 
in his political views, first a Whig then a Repub- 
lican and in 1878 became a Grecnbacker. His wife 
Celinda D. Chase, was born in Addison County, 
Vt., and married the father of our subject in Troy, 
N. Y., October 1, 1839. Her father, Abner Cli.ase, 
was a C^uaker farmer of ^'ermont. This estimable 
and intelligent lady died in Corunna, December 20, 
1882. She was highly esteemed in her church re- 
lations, being a member of the Baptist Church, and 
was mourned alike by her associates and her family- 
Four of her children lived to years of m.'iturit}-, 
the oldest one being our subject who was born 
October 1, 1841. 

When thirteen j-ears of age, James Goodell came 
to Michigan traveling by rail to I'ontiac, and 
thence by stage to Corunna. Attending school in 
that village for some time he took a clerkship vvilh 
his father in the Register's r.flice. .luly 8, 18G1, 
being then in his twentieth 3'ear, he began the study 
of law with McCurd}' & Raynale, and was admitted 
to the bar of Michigan at Corunna, September 8, 
1863, and began the practice of law right here 
where he has made his record from that day to 
this. In the fall of 1861 both he and his preceptor 
Mr. Ra^'nale, were nominated for the oflice of 
County Prosecuting Attorney and Mr. Goodell was 
elected. He held the office for two years and after 
an interim of two years he was re-elected to another 
term. This second time, curiously enough, he was 
oppose<l to and defeated his other olii preceptor. 
Judge McCurdy. 

In 1866, Mr. Raynale and the young lawyer 



were again candidates for office; this time for Cir- 
cuit Court Commissioner,and, .again Mr. Goodell led 
the van. In 1872 Mr. Goodell was nominated for 
the State Senate in the Eighteenth District, which 
comprises Shiawassee and Livingston Counties. 
He was duly elected on the Ri'i)ublican ticket and 
served during the session of 1873 and the extra 
session of 1871, which was called togetlier to con- 
sider proposed amendments to Ihe Constitution. 
He w.as at that time the youngest member of the 
Senate. He made a good record in his senatorial 
oflice and nx-eived the deserved confidence of his 
fellow-senators, being placed on several $|)ccial 
committees and serving .as Chairman of one. 

Mr. (ioddell was for eight years consecutively 
the Supervisor of the Third Ward in Corunna, and 
occupied this ollice for ten years and all without 
once soliciting the position. He was appointed by 
the board of Supervisors on the committee which 
was to investigate ami assist the [)roseculing at- 
torney in the matter of the county in<k'btedness, 
which amounted to *10,()00. Thoy reduced this 
amount some |!15,000. During tiie |)rogress of 
this case Mr. tSoodell raised the ([uestion of com- 
pound interest and carric<1 it to the Supreme Court. 
This question has never before been raised between 
the county and State. He was Mayor of Corunna 
for one term. 

James M. Goodell and Helen F. Hosmer were 
married in Corunna, Septembers, 1865. This lady 
w.as a native of Watertown, Wis., and a daughter 
of George S. Hosmer, a farmer near tliDt city. 
They have six eliildrpii living, in wiioni they take 
a justifiable pride. Tlie eldest daughter, Gertrude 
K.,i8 studying vocal music at the Detroit (.'onserv- 
atory of Music. She h.as remarkable vocal powers 
and her professor esteems her voice as one of the 
finest in the State. She married William Ihibbell, 
of Ypsilanti, June 25, 18!)1. The next daughter, 
Kate C, is an artist here and n member of the firm 
of Rhodes & Goodell. George A., was an artist in 
the best gallery in Detroit. He died August 
4, 1891. He was also a student of music. The 
four younger children, EU>isa F., (ienevieve A., 
Maud C, and James M., Jr. arc all members of the 
High .School in Corunna and all musically inclined, 
wiiU'h talent thev inliorit from their mother. Mr. 



I 



376 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Goodell is klentified with the Indcpenrlent Order 
of Odd Kellows and the Royal Arch Masons, al- 
though not actively engaged in the work of the 
lodge. He is a charter member of the Ancient Or- 
der of United Workmen. He is interested in pul)- 
lic affairs bnt not identilicd with either political 
party. His wife is an honored raembei of the Epis- 
copal Church of Corunna. 



"^OHN I'AINTER, whose home is situated on 
section 34, Venice Township, Shiawassee 
County, is a son of John and Sallie (Charl- 
ton) Painter, the former a native of West- 
moreland County, Pa., and the latter a Virginian. 
They were married in Pennsylvania and made 
their home there until their death. They were 
the parents of twelve children, six of whom are 
now living. The mother dieil in 1872 and the 
father in 1881. 

Our subject had his birth in Stark County, Ohio, 
June 24, 1824, and grew to manhood in Pennsyl- 
vania. During his 3'outh and carl^' manhood he 
helped his father on the farm, and did not begin 
work for himself until his marriage which occurred 
September 11, 18G0. His wife bore the maiden 
name of Sarah Anna Tompkins and is a daughter 
of Gridley and Lydia (Harding) Tompkins. Mr. 
Gridley was a native of New York and his wife 
was born in Pennsylvania. They were married 
in his native State, but after a residence of a few 
years there they removed to Pennsylvania, where 
he died in 1857. She then came to Michigan and 
is now the wife of John B. Baxter and lives in this 
township, being now seventy-six years of age. 
Mrs. Painter is the onl}' one of her two children 
by the first marriage now living, and was born 
September 21, 1840, in New York State. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Painter settled on 
a farm of their own in Pennsylvania and migrated 
in 1869 to the Wolverine State, settling upon 
eightj' acres of land where thej- now live. It was 
then in heavy timber and entirely unbroken but 
had upon it a log house. Sixty acres of this has 
now been cleared and it was done by the patient 



work of Mr. Painter and his sons. All the im- 
[trovements which now appear they have put upon 
the farm. Last 3'ear they finished the resilience at 
a cost of $1,000 and carrj' on mixed farming. 

Five children of this household have been called 
hence and the four now living are James M. D., 
born January 9, 18G7; Jesse F., December 22, 
1869; Elisha Elton, May 15, 1879; Lydia, born 
January 13, 1862, now the wife of Eugene Simp- 
son and the mother of three children, residing 
at Clayton, Mich. To all of them have been given 
a good district school education and they are earn- 
est and active nsembers of the Methodist Episco|)al 
Church. Tlie father is a Democrat in politics but 
the sons are Republican. The3' were in poor cir- 
cumstances when thoy began life, but have brought 
themselves a comfortable fortune by hard work 
and econoni)'. They have been hardworking peo- 
l)le and are not now in robust health, but have a 
good farm, well cleared, ami it is all the result of 
their own labor. Four of Mr. Painter's hrothers 
served in the army during the Civil War. 



-S»!^>*^laS» 



>tf*«f->»^«^ 



CS.\ HARLES S. GRACE, a man prominent both 
^^ in agricultural and iiolitical circles, who re 
y^J sides on section 18, Rush Township, Sliia. 
wassee County, had his nativity in Albany', N. Y., 
May 31,1831. His father, William Grace, a na- 
tive of Newfoundland, born about the year 1769, 
went into the Revolutionary Army when a bo3' of 
twelve years. He was a dealer in stone, and later 
in life took part in the War of 1812. Lucy Far- 
querson became his bride in 1816. This lad^' was 
a member of a noble family of Seotlnnd, being a 
daughter of Lord Lewis Farnuerson. 

William .and Lucy Grace had eleven children, 
nine daughters and two sons, of whom our subject 
is the youngest. William was largely engaged in 
sending stone, wood and building material to 
Albany by way of F^rle Canal. His wife had 
property left her by her father, Lord F'arquers<in 
who had become a wholesale tobacconist at Schen- 
ectady, N. Y., after coming to this country. Lord 
Farquerson returned to Scotland before his death, 






PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPUlCAL ALBUM, 



377 



and Mrs. Grace employed Capt. Walton, Squire 
Cole and Squire Bogart to look after the property 
in Schenectady. At the time of her death, in 1832, 
she left directions for the disposition of her prop- 
erly. She gave papers showing her ownership of 
the property to Charles Smith, a Catholic priest of 
Alban\-, N. Y. B3' neglect in some way the prop- 
erty was never turned over to the heirs, and no ac- 
count was made of it. Our subject was then a 
balic, and was placed in an orphan asylum, but was 
taken from that institution by his aunt, J-ucy 
Fitzgerald, of New York. 

Charles Grace, when but a small boy, was sent to 
Sandusk}', Ohio, to live with his sister, Margaret 
(Grace) MeCarly. lie remained tiiere until 1847, 
when he started out for himself, and in IHai; came 
to Saginaw, Mich., and bought eiglity acres llierc. 
After making a trip to Chicago and Wisconsin he 
returned tf) Ohio and in ISCl enlisted in Company 
D, Kifty-fourth Ohio Zouaves. 

Our N'oung soklier went lii.sl to Caini) Dennison, 
Ohio, then lo Paducah, Ky., and on to Kt. Don- 
elson and Sliiloii. On May G, 18C2, lie was shot 
in the right thigh, and was sent to Cairo, 111., and 
then to Cincinnati, Ohio, to the hospital. In 18G3 
he rejoined the regiment at Mem[)liis, and went on 
to Vicksbiirg, but returning lo Memphis was sent 
to Tuscumbia, ^ la. Being unable lo |)roceed with 
Sherman in his march to the sea he w.as sent back 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was discharged in IHfit 
at Columbus, Oiiio. 

Ueturning to Michigan Mr. Giace traded his 
farm in Saginaw County for a farm of one hundred 
acres in Rush Township, .Shiawassee County, and has 
since bought and sold farms in Shiawassee County, 
and at one time owned twelve hundred acres. In 
1871 he married Mary K. Curtis, of Hush Township, 
a daughter of William and Eliza (Slocum) Curtis. 
Thty had four .sous and tliree daughters, of whom 
Mary E. is the second child and oldest daughter, 
being born in 18.52. 

Into the delightful home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Grace have come six children, their offspring being 
equally divided between sons and daughters. The 
daughters are: Anna, Carrie E. and Eliza, and the 
sons, Charles A., Lewis W. and Frank I,. Mr. 
Grace is a consistent and earnest member of the 



Christian Church and is a prominent member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, being the 
Speaker of the T. C. Crane Post, No. 128, of Hen- 
derson. His political views have led him to 
alliliate with the R('iiul)lican parly, in which he is 
an earnest worker and often appears as delegate at 
countj' conventions. 




NSLEY A. HUNT. In every town and in 
every neighborhood there arc one or more 
I* men who aie looked upon as leaders in the 
community and whose Inllucnce, both 
strong and broail, carries weight in every enter- 
[)rise and in every movement. Happy is it for a 
coiiimtiuity when these leaders are wise, and regard 
r:ilher the good of Iheir feilow-mcn tlian their own 
augrandi/.ement. Among such leaders we lind the 
subject of this sketch. He is a farmer, residing on 
section 1;') of Walertown Tt)wnsliip, Clinton 
County, where he has eighty-three acres of One 
land. His farm is stocked with a choice selection 
of horses and cattle, also a Hock of as fine registered 
Merino sheep and as well-bred as any in the State 
of Michigan, and uimui it may be found an attiact- 
ive ancl commodious farm house and excellent 
farm buildings, such as are needed for the success- 
ful carrying on of agriculture. 

Our subject is the son of Nelson and Mary (Con- 
rad) Hunt, both natives of New York, who came 
to Oakland County, Mich., in 183C. There the 
subject of this sketch was born, his natal day hav- 
ing been June 3, 183!l. He received his practical 
training on the home farm and received a district 
school education to which was added one term at 
ihe DeWitt High School. He worked for his 
father until twenty-two years of age, and was of 
great assistance upon the farm. 

The event in his life which had most inlluence in 
securing his happiness and his prosperity .as well, 
was his marriage, August 21, 1861, to Plnube O. 
Cronkile. This lad}- is a daughter of Samuel W. 
and Berthier Cronkite, natives of New York, who 
came to Michigan at an early d.'iy. This marriage 
has been a very happy one and has been crowned 



378 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



by the birth of three chil(ken, Lettie E., who is 
married to Walter Saxton and makes her liome in 
Watertown Township, and M. L. and F. A., who 
are botli single and reside at home. 

In political matters Mr. Hunt is a Republican 
and has been honored by his party by being placed 
in a number of official positions. He has been 
Township Clerk for three years and is at present 
the Supervisor of Watertown Township, which 
office he has iield for five terms. He is a meniber 
of Waeousta Lodge, No. 259, A. F. & A. M., in 
which he has served as Senior Deacou and is now 
Junior AVarden. He is also a member of the Pa- 
trons of Husbandry and is ever alive to the inter- 
ests of the farming comnuinily. The father of our 
subject is of German extraction. He resides on 
section 15, where he has a fine farm, but is not 
able to be verj- active in its cultivation, as he is in 
feeble health. 



-^-*.- 



ESSE E. STONE, who began life for him- 
self with no capital except twenty-five 
cents and his own enterprise, earnestness 
and energy, has won for himself a |)lace in 
the respect of his fellow citizens of Duplain Town- 
shi|), Clinton County, as vveil as a rei)utation as 
one of the brave veterans of the late Civil War. He 
was born in the townshij) where he now resides, 
July 13, 1842, and is a son of Elijah .1. and Laura 
A. ( Watkins) Stone. His father was born at Corn- 
well, Vt., and his mother first saw the light in 
Batavia, N. Y. 

The early home was ui)on a farm and the boy 
was faithfully instructed in the duties of farm life 
by his father. The famil}' removed to INIichigan, 
making the new home in Calhoun County in 1835, 
but came to Clinton County in February, 1841. 
Here Ihe father lived until June 21), 18iS7 when he 
was called from earih. His son cherishes as a 
worthy memento of this parent the commission as 
second Lieutenant of Infantry which was given his 
father 1)\ the Governor of Michigan in 1839. 

The subject of this brief sketch had few advant- 
ages for education and was able to attend even the | 



common schools only a part of the year. He went 
to school in the winter but assisted upon the farm 
during the summer, and our subject attended two 
term of select school. He remained with his 
parents till he reached his majority but made his 
own living from the time he was seventeen years 
old. He began life with twenty-five cents and the 
suit of clothes which his parents had provided for 
him and went to Livingston County where he 
worked out upon a farm, receiving in exchange 
for his labor the small wages which were then paid 
to a farm hand. 

A patriotic desire to serve the countrj' of his 
birth led him into the army, and he enlisted in the 
fall of 1863 in Company I, Tenth Michigan 
Cavalry, Col. Thaddeus Foote, commanding. This 
regiment was sent to Lexington, K^'. and became 
a part of the Arm}' of the Cumberland. They 
took part in no famous battles but saw smoke many 
times in skirmishes and their most severe experi- 
ence as soldiers was in the hardships which attend- 
ed their manner of life. Our young hero served 
in the army until the close of the War and was 
mustered out of service at Memphis, Tenn., on 
November 11, 1865. 

Returning to Clinton County, Mich., Mr. Stone 
resumed farm labor. His marriage took place 
about a year later as he was united with Nettie 
E. A'antine of Corunna, Mich., November 29, 1866. 
Three children crowned this union, namely, Nellie 
E. born May 4, 1869, Marcus E., April 30, 1873, 
(died in infancy), and Frank E., born March 12, 
1876. Both his children are at home with their 
parents. Mr. Stone began at the Colony work- 

ing land on shares. The Colon}' was founded by 
a company of men from Rochester, N. Y. He 
lived there for two years an<l then went to Olive 
Township, where he bought a farm and carried it on 
for two years. He then found a purchaser for that' 
property and in November, 1870, made his home in 
Duplain Township, where he has since resided. 

The fine place of one hundred and twenty acres 
where our subject now lives has about one hundred 
acres under cultivation. A fine orchard marks the 
enterprise of this gentleman as do other substan- 
tial iin[)rovemcnts, including a large barn and other 
buildings which mark the hand of a prosperous and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



379 



systematic farmer. In politics he is a Republican 
but has never sought office any kind, preferring the 
quiet avocations of farm life U> tlie public arena. 
He is a breeder of I'oland-Cliiiia hogs and Merino 
sheep, of which he has an excellent flock, and in 
which he lakes a great interest. He gives his til- 
tentiou largely- to raising wheat, oats and corn, and 
has a good trade in celery during the season when 
that vegetable is in the market. He is deeply in- 
terested in the promotion of good r.chools as well 
as other movements for the best welfare of the 
community. 



— *!4^^- 




ON. NEWTON H. BAKER, who was born 
in Wayne County, N. Y., on the 25lh of 
July, 1833, is a prominent and honored 
citizen of St. John's. His father came 
from New York to Michigan early in tiie '50s but 
his family did not remove West until after the war. 
He made his home in Detroit most of the time and 
spent a season in Minnesota. He was a member of 
the Baptist Ciiurch for many years and died in 
1888 at Lansing. While living in New York he 
tilled various offices of trust and while there fol- 
lowed farming as his avocation and also owned at 
one time four sawmills, two being run by steam and 
two being watcrmills. He was quite an extensive 
manufacturer of lumber. His wife, I'luebe Foster, 
a native of New York, is still living at the very 
ailvanced age of four-score years and six. fShc has 
been a communicant in the Baptist Church for 
many years and trained her eight children in the 
faith and practice of the Christian religion. Only 
six of them are now living. 

Mr. Baker, our subject, was brought up on a 
farm, and attended the district school when a child. 
When a little older he had the privilege of attend- 
ing during the winter and was busy upon the farm 
during the farming season. He remaineil at homo 
several years after becoming of age and fulktwcd 
the nursery' business a number of years before 
coming to Michigan. It was in 1RC7 when he made 
his home iii Bengal Townshi)), Clinton County, 



Mich., where he purchased laud on section 21. 
This was all an unbroken forest and he had a heavy 
task before him of subduing the wilderness and 
putting the land into a condition for agriculture. 
After making a clearing he built a frame house 
and established his home. 

In 1803 Mr. Baker took to himself a wife in the 
person of Miss Emily Carlton, of New York. Two 
children have rosulle<l from this union: Belle mar- 
ried William Kearney who was killed by a train of 
cars in Battle Creek, November 22, 1890; they 
have one child — Ralph N. Minnie is still at home. 
Mr. Baker is fully identified with the Democratic 
party in his political views and is a representative 
man among the members of that part}-. The first 
offices which he was called to fill were those of Su- 
pervisor and Justice of the Peace. He was sent as 
a Representative to the Michigan iState Legislature, 
serving from 1877 to 1879. While there he was 
placed upon the Committees of Horticulture, Agri- 
culture, and Religious and Benevolent Societies. 
He has been identified with the Masonic order since 
1863 and is a useful member of the Ancient Order 
of I'nited Workman, an<l was a charter member of 
the Bengal Grange. His one hundred acres of arable 
land has been put out in its present fine condition 
by his own hand. He started with limited means 
and has been prospered to an unusual degree and 
his elegant home and fine barn, and the orderly 
and systematic condition of everything upon his 
farm attest to his good management and excellence 
as a farmer. 



OIIN J. REISER. Among the prominent 
citizens of Clinton Count}' v/lio are to be 
represented in this Album is Mr. Reiser^ 
'M formerly County Clerk. In his public ca- 
pacity he discharged his duties in an ellicient man- 
ner and gave general satisfaction, and as a private 
citizen he is well known and poiudar, particularly 
among farmers and old soldiers, as his life has 
brought him in close contact with them. He is the 
owner and occupant of a well-improved farm on 
section 10, Greenbush Township, consisting of one 



380 



PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



bundled and ninety acres of land which under his 
management is the source of an excellent income. 
This farm has been his iiome since 1872, at which 
lime he came from the State of Ohio. He is a na- 
tive of the Buckeye State, having been born in 
Tuscarawas Count}', October 24, 1841. 

Mr. Keisor, as his name indicates, is of German 
ancestry and it is found upon inquiry that his 
great-grandparents in both lines were emigrants 
from the Fatherland. His direct progenitors were 
Joseph and Susannah (llarman) Keiser, the one a 
native of Stark and the other of Harrison County, 
Oliio. They reared a faniilj- of six children, John 
J. being the eldest son; there is one daughter older 
than he. His brothers and sisters are: Lydia, wife 
of J. J. Strouso, living in Greenbush Township; 
Noah, a resident of Fulton County, Ohio; S.amuel, 
whose home is Gratiot County, tliis Stale; Jacob, a 
resilient of Greenbush Township, anil Susannah,wife 
of F'innklin (!ontor, living in Tuscarawas County, 
Ohio. John was reared to manhood in his county 
and from his boyhood lias been eng.aged in farm- 
ing, llis education w.as obtained in the public 
schools and he added to tlie advantages they af- 
forded by reading and (icrsonal observation, thus 
keeping well up with tlie times in his knowledge 
of general topics. 

August 14, 1802, Mr. Keisor enlisted in Com- 
pany E. One Hundred and 'J'wenty -sixth Ohio In- 
anlry, and became an integral part of the Army of 
the Potomac. He served under different generals 
and look part in a nuinbcr of the most important 
battle.'--, of ilie war, together with a large number of 
skirmishes and the usual marches and camp duties. 
In the list of battles are Martinsburg, Harper's 
Ferry, Locust Grove, the Wilderness, Spottsylva- 
nia. Cold Harbor, Wincliester, Fisher's Hill and 
Cedar Creek. At tlie last named Mr. Keiser was 
wounded, but not seriously. He was lionorably 
disrliaiged July 2, ISC'), as Orderly Sergeant and 
relurning to his native Stale laid aside the arms 
and aceoiitreinents of a soldier and took up again 
the implements of a farmer. 

During the month of October, 1866, ISIr. Keiaer 
was married to Miss Sarah A. Biddlc, daughter of 
George and Mahalah Biddle, both of whom are 
deceased. Tlie children born of this union are: 



Edward, a graduate of Tpsilanti Normal School 
and now engaged in teaching; Clara, wife of 
Charles Houk, living in Mason County; Addison 
A., who is reading law with Messrs. Norton ife 
Brunson, attorneys in St. John's; and Almeda and 
Elda who are at home. 

In politics Mr. Keiser is a Republican. Besides 
serving as Count}' Clerk two years, 1881-82, he 
has been Township Supervisor four terras. Justice 
of the Peace seven years and Township School 
Inspector several years. He resigned his position 
as Justice to accejit the county clerkship. He is 
connected with the Masonic order at Eureka and is 
a member of .1. Wagner Post, No. 217, G. A. R., 
in the same town. His religious home is in the 
Evangelical Association in that village, and he is 
found taking a part in various enterprises which 
will benefit the community and adil to the pros- 
perity of the people of this section. He hiis a 
beautiful home and the worldly goods he has accu- 
mulated by inthistry and economy suttice to place 
him far a!)ovo want. 



.§!.- 



C-*-]^ 



^1 rSTIN E. RICHARDS, a prominent law- 
yer who was recently elected to the jiosi- 
i lion of Circuit Court Commissioner of 
Shiawassee County, is a native of that 
county, having been born in New Haven Town- 
ship, April 14, 1801, just about the the time when 
the first gun was fired at Ft. Sumter. His father, 
William, was born in Nottinghamshire, F^nglan-' 

; and came with his parents to America when a lit. 

! lad of six years, making the journey in 1832. The 
family loc.ited on a farm in Saline, Washtenaw 

I County, Mich., and engaged in farming. The 
grandfather had been a jeweler and watch-makei 
in England and tlic father had learned the cooper's 
tr.-ide. He s|h'1iI some time in Saginaw County, 
and then located in Maple Grove and resided there 

I for a couple of years before coming to New Haven 
Township in Shiawassee County. Here he bought 
uncultivated land and proceeded to improve it. In 
1865 he removed to Burns Township and pur- 
chased au improved farm of four hundred acres. 




EMORY B. VOORHEES 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



383 



He was a prosperous man and carried on a l>arrcl 
factory in Washtenaw County and at the same 
time speculated in lands. He lived to be only fortj'- 
five years old, iiis death taking place in 1871. He 
was a pillar in tlie church, being active as Class- 
Leader in the Methodist Episcopal connection. His 
|)olitical affiliations wore first with the Whigs and 
afterward with the Republicans. 

The mother of our subject w.as Maria, daughter 
of Abraliam Sraitli, both natives of Livingston 
County, N. Y. The grandfather was an early set- 
tler in Washtenaw County, where he carried on 
farming, although lie had been a wagon-maker in 
New York. He died in .S.aginaw County where he 
iiad been living for some years. His wife also died 
in that county. The brother and sister of our 
subject are Frank, a farmer in Burns Township, 
this county, and Klma, now Mrs. C. K. Brewster, 
of Grand Traverse Count}-. 

After attending the district schools in Burns 
Township young Richards studied in the Byron 
graded schools and then attended the Corunna High 
School. When eighteen years old he took charge 
of the lioine farm and operated three hundred 
.acres, one liuudred of whicli were his own. He had 
an earnest desire to study law and before he was 
twenty-one years old began its stud}' evenings, 
making good progress, allhough he was working 
hard tlirough the da}'. He took instruction frou) 
Judge McCurdy, and in 1884 rented out his farm 
and locating in the village of Byron began the 
practice of law, being admitted to the Michigan 
bar at Corunna in December, 1887. The fall of 
18!)0 saw him raised by the votes of his fellow- 
citizens to the position of Circuit Court Commis- 
sioner and on New Year's Day 1891, he took 
charge of the duties of that ofBce, in connection 
with which he also carries on a general [)ractice. 

Our subject was married at Byron, May 24, 1888, 
to Miss Inez Gibbs, a native of Cahokia, III., who 
had spent her girlhood in Michigan. One child 
has blessed this union — Hugh McCurdy. In 1885 
Mr. Richards had become Supervisor of the town- 
ship, and in 1890 he w.as made Chairman of the 
CouHty Board, and was Justice of the Peace there- 
for four years, being elected to that oflice when only 
twenty-one years old. He is greatly interested in 



the question of an old debt, a State claim, which 
has been for years hanging over the township. He 
is identified with the Masonic order, having at- 
tained the degree of Knight Templar. He is not a 
|)art} man but is inde|icndent in his political ideas. 
Iiis wife holds an honored and responsible position 
as an active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



E 



MOKV B. VOOUHKKS, now engaged in bus 
iness in Ovid, is the only Democratic can. 
didate for the State Legislature who has 
ever seemed tiio siiffr.ages of tlie people of this dis- 
trict. He was sent to the ca[)ital in 1885 and made 
a good record as a law-maker, thus adding to the 
reputation he .-ilieady enjoyed as one who was ca- 
pable of working well for the puljlic. In various 
minor offices he has demonstrated his ability and 
good judgment ami in business circles he is sjioken 
of as a man of honor and tact. In August, 1889, 
he removed to the village near which he had pre- 
viously l>een carrying on a farm and opened up in 
tr.ade as a dealer in furniture, musical instruments 
and undertaker's goods. Wliile giving close atten- 
tion to his business, he oversees the farm and de- 
rives a satisfactory income from his land, while his 
latter enterprise is growing in a most pleasing way. 
Mr. ^'oorhees belongs tfi a family well known in 
Clinton County, liis parents having located iiere in 
1840. His father, John \'oorhces, was born in New 
York and married Caroline Jennings, a native of 
Connecticut. He located in Washtenaw County, 
this .State, during its early settlement and came 
thence to Clinton County and made his home in 
Ovid Township. Here our subject was born, Octo- 
\h:v 22. 1853. He was reared on the homestead, 
which is located three miles south of the town of 
Ovid, and his educational advantages were limited 
to the common schools, his studies being completed 
ill the high school of the town in which he now 
lives. When of age he began his life work on the 
homestead and remained there, as before stated, 
until quite recently. He still carries on there the 
breeding of Hainbletonian horses and keeps a good 



384 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPfflCAL ALBUM. 



stock of cattle, sheep and hogs. The highest price 
that ii:is been paid in this county for a home-bred 
horse was prohablj received liy iiim for a Harable- 
tonlan three-year-old, which brouglit $1,000. 
During- the year 1889 he sold $2,200 worth of 
horses bred on his estate. 

For the comforts with which his home is abund- 
antly supplied and the happiness of his domestic 
life Mr. Yoorhccs is indebted to a lady of fine char- 
acter, intelligence and skill wlio was formerl}' 
known as Miss S. Ella Slocura. She became his 
wife October 22, 1879, and their home is bright- 
ened by the presence of four children: Mabel E., 
born November 19, 1880; ]\Iary C, February 26, 
1886; Grace D., February 28, 1888; and Ruth S., 
May 19, 1801. The little girls are being carefully 
instructed, not only in matters of the intellect but 
in graces of character .and bearing, and their in- 
cre.a.se in knowledge and true politeness gratifies 
their parents greatly. Mrs. Voorhees is a daugh- 
ter of Oeorge W. Slocum, a farmer of Middlebur^- 
Township, Shiawassee County. 

In 1884 Mr. Voorhees was Supervisor of Ovid 
Township and at various times he occupied other 
stations. He was President of the village one 
term anti has aided in advancing the cause of edu- 
cation by his connection with school offices. For 
ten years he was Secretary of the Ovid Union Fair 
Association, during which period it prospered and 
the Fairs proved a success. Husband and wife be- 
long to the INIethodist-Episcopal Church and are 
highly esteemed for their fine characters, cultured 
minds and social natures. 

In connection witli this brief biographical notice 
a lithographic portrait of Mr. Voorhees is presented 
to our readers. 



ARVEYW. CARRINGTON, a prominent 
and progressive citizen of Greenbiish Town- 
ship, Clinton County, and one of the brave 
(^) veterans of the Civil War, is a native of 
Medina County. Ohio, where he was born Septem- 
ber 10, 1H38. lie is a son of Elisha and Charlotte 
Carringlon and his grandfather, Fletcher, on his 




mother's side, was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
When only seven years old he was sadly bereaved 
by the death of both his parents, and thus he was 
early thrown upon his own resources. He then went 
to live with his grandfather, Fletcher, where he re- 
mained until the death of that old gentleman when 
our subject was about fifteen years old, and he was 
thus indeed thrown upon the world. His educa- 
tional advantages were naturallj' quite limited and 
he has had to educate himself by reading, since he 
attained to manhood. After the death of his 
grandfather he beg.an to learn the blacksmith's 
trade and after following it a j'^ar and a half took 
ui) the business of a traveling salesman for awhile. 

The needs of our country in her time of distress 
appealed strongly to this homeless j'oung man who 
indeed had no one to leave behind him, and he en- 
listed in May, 1861, in Corapanj' C, Twenty-third 
Ohio Infantry-, under Colonel, afterward Presi- 
dent Hayes and under the generalship of Rose- 
crnns. He was also at one time in Gen. McClel- 
land's command. He fought in the battles of 
South Mountain, Md., and at Antietam and in 
other minor engagements. His honorable discharge 
was granted him -Inly 3, 1864, after which he re- 
turneil to Ohio, making his headquarters at Berea 
and going out as salesman for a wooden ware and 
grindstone company and worked for them a num- 
ber of years. 

It was 1866 when Mr. Carrington came to Mich- 
igan and made his home in St. John's and while 
there was on and oflf the road at various times. He 
was married in ISef) to Mary (i. Becbe. She be- 
came the mother of two children and both mother 
and children have passed from earth. His second 
marriage was contracted with Rose B. Sharpneck 
and to her were given three children, Mabel R., 
Minnie A. and Paul. 

For several j'ears our subject eng.aged in the 
mercantile business at St. John's, handling dry 
goods almost exdusivel}'. The firm bore the 
title of W. P.iindy it Co. He removed to his 
farm in (iriH'iibnsh Township in the sjjring of 
1886 and here he owns eighty acres of 
land. He sympathizes with the Republican 
party in its views of public policy and casts 
his vote in its interest. He is public spirited and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



385 



wide-awake to promote the interests of the town- 
ship. Wiiile living at St. John's he served two 
terms as a nieiiiberof the Town Council. He is a 
member of the Masonic order and is connected 
with man}' social movements which look to the 
betterment of society. 

■— ». ♦ :|3 " C§> V— 




OL. GEORGE COLT, one of the prominent 
businessmen of Owosso, Siiiawasscc C'onnt)', 
I' Mich., is a native of Piltsficld, Berksl)ire 
County, Mass., where he was born May, 10, 1807. 
His father, James D., was also a native of Mass- 
achusetts and lived to the ripe old ase of ninetj-- 
four years. His father, James 1). Colt was of En- 
glish descent. The mother of our subject, Sarah 
(Root) Colt, a native of Massachusetts, was a 
daughter of Ezekiel Root and died on the farm on 
which she was born. 

Our subject is one of seven children in his 
parental honii^ and liis boyhood was p.issed in I'itts- 
field, Mass. After attending a course of instruc- 
tion in the Pittsfield Academj' he went South in 
1828 and hecanio a planter in Florida and later 
went to Cuba in the winter of 183C where he pur- 
chased a coffee plantation which be managed suc- 
cessfully for seven years. Returning to Florida he 
engaged in cutting timber for the Government for 
shipbuilding after which he went to New York City 
and took up the manuf.-icture of chcniicals. 

Five years later in September, 185.3, Mr. Colt 
removed to Jlichigan and located for a time in 
Shiawassee Township, where he carried on a flour- 
ing-niill and a sawmill, until his llouring-niill 
burned. After this disaster he rebuilt antj after a 
short time sold out this business and removed to 
Owosso in 1875 where he has lived a somewhat re- 
tired life, although he gives himself partial occupa- 
tion by conducting afire insurance business. 

Col. Colt has been twice married. His first 
matrimonial alliance was solemnized in 1834. By 
this marriage with Leonora, daughter of Judge 
Phillip Fatio, of Florida, he had I5ve children, four 
of whom are living, namely, Fatio an attorney at 
Bay Citj"; Leonora widow of Rev. .1. W. Capen, of 



Binghamton, N. Y. Julia F., the wife of Oliver 
Bronson, of New York and Louisa who is unmar- 
ried. His second wife was Elizabeth S. Kimball a 
native of Ohio and daughter of Moses Kimball 
Esq., of Normal, Ohio. By tliis marriage there are 
two children, Georgia and Henry Dutlon. 

The subject of this sketch has held the office of 
City Treasurer and City Clerk. He is a stanch 
Democrat, easting his first Presidential vote for 
Gen. Jackson, and w.as appointed Collector of the 
Port at St. Marks by Van Buren, but refused to 
accept the position. Both he and his excellent wife 
are devout members of the Ei)iscopal Church. 
They have a beautiful residence on Water Street 
where they dispense hospitality to their numerous 
friends. >Vhile in the South he engaged in the 
Seminole War and was in command of a force 
of soldiers. Wiiile living in the South he received 
the title of Colonel whicli friends still enjoy 
bestowing upon him. 



-^-^-^- 



j^RSON G. SUGDEN who owns the farm 
on section 21, Sliiawasscu Township, Shia- 
V.\ Jll ^^•{,ssec County, w.as born in Commerce, Oak- 
land County, this State, August 22, 1848. His 
parents were George and Anna (Reeves) Sudden. 
The former was born in Hartford, Conn, and the 
latter in New York and died when her son was but 
four 3-ears old. The parents were married in Oak- 
land County, this State. In 1856 George Sugdcn, 
the father of our subject, settled in Siiiawassee 
County and took for his second wife Mary A. Price, 
who died two months before him. His death oc- 
curring in March, 18G5. Of the two cliildrpii 
which came to this family- our subject is the elder. 
t'l):ules died in December, 1877. Before his death 
he lived on the old homestead. He left a widow 
who married again, her name now being Mrs. Al- 
fred Jackson. The father settled on the farm 
which his son at present occupies, in 1850. 

It then comprised eighty acres of hnd, forty of 
which were improved. The father was Supervisor 
of the township for several terms and filled this 
position at the time of his death. Our subject and 



386 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



>c 



his lirother lived on the farm from the time of their 
f.itlier's death until that of Charles occurred. For 
a time our subject's grandfather. Thomas Sugden, 
made his home witli Orson's famil}'. for two or 
three years. 

The original of our sketch w.ns married at the age 
of twenty-one 3'ears to Miss Cornelia Aber, of Sciota 
Townsliip. Her death occurred February 15, 1882. 
He was married a second time, October 10, 1883, 
to Miss Lena D. Hendee, a sister of Mrs. W. II. 
Phelps. She was born in Vernon, Shiawassee 
Couuty, February 22, 1862. Two cliildren grace 
the liome of our subject. Tiie}' are Claude AV. 
wlio w.as horn ,Jul>- 27, 1877, and Edward Er.al, 
born October 1, 1881). 

Our suliject is a Kepublican in politics. He 
served for two years as Township Treasurer, his 
term closing April, 1801. His farm comprises one 
hundred acres upon whicii are Iniildings in very 
good condition. His dwelling is comfortal)le and 
commodious and i)ears many evidences of taste 
and culture. He lias one barn upon liis i)!ace the 
dimensions of wiiich are 38xG0 feet and another 
18x64 feet. His farm is well irrigated and drained. 
His barn and slock sheds arc su|)i)lied with water 
from a reservoir which is fllled by a wind engine. 
Tlie attention tliat Mr. Sugden has paid to the sur- 
roundings of liis house show tliat he is a lover of 
order and progress and that he also appreciates the 
value whicli appearances lend to a home. 

^^ NSON B. CIHPMAN, one of the first act- 
' Wl I ""' settlers of Owosso, Shiawassee Count3', 
I It and tlie oldest living settler now in the 
<^ city, was born in Addison County-, Vt., at 

the foot of the Green Mountains December 27, 
1812. His father, William Chipman, a native of 
Vermont, was a son of Jesse Cliipifian, a soldier in 
the Revolutionary War, who was with Gen. Mont- 
gomery at the fall of (Quebec. The ancestors of 
this family were of English stock. 

The motlier of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Ada Miner, and was a daughter of Richard 
Miner; they were both natives of Connecticut, and 



descendants of the old Puritan stock. They were 
tlie parents of a large family of cliililren, only two 
of whom arc now living: Isaac A., and our subject. 
Anson B. Chipman passed his boyhood and spent 
his j'outh with his father at Malone, N. Y. He 
attended school mostly in Malone, and worked 
also with his fatlier in making spinning wlieels. In 
1 832 he came to M ichigan and spent the summer, and 
in the fall returned home. In the spring of 1833, 
he returned with a team to Michigan and towed a 
boat through the Welland Canal. 

In 1837 Anson B. Cliii)man removed to Shiawas- 
see County, this State, locating in the woods. Here 
he started a shop and set up a lathe turning a few 
years after assisted by his father. In 1838 he en- 
tered into the iiotcl business which was the first in 
Owosso, located on the corner of Washington and 
Main Streets; it was subsequently burned and was 
on tlie site of Saulbury's block. He kept no liquors 
and carried on the business for three years. In 
1847 he removed to his present farm which com- 
[Hises some hundred and twenty acres, a jiart of 
which was covered with hcavj' timber of the best 
maple and oak trees. He now turned his aUention 
to farming, and after thoroughly clearing his farm 
platted a portion of it which was adjacent to the 
city and south of the countj- road, and sold out teu 
acres of his land in lots, which at the present time 
are well covered with liomes. 

Mr. Chipman has been twice married. Ills first 
wife to whom he was wedded in 1835, was Miss 
Mary Shattuck, near Ypsilanti. She died in 1839. 
His second marriage took place in 1841, when he 
was united with Miss Mary Pratt of Yi)silanti. She 
was a iiativc of Oneida Countj', N. Y., and is the 
fourth child of Samuel and Lucy (Hitchcock) 
Pratt. Five children have been granted to this 
worthy coujile, Adah and George deceased; Rich- 
ard E.; Linuic, deceased, and Emma the wife of 
John S. Iloyt. Politically our subject is a stanch 
Democrat, and he cast his first Presidential vote for 
Andrew Jackson. In 1848 he was County Judge, 
and has filled a number of offices, Mayor of the city 
and Supervisor of the townsliij), also Town Clerk 
and Township Treasurer, being now Superinten- 
dent of the Poor which responsible otlico he has 
held for thirty-seven years. He h.as also been Jus- 



PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL ALUUM. 



:?S7 



tice of the Peace for fourteen yenrs. lias been No- 
tary l*ul)lic' forty years, was iMaji)r in the Mililia. 
Itotli lie and liis noble wife arc earnest and etiicient 
members of the Congregational Church. lie is a 
nienibor of Owosso Lodge, No. HI, V. & A. M., 
also of the Owosso Chapter No. 89, U. A. M.. in 
whicli ho held the oflico of High Priest, and was for 
many years a prominent memher of tiie Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Pellows, and in this orgrvniza- 
tion passed all of the cliaiis. His pleasant home 
stands at the corner of West Main and Cliipman 
Streets, which latter avenue is named for lliis hon- 
ored citizen. 



S^^- 

<Sl Ik^ALTKK K. SKV.MOI R, deceased. This 
\r\j// worth}' man, a former resident of New 
V^Y' Haven Township, Shiawiissee County, was 
born in New York, February 17, 1813. lie took 
advantage of a com raon -school education and be- 
gan at an early age to support liimself and liefore 
he reache<l liis majority came west to try iiis for- 
tunes in a new country. He came to Livingston 
Count\' in 1832, and after working there for a few 
years reniove<l about 183G to Shiawassee County, 
buying a farm of eighty acres, some three miles 
n(utli of Corunna. lie cleared twenty acres and 
was tlicre rdioul f(jur years. 

In 1837 Mr. Seymour was joined in marriage 
with Nanc;y Ann Finley, a daughter of Lewis and 
Luc}- (Rice) Finley, natives of New York, wlio 
carae to Michigan in 1835, and settled wliere 
Owosso now stands, building the (irst house upon 
that section. He bouj^ht one hundred and sixty 
acres and lived there for several 3'ears, but after- 
ward iiurchased the whole of section 18, in New 
Haven Township, and removed to New Haven 
about the year 18M and remained there until his 
death which occurred four >ears later. 

Mr. and Mrs, Finley were (he parents of eleven 
children, of whom Nancy Ann was the second in 
order of birth, her natal day being .Inly 6, 1817. 
The first shelter which Mr. Finley erected for him- 
self upon his n<'w iiomc was a very unique and 
primitive structure. He drove stakes into the 
ground, and taking to pieces a wagon box he cov- 



ered this enclosure and hung blankets around the 
sides and here he lived for a week, while he built 
his log house on the banks of the Shiawassee River, 
on the land which is now known as the Ingersol 
farm. This log house wliich was the lirsl built in 
that section, had the roof of bark from the bass- 
wood, and the lloor was of split logs. A trip of 
sixty miles to Pontiac w;is necessary to reach a 
mill or a market. Mrs. Finley who was an earnest 
and conscientious incniher of the Kaptist Church, 
died in New Haven in 1877. Her husband held 
some local ollices and was an earnest and active 
Democrat. 

Mr. and Mrs. Seymour settled on their farm on 
secfion 18, New Haven Township on a tract of 
eighty acres which hail been given to the lad}' by 
her father. I'hey luid a little log house 18x20 feet 
with just enough cleared for the house :"nd yard, 
ami their nearest neighbors were two miles distant. 
They cleared off the timber and cultivated the 
land, and in 1850 added to it by [lurchasing tw«'n- 
ty-four acres cm the same section, Mr. Seymour 
was an adherent of the Democratic party, and fen- 
several years tilled the olKce of Highway Commis- 
sioner. Seven children were granted to them, 
namely: Aaron Lewis who is in California; Lucy 
L.; ]Mary L. ; Edward L., and George Richard, 
deceased; William Walter, and Sophia A. Mr. 
Seymour died in the prime of life in 18G5. flis 
widow lives in a modest home upon a sightly hill 
overlooking the Shiaw.assee River and ihe village 
of West Haven, and she is alike beloved and re- 
s|)ected b}' a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. 



OHAULKS M, MKIJKILL, of the law lirm <.f 
Fedewa & Merrill, is one of the most prom- 
inent attorneys in Ihe county. He was 

born in Chatham, Medina County, Ohio, and is a 
son of Floyd Merrill, a native of St, Fiawrenee 
County, N, Y, The grandfatber, Hichard, was a 
New Hampshire man of no little iu)te. being a class 
mate of Daniel Webster at Dartmouth College and 
a civil engineer and land surveyor of ability. 
While in business at New Yoik Cil v he was sent l>v 



388 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 



a syndicate to St. Louis to survey lands. He made 
his home later in St. Lawrence (Jonnt^', N. Y. 
where he was a successful farmer and owned a fine 
jjropertj' about twenty- miles from the city of Og- 
densburg. 

The father of our subject was reared in New 
York and was there married. In 1814 he removed 
to Oliio where he was successful in managing a fine 
farm. In 1867 he sold tliis property and journeyed 
to Clinton County, this State l)^' team. He pur- 
chased a farm adjoining the village of St. John's 
and made his home witliin tlie village, while he 
carried on the farm. He had eighty acres of im- 
proved land which is now owned b^' his son. He 
was a strong Republican in his political views and 
in (^hio filled the position of Township Trustee. 
His wife, Margaret Campbell, a native of New 
York City, was a daughter of James Cam[)bell, 
whose father was a Scotchman and became an 
Orangeman. He was closely' allied to the noble 
family whicli represents the Campbell clan. He 
spent his days in New York City after coming to 
this country and his son the grandfather of our 
subject came West and located in Michigan. 

Of the four children of the parental family' our 
subject was the third, being born January 25, 185'i. 
His early training was given him in the district 
schools and on the farm in Medina Count}-, Ohio. 
It was in 18G7 when he came to this count}'. He 
attended the Union School at St. John's until com- 
pelled by necessity to suspend his studies. When 
eighteen years old he went to Lenawee County and 
engaged in surveying on the railroad for the 
Chicago and Canada Southern Railroad. 

In 1874 the 3'oung surveyor adopted the law as 
his chosen profession and entered that department 
of the University of Jlichigan. After a two years 
course he graduated in 1876 in the Centennial Class 
with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He located 
at St. John's nnd practiced for a short time with O. 
L. Spaulding. He then went in with Anthony 
Cook for two years. After practicing alone for 
awhile he entered into p.artnership with Mr. Fed- 
ewa, January 1, 18'J1. In 1880 he served as 
Supervisor of the township for two years, and has 
acted as Justice of tlic Peace for eight years. Being 
elected Prosecuting Attorney he entered upon his 



duties January 1, 1887, and being re-elected the 
following year he continued in that office till the 
beginning of 1891. He has a most excellent law 
practice in this city and is also somewhat interested 
in real-estate, owning about eighty acres in Bing- 
ham Township 

This gentleman took upon himself the responsi- 
bilities of married life in 1880, being then united 
at St. John's with Aliss Laura J. Joslen, a native of 
Stueben County, Ind., and daughter of Dr. O. C. 
Joslen, a prominent physician and early settler 
there. Dr. Joslen died in St. John's in 1886. Five 
beautiful children have come to bless this hai)p3' 
and congenial union, namely: Oliver; Charles M., 
Jr.; Robert J.; Margaret J. and Treva. Mr. Mer- 
rill was for two years Village Trustee. He is a 
true blue Republican and is often made a delegate 
to count}' and State conventions. He is identified 
with several of the social orders, being a Knight 
Temjilar, and Odd Fellow, a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, of which he is a charter 
member here. He is the local re[)rescntative of 
the Odd Fellows in the Grand Lodge. The firm 
of Fedewa & Merrill is as well-known through the 
county as any firm of attorneys, and our subject 
conipares well in character, culture and refinement 
with any of the citizens of Clinton County. 



GEORGE WARNER, JR., a well-known and 
respected farmer, residing on section 19, 
^^jjl New Haven Township, was born in Witten- 
berg, Germany, in May, 1843. His father, George 
Warner, Sr., received the usual education of a 
German boy, and pursued the avocation of a 
farmer. He was also a native of Wittenberg, and 
was born in 1801. In 1823 he was joined in mar- 
riage with Frcdericka Rummel, who was born in 
the same place in 1807. Our subject is the fifth 
child in their little group of three daughters and 
three sons. 

George Warner, Sr., came to America in 1845, 
and settled in Auglaize County, Ohio, where he 
bought a farm of forty acres, upon which he re- 



PORTRAIT AND BlOGKArillCAL ALBUM. 



ssu 



niained until his dealh in 18r)2. His wife survived 
iiiiii for several years and passed away in 1804. 
He was a Democrat in his political belief, um\ ho 
and his worthy companion were devout Lutherans 
in relij^ion. Very meager opportunities of educa- 
tion were furnished Ut their sou (icorge. as it was 
early necessary for him to undertake Ids own sup- 
port. 

The young man purchased some tov.u property 
in Wapakoneta, Oliio, in 1802. He had learned 
the trade of cal»inet,-making, and purciiased a half 
interest in a shop at Purrysburg. In 1870 lie came 
to New Haven, Micii., and worked for about two 
years, and then going to Saginaw became eniplo3'('d 
in the car shops there, aud later came to where he 
now lives and bought one hundred and twi'uty acres 
on section lU. 

The lady whom Mr. Warner chose for nis com- 
panion tlirough life was Clara Hart, a daughter of 
Lewis and Cordelia (Seymour) Hart, who were 
among the very earliest settlers of New Haven 
and ranked high among the pioneers of Shiaw."ssec 
County. Lewis Hart was born in 1810, and C'or- 
delia Seymour in 1821. They were both natives 
of New York and came to Michigan when they 
were children, reaching the Wolverine Slate about 
the year 1S30. To both of them was given a 
good common school education, and they were 
united in marriage February 21, 1841. They had 
nine children, four sons and live daughters, and 
tlu-ir famdy became one of the most inllueutial in 
Shiawassee Count}'. Their daughter Clara was 
born September 17, 1854, and became the wife of 
George Warner in 1874. Mis. Warner's father 
was alternately- Supervisor and Treasurer of Niw 
Haven Township for a number of years. Her 
father died Ai)ril .'), 1808, but her mother sm - 
vivcd until November 1, 1880. When they lirst 
came to New Haven their nearest neighbor "as 
three miles distant. They lia<l to go to I'ontiac to 
mill, and on one occasion their ox-teani became so 
badly mired that they were obliged to leave one 
ox ill the mud until the next morning when they 
returneil to extricate it. In those days the bears 
would come to the pen and carr}- off their hogs. 

To Mr, anil .Mis. Warner have been granted six 
oright and promising children. They are by name 




Clayton, Kittle, Walliiita, Dora, Iva aud Donald. 
The ()arents are b(jili members of the order of the 
Patrons of Lutustry, and Mrs. Warner has been 
the President of that society at West Haven. She 
is a woman of more than ordinary ability, having 
a fine mind and a coninianding presence. Mr. 
Warner is a Democrat in his political views, but 
does not care for odice, preferring to confine his 
activities to the culture of his farm, in which he is 
tiul}' successful. 



ARON HUFF. The sons of pioneers take 
■I an earnest and just pride in recalling the 
li) ex()eriences of their parents when they 
,^^ first came to the new West. The hard- 

ships and trials then patienll}' and bravely encount- 
ered, the dillicullies overcame and the grand suc- 
cess achieved helped to mold, not only the character 
of the parents but to stamp upon the children an 
iiiHiress wliic^h can never wear away. Tiiey are 
more earnest, more true-hearteil and more per- 
serving because of what theii- [larents have under- 
gone. 

The father of .\aroii Huff, was one of these pion- 
eers. His name was .lohn iM. HulT and he was 
born in Seneca County, N. Y. in the Township of 
Ovid in 171)4. He took part in the War of 1812 
,as a fifer and came to iMichigan in 188;), locating 
iilion section t\vent3'-thrce, ^'ernoll Township, Sliia- 
wasaee County, not far fiom where his son now 
lives. There were no iin[)rovemeiits at all on the 
place and he cut logs to make his own home, and 
put the pl.ace in good condition for agriculture. 

This earnest pioneer was a Whig in politics, and 
held the ollice of Justice of the Peace for four 
years. He was a constant and active member of 
the Presbyterian Church and acted :is Deacon In 
that bod}' while living in New ^'oik. His fathei, 
Nichols HulT a native of New .Ii'rsey, is al.so a 
patriot and bore to his last days a wound received 
in the right knee during the Revolutionary War. 
He lived to be over ninety years of age. The 
family is originally from Holland. 

Tile mother of our subject bore the inaiilen name 



390 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Sarah Sutplien and was born in New Jersey. June 
15,1790. She lived until July 8, 1858. She was 
married to the father of onr subject in Seneca 
County, N. Y.. July 9, 1812. They were the par- 
ents of ten children, four of whom still survive. 
Aaron Huff was boir. in Ovid Township, Seneca 
Count}' N. Y., March 6, 1821, and there remained 
until he reached the age of eighteen years, taking 
his schooling in his new home. He assisted his 
f.ather on tlie farm and came at tlie age of eighteen 
with his parents to Michigan and did genuine 
yeoman work in clearing tlic forest and subduing 
the soil. 

The first marriage of Aaron Huff took place 
September (J, 1848, his wife being Phcebe Wyckoff, 
whose mother died when Pli(L'l)e was two years 
old. She was a native of the same township as him- 
self where slie was born in January, 1828. One 
daugliter blessed this union, Marion Elizabctli, who 
is married to .Samuel Say re and lives in Alcona 
County. Mrs. Huff herself died April 24, 1851, at 
the age of twenty-three years. Our subject mar- 
ried a second time February 8, 1852, taking to wife 
Elizabeth Cole, a. native of Pennsylvania, who was 
born in Ilari-ison Townshii), Potter Count}', this 
State, August 2;i, 1832. She came vvilh her par- 
ents, Joseph and Elizaheth (Wickes) Cole to 
Michigan when an infant of only one year. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cole were natives of New York who came 
to Michigan in the old Territorial d.'iys and made 
their first home in Kensington Township, Oakland 
County, thence removing to Livingston County, 
where the mother now resides, having reached the 
age of eiglit3'-five years. The father died at the 
age of seventy-eight. 

Mr. and Mrs. Huff are the parents of five chil- 
dren, three daughters and two sons, namely: 
Phojbe M., the wife of Thomas Peck; Charlie 
married llattie B. Dell; Minnie, the wife of Alex- 
ander Peck; Alida, the wife of Leander Peck; and 
Rolla. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Peck have three 
daughters — Cora, Hazel and Nellie.. Charlie Huff 
has one daugliter Merlie. Mr. and Mis. Alexander 
Peck have one son and one daughter ; Roy and 
Lclah. Mr. and Mrs. Leander Peck have one son 
and one daughter — Eddie .S. and Ivah. 

The subject of this sketch located where he now 



resides when he first came to Michigan and found 
upon the place a log house. He at once went to 
work to clear away the forest trees and set out or- 
chards, putting up fences and necessary outbuild- 
ings. He had at one time one hundred and ten 
acres but has sold about thirty acres of this and 
has his farm mostlj' under cultivation. He has 
always been a Republican in his views but now 
votes the Prohibition ticket. Mrs. Huff belonged 
to a family of eight children, four sons and four 
daughters, all but one of whom are still living. 
Mr. Huff has retired mostly from active work and 
allows his son Rolla who resides with him to carry 
on the farm. 



I Si^^.ORMAN COWLES, a representative agri- 

I /// ci'lt-f'st of Essex Township, Clinton Coun- 

\)^,jlL) t}', was born February 10, 1835, in Macomb 

County, Mich. He is the son of Chester and Eliza 

(Curliss) Cowles, both of whom were natives of 

New York. His paternal great-grandfather was one 

1 of the Revolutionarj' heroes in whose record his 

I descendants take great pride. Chester Cowles was 

an early settler of Macomb County, this State, to 

which jjlace he came in the territorial daj's, taking 

up land from the (iovernment in 1832. 

Our subject received iiis early education in the 
district schools of the pioneer times, which, 
although they did not offer great advantages, may 
yet be favorably compared with the schools of to- 
day in the earnestness of both teacher and pupils. 
He has l)eeu a life long reader and has given him- 
self a supplementary education, which fitted him 
for usefulness and enabled him to attain a position 
of influence in the community. 

In 1853 j'oung Cowles made a trip to California, 
going by way of Nicaragua and being thirtj'-onc 
days in reaching his destination. There he en- 
gaged in gold mining and was fairly successful. 
After one year and a half in the mines, he returned 
to Michigan, m.aking tiie trip by w.ay of Panama. 
Since his return he has devoted himself entirely to 
farming. His marriage with Emily Rice took place 
April 18, 18G0. This intelligent and amiable ladj' 
was born in Macomb County, this State, April 28, 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



■di)d 



1834, and is a daiiglilcr of Jolin and Mar^' Robin- 
son Rice, natives of Maine. Her parents emi- 
grated to Macomb County, this State, in the old 
Territorial days, settling in the woods and buying 
land from the Government in 1833, during Jack- 
son's administration. There they resided during 
the remainder of their days. 

To Mr. and Mrs Cowles have been bo'ii five 
beautiful and interesting children, wlio have all 
lived to years of maturity. The}' are: Carrie, 
(Mrs. Joseph Bleraaster) Charles, Burt, Austin and 
Ralph. In the spring of 1882 our subject removed 
with his family from Macomb County to Clinton 
County, making his new home in Essex Township 
where he now resides. He owns a fine farm of two 
hundred and fifteen acres of excellent land, well im- 
proveil and liigidy cultivated, and in a word, one 
of the best farms in Clinton. lie is a public spir- 
ited citizen and actively promotes all efforts for the 
elevation of the social and industrial condition of 
the farming community. His judgment endorses 
the principles of the Re[)ublican pari}' and he is a 
member of the Farmers' Cliib of Essex County, 
which he now is serving as President. He is prom- 
inently identified witli the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen at Maj)le Rapids, and Mrs. Covvks is nn 
active and ellicient member of the Congregational 
Church. Both are honored members of society 
and do much to elcvat« its standard and enccnirage 
all good works. On another page of this volume 
appears a lithographic view of the comfortable res- 
idence of Mr. Cowles, with its rural surroundings. 

ORRIS OSBURN. Prominent in commer- 
and well known among business 
ight financier and a thorough 
* manager, is the gentleman whose name 

heads this paragraph. He is a man of rpiiet man- 
ner and considerable reserve, but a clear thinker 
and prompt to act. He has accumulated an excel- 
lent property, and is a thorongli business man. He 
was born in Meadville, Pa., on January 31, 1838, 
and is the eldest son of John and Jane (Morris) 
OsDurn. He passed his school days in his native 




liome, attending first the ward schools and after- 
ward the academy. He then entered his father's 
store, thus gaining useful exi)eriencc in mercantile 
affairs. 

In 1850 the subject vi this sketch came to Pon- 
tiac, Mich., and spent the winter, after which he 
came to Owosso, and, buying a small store, put in 
a stock of goods. Soon after his coming here his 
father joined him, and he went into company with 
him and a younger brother. They also took an 
interest in pine timber lands in Saginaw County 
running three sawmills under the firm name of 
Gould, Osburn & Co. The firm did a large busi- 
ness in the wa^- of manufacturing lumber and con- 
tinued ;n existence until 1877, when the Osburns 
sold out their interest lo other [)arties and made 
Owosso their permanent home, .nt the same time re- 
taining their interest in the mercantile establisii- 
ment at that place. 

Mr. Morris Osburn helped to organize the First 
National Bank at Owosso, and was made Vice-Presi- 
dent, a position which he held for twculy years, 
after which the charter of tiie institution ran out 
and it was changed to a i)rivale bank. He was 
also one of the principal men in incorporating the 
Owosso Woolen Mills, and also the Secretary of 
the company of French, Osburn & Knill, which 
continued in existence until the mills burned. 
They were, however, immediately rebuilt, but 
burned a second time, and were again rebuilt, but 
the business w.as closed up in 1871. 

Mr. Osburn continued to hold his interest in tiie 
firm of Osburn & Sons until 1884, when he sold 
out and turned his attention to general farming 
and stock-raising. His fine farm of two lumdred 
and forty acres is well improved and Hnel\ stocked 
with sheep and cattle and a good grade of draft 
horses. 

The great event of Mr. Osburn's life was his 
marriage, in 18G0, to Miss Mary Gould, a daughter 
of the late Hon. Amos Gould. This lady was born 
in New York State, near Auburn, and her union 
with our subject h.as been blessed by the birth of 
three sons — Harr}- G., who is a resident of Ciiicago, 
.and Morris and Joe, who are still at home. Mr. 
Osburn has been Sui)er visor at large in Shiawassee 
County, and is now strving his second term in that 



394 



rORTKAlT AJSD BIOGRAi'lilCAL ALBUM. 



office, lie is also Rccretai'y of the Water Board, 
and his political conviclions are in accordance with 
the Republican party. His attractive and hand- 
some residence at No. 418 Oliver Street is pleas- 
antly situated and is the center of a genial social 
life. 



"lIlOSEl'H IIANKKY, a prominent farmer and 
stock raiser, residing on section 3, Green- 
bush Township, Clinton County, is a native 
of Bavaria, German}', where he was born 
Sei)tember 22, 1834. John and Pauline Ilankey, 
his parents, gave him a fair education in his native 
language and in the branches which arc taught in 
the Goverment schools of that country. In his 
early manhood he spent some time in a blacksmith 
and machine shop. 

The young man emigrated to America in 1851, 
taking passage at Havre, France, in a sail vessel, 
which, after an ocean voyage of forty-two days, 
landed him in New York City. He went on at 
once to Rochester in that State, and there worked 
in a blacksmith and machine shop for about two 
years, and then came to Wayne County, N. Y., 
where he engaged as a farm hand for a number of 
years. While living there he was married to Caro- 
line Spat, a native of Germany. 

Nine children have been granted to Mr. and Mrs. 
Kankey. They are: Mary, now the wife of 
David Gilson; Catherine, William, ,Iohn, Eliza- 
beth, Charles, Franklin, Edward and Anna. Mr. 
Ilankey came to Clinton, Mich., in the fall of 1859, 
and settled on his present farm in Greenbush 
Township. He has one hundred and sixty acres in 
his home farm, besides one hundreil and twenty in 
another tract iu CJratiot County. He has greatly 
improved his land, having done a vast amount of 
pioneer work upon it, and has brought to its pres- 
ent high state of cultivation. He began with ver^' 
little, and has by his own exi'rtions attained to his 
present state of prosperity. 

Mr. Ilankey is fairly well informed in the Eng- 
lish language, and matters of public interest, hav- 
ing exerted himself to this end ever since coming 



to this country, and, being public spirited, he has 
desired to understand oui national institutions, 
and has allied himself politically with the Rei)ub- 
lican party. He is an active promoter of all move- 
ments looking to the welfare of the community 
and general [)rosperity. lie is one of the leading 
and representative tierman-Anierican ciiizeris in 
Greenbush Township, and his excellent character 
and success in life give him a strong influence 
with his fellow-countrymen. He has given consid- 
erable attention to the laising of fine stock, having 
upon his farm some fine specimens of llolstein 
cattle and horses of fine breeds. His beautiful 
home and broad and fertile farm with its well-kept 
barns and outbuildings attest not only to his pros- 
perity, but also to his industry and good manage- 
ment. He is well and favorably known for his 
honesty and industrious habits, and commands the 
confidence of the business community. 




GEORGE H. SOWLE. It is a pleasure to 



record the successes of those who have ap- 
plied themselves diligently to an honorable 
calling, and this pleasure is increased when the sub- 
ject represents a family worthy of respect and use- 
ful in its part of the world. For these reasons we 
are glad to be able to present to our readers some 
account of the scenes that have transpired in the 
life of the gentleman whose name introduces these 
paragrai)hs, and who is now :i thriving farmer of 
Essex Townshii), Clinton County. Although for 
some years (last the years have been gliding by un- 
marked 1)3' any strange event, he has not been 
without a share in the (hmgcrous and thrilling ex- 
periences of which human existence' is capable. 

Our subject is the son of a ()ioneer of 1831, his 
father having located in Clinton County at I hat 
time and having been one of the first to secuie 
Government land in Esse.x Township. He came 
here on foot from Lenawee County, and selected u 
location in a part that was the home of ui.-iny 
Indians .-nid the haunt of deer, wolves and luar;^. 
It was in the center of the township, although no 
organiz'ili'in had yet been made and uo roads laid 



POIITUAIT AND UIOGUArUlCAL ALBUM. 



395 



out. Prior lu coining liere Jiinios Sowli' li.i'.l been 
workinjj in Lenawee and oilier coiinlies in tlie 
viciuilv of Detroit, and he hail put up the lirst 
flouring mill in the City of the Straits, one run by 
water power. He was born in Dutcliess County, N. 
Y., in 180G, and cainc to Detroit a few months be- 
fore lie became of age. I'litil he came to Clinton 
he worked at bis trade, that of a carpenter, but 
after selecting a location here he cleared and im- 
proved a farm and devoted himself i)rincip:illy to 
agricultural work. In 1884 he removed to section 
L5, where he spent the few years that remained to 
him of earth life. He died in KSiS.S in his eighty- 
third year. 

James Sowle belonged to a mililary companj' 
and was a regular attendant at the exercises of 
training day. He was the first Highway Commis- 
sioner elected in Essex Township and laid out the 
first roads. He served at various times as Super- 
visor, Treasurer and Clerk, and stood high in the 
eslimalion of everyone vviio know hi(n. He was a 
counselor and friend of the red men, who often 
called upon him for advice in the settlement of 
tlieir diflicullies. His home was open to all tiavel- 
ers or ihose who intended to settle in this or neigh- 
boring counties, and all were made welcome under 
his roof. He was a member of the Iiai)tist Church, 
and for many years held the oUice of Dcaoon. His 
first wife, the mother of onr subject, bore the 
maiden name of J^ucy Nestle, was born in New 
York and was the mother of nine children, but two 
of whom survive. She breathed her last in 1848 
and Mr. Sowle subsequently made a second mar- 
riage, which was blessed by the l)irlh of live chil- 
dren. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the town- 
ship that is now his home, December 25, 184 1, and 
was reared on the old Sowle homestead. His first 
attendance at school was in a lijg shanty si.v miles 
from home, on the site of what is now known as 
Uichard D. Caruss Corners. His second school 
was in a part of his father's dwelling, and after a 
time a district was organized and a log schoolhouse 
built. There were but four or five white children 
in the district, the others being Lulians. Like 
other lads in farm settlements, he could attend 
school only in the winter months, the other seasons 



being given up to work on the farm. When the 
Civil War broke out young .Sowle had not passed 
through his teens, but he was desirous of taking up 
arras and aiding in the maintenance of the Repub- 
lic, and in August, 18G2, carried out his wish and 
enlisted in the Fifth Michigan Cavalr3', Col. 
Copeland commanding. During the next few 
months he participated in many skirmishes, being 
present in every engagement in which his regiment 
took i)art. He had the fortune to be i)resent at 
several of the most noted battles of the war, in- 
cluding Winchester, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, 
Trevilian Station and the three days' fight at 
Gettysburg. He was one of seventy -one men de- 
tailed as escort to Gen. Hooker on his way to An- 
tietara. 

At Ilartwood Church, in Virginia, July -I'.K 18G3, 
Mr. Sowle was taken prisoner, being captured by 
Stuart's Cavalry, while out foraging. He was 
taken to Fitz Hugh Lee's headquarters, at Freder- 
icksburg, thence sent to Libliy |)rison, and three 
weeks later removed to IJelle Isle, where he was 
paroled December 27. After being duly exclianged 
he rejoined his regiment at City Point, and sul)se- 
quenlly, while engageii in the Shenandoah Valley, 
was again captured by the rebels, this time being 
one of twenty-two prisoners secured by Mosby's 
guerrillas. Not long after, the twenty-two prison- 
ors were drawn up in line under Ihe direction of 
the notorious guerrilla chieftain, and slips of paper 
having been placed in -.i liat, they were obliged to 
draw therefrom, those wht) secured pieces marked 
with a cross being doomed to death. Seven were 
to be hung in retaliation for the hanging of rebels, 
and this was the means taken to determine which 
should have that fate. Mr. Sowle was the first to 
draw and his ticket had the fatal cross upon it. 

When the drawing was completed the seven 
doomed men were plafxnl in single file, with a r(>i)e 
tied to the left arm of each and fastened to the 
saddle of one of the seventeen mounted rebels 
who accompanied ihein to a point sevenleen miles 
distant, where they were to meet their fale. Col. 
Mosby had decide<l to go as near Winclieslcr as 
possible and leave the haiu'ed men where the 
Union forces would lind llieiii and read the notice 
which would slate his reasons for the deed. At 



396 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



stated intervfils during tlie march a bait was made 
for a slight rest and scouts would Ije sent for- 
ward to see if the wa}- was clear. During these 
brief periods the doomed men could communi- 
cate with each other in a wliispcr and the more 
daring ones endeavored to i)hui an escape. Some 
of the part3' were so excited and bewildered that 
they were unable to muster ccnirago to make an 
attempt, but Mr. Sowlc, who was at the head of 
the little column, was quite cool, and determined 
not to be hung, pieferring to be shot if he must 
die. 

As the doomed party was approaching a strii) 
of woods and he felt sure that the execution 
would not long be delayed, they were ordered to 
turn to the right and as they did so passed into 
a deep gully, tlie bottom of which was covered 
with dry leaves. Mr. Sowle had iscertained that 
the rope could easily be loosened from Ids arm 
and in the noise made b^- the rustling of the 
leaves his slight movement in freeing Ids arm 
was unnoted and he droijped down on the ground. 
He was unobserved even by his less fortunate 
comrades, and lay Hat on the ground while the 
guerrillas passed by. The last hor.senian had 
scarcely passed when the Lieutenant ordered a 
halt and sent his scouts out to find a suitable 
place in which to carr}' out his fiendish purpose. 
Mr. Sowle dared not move, but lay, with his heart 
beating fast, during a period that seemed an age, 
before the order was given to march. The scouts 
returned and reported everything in readiness, 
and as the parly moved forward he moved in the 
opposite direction. It was quite dark, the moon 
having disappeared behind a cloud, and in his 
flight he ran against a stone wall and was 
knocked almost senseless. He lay for a moment 
in the bunch of briars and heard the order given 
to halt and the oaths uttered by the rebels when 
they discovered that the seventh man was nussing. 

In a moment Mr. Sowle had run farther back 
and climbing a tree he remained concealed in the 
branches until nearly noon the next day, when 
he made his way safely into the Union lines. 
Three of his unfortunate comrades were hung and 
the other three decided to stand up and be shot. 
As liie revolvers were drawn upon them one of 



the doomed men struck his foe and made a bold 
attempt to csca[)e. Several shots were fired after 
him, but none took effect. The other twci were 
shot and left for dead, but one recovered. 

Having i<assed tiirough this experience in safety, 
Mr. Sowle continued his valiant service until llie 
close of the war and parlicii)ated in the Grand 
Review at Washington, after whicli he was dis- 
charged and returned home. In the peaceful call- 
ing of a farmi^r he has been very successful and he 
now has a fine esJate of two hundred acres, bearing 
good improvements and furnishing large crops, A 
No. 1 in quality. The possession of this estate is 
the more creditable to Mr. Sowle as he had but 
limited means with which to liegin his life woik, 
and he has risen to a position among the i)rosi>er- 
ous dwellers in the township by tlie exercise of 
sterling qualities and careful habits. His home is 
made cozy and attractive by the taste and skill of 
the lady who became his wife on June 1, 18G6. 
She bore the maiden name of Alice Bentley, and 
is a native of New York. Tlipy have three children, 
named, respectively, I.yron M., Cortie IJ. and Or- 
ville D. 

Mr. Sowle is a Democrat in politics, and, socially, 
is connected with the Masonic order. Grange, Pa- 
trons of Industry, Ancient C)rder of United Work- 
men and Grand Army of the Republic. He has 
served as Highway Commissioner several years and 
has been an acceptable public servant. He and 
his wife are esteemed as among the useful and 
agreeable members of society and their prosperity 
is rejoiced in by their friends. 



^ 



E^^ 



MBROSE AUSTIN, who is widely known 
'g/Lil l :is a successful farmer and l)i'idge builder, 
(i resides on section 7 of Ilazelton Township, 
Shiawassee County', Mich., and is a native 
of Tompkins County, N. Y., his natal day being 
February 12, 1821. His father Sylvester Austin 
was a farmer and also a tanner and currier, and 
was born in the old Bay Slate, M.ay 18, 1785. lie 
received the rudiments of a common school educa- 
tion and after he had learned trade of a tanner and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



307 



eiirrier worked at that until the year 1816, when 
he purchased one hundred acres in Tompiiins 
County, N. Y., seventy acres of wiiidi was wild 
land. He cleared forty-five acres of it and lived 
upon it until iiis demise in July, 1852. 

The mollier of our subject, who was united in 
marriage witli Sylvester Austin in 1809, was Sarah 
North, a daughter of Orcsimus and Jane (Mary- 
hugii) North, natives of New York and i)arents of 
eight children, of whom Sarah was second in order 
of birth, her natal day being .lanuary 6, 1791. 
Sylvester and Sarah Austin made their first home 
in Ulster County, N. Y. Nine daughters and one 
son came to cheer their home, of whom Ambrose 
is the fifth in order of birtli. Tlie parents were 
earnest and consistent members of the ]5ai)tist 
Churcii and Mr. Austin voted the Democratic 
ticket but had no aspirations for office. Mrs. 
Austin was called from earth in 1851 and her be- 
reaved husband followed her in July the ensuing 
year. 

Ambrose Austin received the ordinary advant- 
ages of the common school and grew up to man- 
hood upon the farm. At the age of twenty-four 
he bought a farm of eighty acres in Tioga County, 
N. Y.. and having cleared some of tlio land pro- 
ceede<l to improve it, and lived upcin it upun 1849 
when he bought eighty acres nmre ."ind devoted 
himself to getting out large quanlilies of wood, 
furnishing ties for the Delaware, LacNawaniia and 
Western Railro.ad. Mr. Austin remembers that 
road when it was a strap-railroad and employed 
horses .is its motive power. Tliis was in the year 
1833 and the first steam engine was put u[)()n thi.s 
road aliout the year 1840. 

In 1852 our subject sold his farm of one hund- 
red ami si.\ty acres and removing to Tompkins 
County, pnrclia.sed his father's old honu'stcad of 
hundred acres, lie had been happily joined in 
marriage in 1814 to Sarah Hamilton, a daughter 
of Charles Hamilton, a farmer of Tompkins Count}'. 
Sarah was born in I.S23 and the fifth child in a 
family of two sons and five daughters. She be- 
came tiie mother of four sons. 

Benjamin Austin the oldest son of Ambrose and 
Sarah was born in Tompkins Counly, N. Y. in 1H15 
and became a sohlier in the Union Army. He en- 



listed and went to Virginia in liSC;), and remained 
until the close of the war, guarding the Salt Woi^s 
near Charleston, W. Va. After the close of the 
war be attended E.astman's Business College at 
Poughkcepsie, N. Y. He then came to Michigan 
.and lived with his father until June, 1875 when 
he was killed by the kick of a horse, ^'incent the 
second son was born in 1847 and died in infancy. 
Marcellus who was boro in 1849 is married and 
lives in Iowa. Roland was born in 1851 and died 
in Pennsylvania in 1885. The mother of these 
sons died in New York in 1853. 

After the death of his wife Ambrose Austin sold 
his farm and went to Canada and vvas there till 
1866 when he came to Oakland County, Mich., 
and in 1867 bought a farm in Hazelton, Shiawassee 
County, and moved on to it in 1K68. He cleared 
ahotitone half of the si.vty-five acres and then sold 
t'le land and (lurchascd where he now lives. His 
second marriage occui'red in 1KG4 when he was 
hai)[)ily united with !\Iatil<l;i Batliece of Canada, 
where she was born in IS.JS. By this wife, Amb- 
rose Austin had three daughters and one son. 
namely: Enieline, wife of George Brown, of Flint; 
M.ay, Mrs. Walter Shuttlewortii, of Corunna; anil 
Cora and .lay who are at home with their parents. 
The Republican parly claims tin; warm allegiance 
of our subject and he has several limes been elected 
to the office of Highway Commissioner. His e.\- 
poiiences in the Innibor regions of New York au<l 
Canada form an iiilcrosting part of the rccoiil of 
his life, and his relation of them is both thrilling 
and instructive. 



mi 



OHN HICKS, of St. John's, is one of the 
most successful men in business in Clinton 
County. In proportion to his early start 
in life he is probably the most successful, 
and by the report of the Assessor onl_v one man in 
the counly outstrips him in weallli. He is a shrewd 
and able business man, very enterprising an<l of 
utmsual intellectual force, and his public spirit has 
led him to do m.any things for the city of his 
choice. He is the oldest merchant in Clinton 



398 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



County, being engaged in the diy-goods and gio- 
ceiy Inisir.ess, and is also President of St. Jolin's 
National I'anli. 

John Ilieiis was born in Kingston, West Ontario, 
Canada, July 7, 1824. His father, Samuel, w.is 
born in New Jersey, and w.is tlie son of John 
Hicks, Sr., an Englishman, who was a sea cap- 
tain and made voyages to the East Indies, and 
finally located in New Jersey, where he remained 
the rest of his life. Samuel Hicks was also a 
sailor and was for years a captain on the lakes. 
He was engaged in the War of 1812. While on 
the lakes he had his headquarters in Toronto, and 
for years had the contract of carrying the mail 
between that city and Kingston. He afterward 
made liis home in St. Joseph and ran a boat be- 
tween liiat point and Chicago. During the Mc- 
Kenzie Rebellion he was implicated with the 
patriots and found it nece.ssarj' to leave Canada, 
lie made his home first in Detroit and afterward 
in St. Joseph, Mich. 

Samuel Hick's wife, Eunice Bailey, was a native 
of Connecticut and belonged to a New England 
faujily. She, with her brother, removed to Water- 
town, N. Y., in the early days, and he became a 
prominent business man there. Here she married 
Samuel Hicks. Her days closed in St. Lawrence 
County, N. Y. She brought up her four children 
to tl'.c faith of the Presbyterian Church. Her 
eldest, Andrus, died in St. Lawrence County; 
Louisa, now Mrs. l>rooks, resides in Cleveland. 
Ohio; and Marinda M., now Mrs. Clow, resides at 
New Weshniiistcr, British Columbia. ' 

The youngest child, our subject, was reared in 
Canada. He supplemented his district school edu- 
cation by attendance at Whitney Academy. Here 
he began work, first on the farm and afterward as 
clerk. In Ihc fall of 1849 he traveled bj' stage to 
Toronto, fmni there by boat to Queenstown and 
Chippewa, and after visiting Buffalo went to De- 
troit. He finally located at DcWitt, this Slate, 
whcie his uncle, David Sturgis. had a general 
store and grist and saw mill, and was at that time 
the most prominent man in the counlj'. For a 
year the youni: man kept his uncle's books, and 
then, going into partnership with him, bought a 
slock of goods and entered into the general mer- 



cliandise business. After about three j'ears of 
this partnership our subject bought out Mr. Stur- 
gis' interest, and that gentleman established a store 
in St. John's while Mr. Hicks continued the busi- 
ness at DeWitt. It used to take a week to bring 
goods by team from Detroit, and he was obliged to 
carry on business according to a sort of barter 
system, taking almost everytiiing imaginable in 
excliange. 

In the fall of 1856 Mr. Hicks disposed of his 
business in DeWitt, and coming to St. John's, re- 
sumed partnership with his uncle. Two years later 
he bought out I\Ir. Sturgis' interest and continued 
alone in general merchandising. About the j'ear 
1858 he began buying grain here and shipped 
the first grain that went from here in bags and 
barrels. In 1860 he built a warehouse and en- 
tered more cxtensivelj' into the grain business, 
which he has since carried on continuously. He is 
the oldest grain merchant in the count}- and has 
all the modern improvements in his elevator, hav- 
ing the largest fans for cleaning his wheat and 
ship))ing more grain than any other man in St. 
John's. He is also engaged in the wool business 
to some extent, and has dealt in lands and 
lumber. He formerly managed two stores in Gra- 
tiot Count}', one .at Bridgeville and one at Pom- 
pei. For six or seven years he was heavily en- 
g.aged in buying staves for the Detroit market, 

' whence the}' were shipped to Europe. For a num- 
ber of years he also carried on r. fine farm of one 
hundred and sixlj- acres in Essex Township, Clin- 

' ton County. 

The subject of this sketch has been elficient in 
building operations. He was Chairman of the 
Building Committee that erected the Court House 
and jail, and was its most efficient member, and 
was also on a similar committee for the construc- 
tion of the schoolhouse. He has erected two brick 
buildings, and he and Mr. R. M. Steel together 
built the tlirec-slory brick block which is known 
by their name. These gentlemen were engaged in 
manufacturing brick and had a yard in St. John's 
for many yea'S. For several years he was proprie- 
tor and manager of the St. Joseph Foundry and 
Agricultural M'orks. Mr. Hicks came to Clinton 
County with only $1,000, and by strict integrity, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



300 



the exercise of good judgment, perseverance in 
carrying out liis plans and by strict attention to 
(letniis lio Ins made a success of everylbing lie 
has undertaken. 

Mr. Ilicks was one of the organizers of St. 
John's National Bank, is and has been its Presi- 
dent since its organization, and one of its largest 
stockholders. He is also one of the organizers 
and a director of the Savings Bank. He is in the 
dry -goods and carpet liusiness, and his fine stock 
occupies two floors in liis extensive store. He has 
large real-estate interests in Clinton, Gratiot and 
Isabella Counties, Mich. lie h.as also an interest 
in Florida lands and in an extensive ranch in Ne- 
braska. 

The marriage of Mr. Hicks with Eliza .A. Hus- 
ton took place in 1855. This lady is a daughter 
of Mattliew Huston an<l gran<ldaughter of Tiioinas 
Huston, both wealthy hmdowners in County An- 
trim, Ireland. When the family first came to this 
country, in 1818, they located in \''crmont and 
after awhile went to Burlington. Mrs. Hick's 
father had a flourishing shoe factory in Siielburne, 
Vt., but met with reverses through signing papers 
for a friend. He came to Michigan in 1848, and 
finall}' made his home in Gratiot County, where he 
tiled in 185G, being highly respected. Mrs. Hus- 
ton was a \'ermont lad}', Arabellc Pierce by name, 
whose father, Luther, was born in ConncclicMt. 
She still resides with our subject, and although 
eighty-three years of age she possesses a clear 
mind and active faculties. 

Mrs. Ilicks was one of five children and w.ts 
born in Shelburne October 13, 1833. After at- 
tending common-school, she received her higher 
education at a ladies' seminar}'. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hicks have three children. Their eldest, Ida E., 
is now Mrs. Rawson, of Seville, Fla. ; John C. is 
witli bis father in business; and Jennie M. is at 
home with her parents. They have all had the 
best educational advantages which could l)e af- 
forded them, as the intelligence of their parents 
ami their warm devotion to family interests have 
led ihem to tlii.s wise course. The beautiful resi- 
dence wliifch ^Ir. Hicks erected at a cost of over 
115,000 occupies the most beautiful location in 
town. He has been for a number of years on the 



"Village Board, and was active in organizing the 
First Methodist E|)iscoprd Church here, being 
Ciiairman of the committee and a Trustee. His 
wife is a devoted member of this church and very 
.active in the ladies' societies. Mr. Hicks has been 
Chairman of the Democratic County Committee. 



-^ 




i^^ELSON FARLEY, one of the most prosper- 



ous farmers of Rush Township, Shiawassee 
County, resides on section 7, where he and 
his companionable and excellent wife are enjoying 
the comfort v/hich past years of industry and en- 
terprise have earned for them. Mr. Farley 
was born in Hamilton, Canada, in 1834. His 
father, David Farley, a blacksmith, was born in 
County Cork, Ireland, in 1790, and came to Can- 
ada .nnd bought property in Hamilton. He was 
married about the year 1832 to Ann Persons, a 
daugiiter of John and Elizabetli (Denain) Persons. 
They had two sons and two daughters of whom 
Ann was the youngest. David and Ann had one 
son, our subject. David Farley died in 1837 iuid 
his widow afterward married D.ivid McManners, a 
farmer and a neighbor of tiieirs, by whom she had 
two children. 

When our subject was seventeen years old he 
started in life for himself at the business of head 
sawyer, coming to Michigan in 1858 he worked 
for several years in various localities and in 1861 
took up a homestead of eighty acres on section 7, 
Rush Township. This land w.as nearly all .swamp 
or marsh land and is what was known then as the 
Ber.ver Meadows as it bad lieavcr dams in it and 
formed the head w<iteis of the south branch of 
the Bail River. 

In 18U1 Nelson Farley took to wife Orilla Lina- 
bury, a daughter of John and Cynthia( Alfrce)Lin- 
abury. They were from Pennsylvania and had 
twelve children, of whom Orilla was the eleventh 
child and fourth daughter, being born .lune G, 
1844. Mr. and Mrs. Farley have had one daugh- 
ter — Ida May, who was born in June, 181)2, and 
died January 17. 1880. This loss was a heart- 
breaking one '.o lior parents, who have never ceased 
to mourn for lu^r. 



400 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



When a young man, Mr. Farley had earned and 
accumulated $1,000 which he had invested, but it 
was swept away in the financial crash which fol- 
lowed the close of the Crimean War. He then 
started out ayain for himself, and working eighteen 
days in the harvest field, earned ^"J, which consti- 
tuted the capital with which he came to Michigan. 
Game was verj' plentiful in those days and he 
killed many v. deer. He was one of the best shots 
in the country and has not by any means lost his 
interest in sport nor his skill. He goes each fall to 
the North AVoods and hunts in the region of Rifle 
River. AuSablo and AuCirass. Upon manj- of his 
expeditions his wife accompanied him, as she too 
enjoys the pleasures of wild life and the delights of 
the chase. Ills fine farm is in a high state of culti- 
vation and shows the hand of a careful fanner. 
He is a Prohibitionist in his iiolitical views and is 
ever on tiie side of pure morals and a business- 
like way of dealing with public questions. 



\1/()SI-;P1I SCinVElKERT. "A good name is 
rather to be chosen than great riches," and 
the gcnlienian of whom we write has chosen 
the better |)art, for thougii modest and re- 
tiring by nature, so honest and u|)right is he in his 
dealings with his fellow-men, that his name is the 
synonym for integrity and honor, lie owns a fine 
farm on section 2G, lUirns Township, Shiaw.assee 
County, and was born in AVurtemburg, Germany, 
September 17, 1837. He is the son of Joseph and 
Dora Schweikert, who were natives of Germany, 
where they lived and died. 

Our subject is the second of a family of three 
ehildieii born to his parents. He was reared in 
Germany, where he received his education and such 
practical instruction as the German system requires 
for its children. He learned the wagonmaker's 
trade in his native land, whore he worked at it for 
some years. In 1855 he came to America, and as 
with many foreigners of sui)erior intelligence, was 
specially attracted to a university town, lie located 
at Ann Arbor, where he worked at his trade for 
one year. The next few years were spent by him 



in service upon farr/is near Ann Arbor. He con- 
tinued in this way until the breaking out of the 
war, when his zeal was fired by the danger in which 
he felt his ado|)ted land was placed. He deter- 
mined to be one to fight for the liberty of the mil- 
lions of dark-skinned people of this land, and joined 
the army as a private in Company C, First Battal- 
ion Fifteen United States Infantr3'. He served 
with this regiment for three 3'ears, and was with 
the Army of the Cumberland in the Fourteenth 
Arm}' Corjjs, First Brigade and Second Division. 
He was in many of the principal engagements. 

A man who has been through such experiences 
as the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Ky., 
Stone River, Chickamauga, has a story that can be 
transcended in interest by but few events in any 
liistory whatsoever. The gentleman of whom we 
write was a participant in all these, and was .also in 
all the battles of the Georgia campaign, even the 
taking of Atlanta. His term of service expired in 
Atlanta, and he was there honorably discharged, 
after which he returned to Michigan. He will ever 
wear an honorable badge of his army service in a 
wound resulting from a gun-shot at the battle of 
Stone River. He escaped the bitter experience of 
being taken prisoner, but contracted rheumatism 
while in the arm}-, that he has suffered more or less 
from ever since. His honorable service is recog- 
nized by the Government by the payment of a pen- 
son of $12 per month. 

After the war Mr. Schweikert purchased eiglity 
acres of land in Burns Township, where he now 
lives, having since added thirty acres to the origi- 
nal purchase. He has done most of the improve- 
ment on this place, and now has a fine farm with 
well-appointed buildings. Our subject has accumu- 
lated all that he possesses by his own efforts. Since 
the war he has given all his attention to farming. 
In i)olitics he is an adherent of the Democratic 
platform, thinking that its [jrinciples of personal 
rights nearest approach the freedom of whicli we 
boast. He is a member of the G. A. R., D. G. 
Royce Post, No. 117, of Byron, and enjoys recount- 
ing with his comrades the varied experiences of the 
years spent in the South. 

After coming to .\merica it is most natural that 
he should be infatuated by the charms of hisfellovv 








v^u^^j' <:yi^z.c^^ 



>5^^^^^^^-^i-^ ^^^^^:2^^^^5-^'^_ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



403 



country-woman, whom he persuaded to help him 
in brightening and making elieerful liis home and 
heartli, and in Febniarj' 18, 1865, he was married 
to Miss Margaret Banmilier, of Lodi, AVashtenaw 
County, this Stale. Tlie gentleman of whom we 
write and his estimable wife iiave had four chil- 
dren, viz: Mary, Clara, Charlie and Fred, all of 
whom are living. The husband and wifeaie mem- 
bers of the Kvangelical Association. 



•-s>^»«-^tif» 



>«5<^•<©e-• 



'KPHENIAII SEXTON, a well-known resi- 
dent of Price, Clinton County, was born in 
' Clarke County, Ohio, May 23, 1 839. He was 
reared on a farm and took what education he could 
get in the log schoolliouses, which were not very 
elegantly furnished with slab seats. When a lad of 
onl}' seven years he removed to Oakland County, 
Midi., anil began woi'king out when only twelve 
years old at the wages of ^'2 per month. He con- 
tinued thus enii)k\yed fur a year and then went to 
live witii another man for two years. Wiien the 
war broke out liis patriotism w.as fired and lie en- 
listed in the army, September 2, KSGl. 

Our young soldier was a [irivate in Cora()any B, 
Second Michigan Infantry, under Col. 1. B. Rich- 
ardson. He took part in the battles of Yorktown, 
Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Charles City Crossing, 
Malvern Hills, the Second Bull Run, Fredericks- 
burg, \'icksburg, Jackson, Lenore Station, Camp- 
bell Station and the siege of Knoxvilie. When his 
time of service expired he re-enlisted and saw ac- 
tive service in tiie Wilderness, at Spotts^lvania 
Courthouse and al! through that campaign, winter- 
iuir at Petersburg. He was struck lliree times l)ut 
not badl}' injured and though lie suffered from 
sunstroke was never away from liis regiment. He 
was honorably discharge<l .at Detroit in August, 
18Go. 

After the war Mr. Sexton returned to Michigan 
and worked at the blacksmith's trade in White 
Lake, Oaklaml County-. In 18G7 he came to Clin- 
ton. County and bougiil land on section 13, Olive 
Township. It was all new land and not even a 
stick had been cut on this sectimi l)ut he has 



cleared his farm and thoroughly improved it, until 
it is now one of the finest in this part of the count}'. 

The marriage of Zepheniah Sexton to Mary J. 
Dotj- took place in 1867, in Rose Township, Oak- 
land County. Mrs. Sexton had one child, Carrie, 
and died in 1870. Our subject's second marriage 
was celebrated on Christmas Day, 1872, and he was 
then united with Sarah E. Maun, who died No- 
vember 17, 1877. She was the mother of two chil- 
dren, both of whom have died. His third mar- 
riage took pl.ace in February, 1881 and his bride 
was Annie Neal, who died in 1886. The one child 
to whom she gave birth has also died. 

Mr. Sexton is proud to say that his [lolitical 
record dates from his casting his first vote for 
Abraham Lincoln and he has always remained con- 
nected with the Republican (larty. He lias filled 
several local townshiii offices and is .lustice of the 
Peace an<l has also been for some time Highway 
Commissioner. He is active as a member of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. Tlie iirich' of his 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres is in his fine 
stock. He makes a specially of draft horses and 
for a few years back has also bred Percherons, but 
now pa^s more attention to Clydesdale stock. He 
has one fine imported horse, -'Silver," No. 8990, 
who was two years old on May 111. He is a mag- 
nificent specimen of the horse and is much admired 
by all lovers of that noble animal. 

On another page of this volume appears a litho- 
graphic portrait of Mr. Sexloii. 



LI.lAll B. WELCH is a prominent grocery- 
■i] man at Byron, and was horn in Troy, Oak- 
laml County, this State, November 10, 1810. 
He is a son of Benjamin .•ml Luciua (Tobey) 
Welch, natives of York Stale. The father came to 
Michigan in 1826, when onl^' about thirteen 3'ears 
of age. He remained in Detroit for several 3'ears, 
making his home with Maj. Kersley. then Land 
Commissioner. Later he went lo Tro}' Township, 
Oakland County, where ho worked on a farm and 
drove a team. About this time he met the laily 
who afterward became his wife, and with her he 



404 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



contiiiuefl to live in said count}- until 1838, when 
he settled on a farm in the township of Burns, 
Shiawassee County, which he had taken up from 
the Government in 183G. This farm comprised 
eighty acres of wild land and it is the same that is 
now owned by Robert Fox and is the east iialf of 
the southeast quarter of section three. Burns 
Township. 

Mr. Welch lived on the place above meutioned 
two years, when he moved to Lapeer County. 
Here he ran a mill for a year or so and then in 
1812 moved back to his farm in Shiawassee 
County, where he lived until 1865, when he sold 
the place and moved to Byron, in which town he 
and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, he 
passing away in 1867, at the age of fifty -six j-ears; 
his wife died in 185'2. He was a farmer all his life- 
time and one of the men who are such indefatig- 
able workers that they will not S|)areself and conse- 
quentlj^ broke down his health by hard work. He 
secured a comfortable competence and thus passed 
away with his mind at ease about the future of his 
family. Like most Northern men, he was a strong 
Aliolitionist. He was never an office-seeker, but 
held some township offices. He was not an edu- 
cated man, but was intelligent and well read. He 
was a member of the Free aid Accepted Masons 
and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. The couple had five children, named re- 
spectively, Elijah B.. Edgar, Dennis, Frank and 
Charles. Charles and Dennis are deceased and our 
subject is the eldest child. 

The gentleman of wliom we write was reared in 
Burns, Sliiawassee County, on the paternal farm and 
has spent the whole ef his life in the same township. 
He enjoyed the advantages of a common-school 
education and in the intervals of his school life he 
assisted his father with the farm work. At the age 
of sixteen years, lie began clerking in Byron and 
followed that nntil 1867, when he engaged in busi- 
ness for himself at Byron and has ever since been 
in the mercantile business at this place. He started 
in life without any aid whatever and has made all 
that he now possesses b^' his own earnest eflforts. 
In politics Mr. AVelcli is independent, believing 
that the best man for an office is he who is best 
fitted for it, irrespective of pirt^'. He has been 



elected to some township offices. He is a Free and 
Accepted Mason, in which body he has attained to 
the Third degree. He belongs to the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the 
Knights of the Maccabees. 

April 15, 1867, our subject was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Jennie Bradley of Byron, this State, 
who w.as born in Wisconsin. She was a daughter 
of Reuben and Sarah (McQueen) Bradle3^ v/ho are 
natives of Nevv York State. Mr. and Mrs. Welch 
have had three children who are named respect- 
ively, Ethelyn, Herbert and Ray B. The two eldest 
cliildren are deceased, and Mr. Welch and his wife 
liave adopted a daughter who is eighteen years of 
age, to whom they have given the name of Edith 
and whom tliey cherish as one of their own. 



^pNDREW .1. EWELL is one of the most 
[@Oi enterprising and progressive farmers of 
i) Clinton Count}', and resides on section 
20, of Eagle Township, where he has, 
a beautiful farm of one hundred and seventy-three 
acres of improved land, which has upon it good 
buildings and is in a high state of cultivation. He 
is the son of Philander and Lydia A. (Wells) 
Ewell, nitivesof New York, (further reference will 
be found in the Oakland Count}' History,) who 
came to the Territory of Michigan in 1829, and 
settled in Shelby, Macomb Count}', where the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born on the Ith of August, 
1837. From that date to this he has been a resident 
of Michigan. He had the advantages of l)ut a 
very limited education in his earlier days, but 
when almost a young man he attended the academy 
at Disco, Mich. He worked for his father upon 
the farm until ho reached tlie age of twenty-two 
years. 

The 23d of .lanuary, 1859, was a great day in tlie 
life of this young man, as he then wedded the one 
whom he liad won as his bride, Roxana .1. Hover, 
the accomplislied daughter of David and Eliza 
(Zachari.as) Hover, natives of the .States of New 
York and Maryland respectively. This l.ady was 
born in Niagara County, N. Y. on the 5th of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



405 



Juno, 1838. Her gniiulfntlier was one of llie men 
who manufactured guns for tlie Revolutionary sol- 
diers, and she recollects hearing him often relate 
incidents of the struggle for independence. He 
died at tlie age of sixty- six years and her father 
died at the age of sixtj'-two, her mother living until 
she was sixty-six. Uc- parents came to Michigan 
in 1858 and located in Macomb County. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Ewell has been 
blessed witli three children, two of whom are living. 
Clark E., who was born June 27, 18G0, resides in 
Alinneapolis, Minn., and is engaged as book-keeper 
in the Pillsbury Mills. He took a coerse of stu<ly 
at the C'ommercial college at Minneapolis. The 
second son, George B. MeCellan, born December 
14, 1S(;4. attended the High School at Portland, 
Mich., and makes liis home with his parents. 

In politics Mr. Ewell is a Jeffersonian Democrat 
and takes quite an interest in the principles and 
policy of his party. He is a member of the Lodge 
of the Free and Accepted Masons at Grand Ledge. 
Mrs. Powell is an efficient member of the Bai)tist 
Church of I'ortland. She is a woman of more than 
ordinary aliility and understanding of finance. 
She owns in her own riglit a line tract of land and 
is an able and wise counselor to her husband in all 
their business affairs. Our subject makes a speci- 
altj' of raising Short horn cattle and usually raises 
about fifty head of sheep and is raising mostly 
wlieat and stock. 




MMI U. BOSS. This gentleman is carr^-- 
ing on a successful business enter|)rise in 
(S) the village of Fowler, Clinton County, 
^fl having an interest in a flouring mill for- 

merly owned by Mr. Bliss. He bought a half-in- 
terest in the plant in the fall of 1887, after having 
worked there about a twelvemonth. Prior to that 
time he had spent a number of years on a farm in 
Riley Township, of which he is still the owner. 
■\Vheu he came to this State in 1849 he bought a 
tract of eighty acres and a few years later had it 
cleared and under cultivation. The entire acreage 
was covered witli forest trees when lie took posses- 



sion and wolves could often be heard howling 
around his rude dwelling. Deer were plentiful and 
bears quite numerous, and Lidians roamed through 
the forest wilds. Mr. Boss added to the extent of 
his farm and now has one hundred and twenty 
acres, on which is a complete line of good buildings 
[)ut up liy himself. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davitl Boss, grandparents of our 
subject, reared two sons and one daughter and died 
in Xew York. Tlieir son Hiram was born in 
Dutchess County, wliich was the place of his grand- 
father's birth and when a 3'oung man went to Sara- 
toga County. There be married Sarah A. Rodg- 
ers and reared a famil}', named respectively: Sarah 
J., A. Roger. Francis M., Joshua B., Mary, John 
H., Augusta and Nelson R. The parents died in 
Saratoga County. The father hail always followed 
the trade of a jjainter. He was a Master Mason 
and Blrs. Boss belonged to the Episcopal Church. 

The gentleman whose name introduces these par- 
agraphs was born in Milton, Saratoga County, N. 
Y., November 23, 1827, and when fourteen years 
old began to learn the painter's trade with his 
father. Prior to that time he had pursued his stud- 
ies in the common .school. When of age he began 
working for himself, taking a position in an ax fac- 
tor^', wliere he painted tools. In 1 849 he came 
XYcit and for a few years lived upon his land in 
Clinton County, then spent eighteen months in his 
uative State and returned to the farm to remain 
until some time after the death of his wife, which 
occurred in April, ISS/i. His companion, to whom 
he was married in Ballston Spa, N. Y., bore the 
maiden name of Sarah S. Pratt and to them the fol- 
lowing children were born: Edwin H., Henry G. 
and Rufus D. The eldest is now in California and 
the youngest in Washington, D. C, while the sec- 
ond is living on his father's farm in Riley Town- 
ship. 

Mr. Boss spent a season alone on the farm after 
he was bereft of his companion and then returned 
again to his native State. In April, 1858, he was 
married there to Mrs. Catherine Sherman, nee Wood- 
ard, and that year came back to his farm, u|)on which 
he resided until early in 1887. The present Mrs. 
Boss was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., October 8, 1832, 
and by her marriage to Mr. Sherman she had four 



406 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



children, named respectively: Ervin, Georgiana, 
Harrison and Ida. Georgiana is deceased. The 
sous are living in St. .Jolin's and Ida in Fowler. 
The parents of Mrs. Boss, David and Mary (Hall) 
Woodard, were born in Connecticut and Wayne 
County, N. Y., respectively. The mother is still 
living in the section in wiiicii she w.as born but the 
father is deceased; he was a carpenter by trade. 

In New York Mr. Boss was initiated into tlie 
Odd Fellows' order, but he lias no connection with 
the lodges in this State. For a number of years he 
served as Justice of tlie Peace in Riley Township 
and he has also been Townsiiip Clerk and Super- 
visor. His political allegiance has always been 
given to the Democratic party. He is an honora- 
ble business man and au intelligent and reliable 



citizen. 



3S^Jiil*ie 




ENJAMIN F. IIAMIL, is a retired farmer 
and resides on section 33, Kiley Townslii|), 
Clinton Countj', where he has a fine brick 
residence on a tract of forty acres of land ; 
he also owns eight)'-four acres on section 4, AVater- 
town Township, the same county. He is the son 
of Isaac and Bethiah (Barrett) Hamil, natives of 
Boston, who, after tiieir marriage came to Monroe 
County, N. Y., where their son Benjamin was' born 
near Rochester. His natal day was September IJ, 
1821. 

This boy was reared upon the farm and when 
fifteen \-cars of age removed witli his parents to 
Ashtabula County, Ohio. But sorrow now came 
to them in the death of the father, a year after ar- 
riving in Ohio. They resided there three years 
longer and then the widowed mother brought iier 
children to Oakland County-, Jlich. The subject 
of this sketch attended the academy while they lived 
at Ashtul)ula and after the3' moved to Jlichigan he 
hired out on a farm at ^12 a month and worked for 
one man three years. This kind employer was 
Noah P. Morse. Wiiile working for him our sub- 
ject attended to all his financial alTairsand acted as 
foreman directing tiie general conduct of the 
work. 

New Year's Day, 1812, was the wedding da}' of 



our subject. Amanda C. Johnson, the woman 
whose hand he had won and who has to this day 
been his helpmate and companion, is a daughter 
of Russell II. Johnson, a native of Monroe County, 
N. Y., where she was born, July 30, 1824. This 
union has been blessed by the birth of four chil- 
dren, but bereavement h.as sorely stricken the house- 
hold and only one of these beloved children re- 
mains to the parents. William was born September 
3, 1843, and died Se|)tember 27, 1855; Sarah was 
born May 7, 184G, and married Benjamin F. King, 
January 10, 1871 ; they reside in Watertown Town- 
ship. Silas was born October 5, 1849, and died 
May 3, 1853; Charles R. was born March 8, 1858, 
and died of quick consumption, September 2, 1882. 
In the siiring of 184(5, Mr. Hamil moved to 
Clinton County, and located on section 4, of Water- 
town Township, on a piece of Government land. 
When he arrived here two shillings constituted his 
wealth and he was even so unfortunate as to break 
his ax while cutting timber to earn the money to 
bring him to Clinton County, but by his industry 
and perseverance he has been quite successful in 
and life and now having one hundred twenty-four 
acres in fine condition, well stocked and thoroughly 
furnished with good buildings, he is living a retired 
life in Comfort and prosperity. Politically ho be- 
lieves in the principles of the Rci)ublican party and 
has frequently bee'i called upon to fill offices of pub- 
lic trust in his township. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church and are active 
and earnest in church work. 



€-*-^ 



"*s: 



LARK WIIELAN. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Clarkston, Monroe 
%J[^ County, N. Y., February 18, 1820. His 
parents were Herbert and Sylvia (Pratt) Whelan, 
both natives of New York. The gentleman of 
whom we write is the eldest of four children of 
whom only one, a sister, is living. This sister, 
Julia, the widow of Eli Knight, is still living in 
Lenawee County, Mich. Our subjects mother 
having died when he was only eighi years of age 
he was adoiited by a man named Trumbull Gran- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



407 



ger of ^lonroe County, willi whom lie retnovcd to 
Oliio at the as^e of thirteen and a<;ain at the age of 
fifteen to St. Clair County, Mich. 

Our subject started out in life for himself when 
seventeen years of age, although he made his home 
with his foster parents uinil he was twenty-one. 
When twenty yenrs of age he began boating on 
the Ohio Canal, wliich course he pursued for two 
summers, -\ft.er the manner of young men he took 
to himself a wife in November, 184."). The lady 
to whom he was married was Miss Laura R. Aiken. 
He purch.ised fifty acres of land, pa3'ing !^I 73 on 
it at the time and procured a j'oke of o.xen. He 
then located in North Lorain County, New OI)er- 
lin, Ohio. In two years he sold it but bought it 
back soon afterward, he making a verbal contract 
to work three miles back in the woods for a remun- 
eration of ^i'lOO a year and his board, his wife 
agreeing to take charge of the house. The man 
for whom he worked was Relph Campbell of Ober- 
lin. At odd times he succeeded in erecting a house 
on his own farm, but being solicited to return to 
Campbell, went back again to him for a year. Mr. 
Campbell purch.ased a mill and our subject was as- 
sociateil with him in running the same until 1851, 
when the death of the proprietor occured. After 
ceasing to work for Mr. Campbell Mr. Wlielan re- 
sumed the imi)roveinent of his own farm He re- 
mained here, however, but a short time, soon going 
to Obcrlin in order to give his boys educational ad- 
vantages He remained three years in Obcrlin, 
until about the close of the war. While at this 
place he was eng.aged in work for the college, tak- 
ing cluirgc of a gang of men and continued there 
until l.SOG when he came to Shiawassee County. 

On the coming of Mr. Wlielan into the county 
he (lurcliased one hundred and si.xty acres of land 
for which he paid *oO per acre. Since the origi- 
nal purchase lie has added two hundred and eight 
and three-fourth acres to his farm. He gives his 
attention to general farming. Mr. Whelan's fam- 
ily consists of Francis M., Charhjs A., Iioth resid- 
ing near their father, who has given them their 
start in life, and Clark W^helan. The family have 
brought up a little girl whose name is Martha Gar- 
rett. She wns treated with the greatest tenderness 
and affection and when she reached womanhood 



married the Rev. John McLean, of Vernon. They 
also adopted a boy five years of age from the Or- 
phan Society of New York. His name is John J. 
Jeffries, but he has always gone by the name of his 
ado()ted parents. He is a talented musician and 
gives great pleasure to all who have the privilege 
of hearing him perform on the piano. He still 
makes his home with the Whelan family who also 
have a young girl, now aged seventeen, and whose 
name is Emma Wright. She has made her home 
with the family- for the past eight years. Mrs. 
Whelan is a Baptist in belief and is connected 
with that church. Mr. Wliclan's success in life is 
perhaps largely- owing to the fact that he has never 
1 ad any desire to go beyond his means, always be- 
lieving in paying as he goes. 



¥ 




-"♦••■®^'<^- 



ILLIAM N. STRONti ranks among the 
^Jll energetic and leading farmers of the town- 
*^7>^ ship in which lie lives and is cvurying on 
his work in a manner wliieli shows liiin to be pos- 
sessed of good judgment. His hdinc is on section 
18, Watertown Township, and his land embraces 
one hundred and sixteen acres bordering on Lo(»k- 
ing Glass River. Ho was born in Monroe County, 
N. Y., September 23, 1824, ami was reare<l on a 
farm and has always been engaged in agricultural 
work. He received a common-school education in 
llic home district and gave his strength of body 
and mind to aiding in the general work of the fam- 
ily until he was of age. His parents were F.zra B. 
and Eleanor (Lane) Strong, natives of \ermont 
and New York respectively. 

In his early manhood .Mr. Strong won for his 
wife Miss Myaiula Cutting, to whom he was joined 
in wedlock in the Empire State, October 2.5, 1847. 
In 18.55 the young (Miiiple removed to this Sl:ile 
and here the wife died in 1MI)3, leaving four chil 
dren motherless. The eldest is Ambrosia, who e 
natal day was in .lanuary, 1851; she is now the 
wife of Asa Uurfee and lives in the State of Wash- 
ington; the second is Rosina. who was born April 
7, 1853. and married .losiah .Mien, their lome be- 
ing in Eagle Township; l''.linur. the third child. 



408 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was born August 24, 1856, and is the wife of Robert 
Shaw, of Watertown Township; David, the only 
son, was born in August, 1858, and lived to be 
but four }-ears old. 

During the year 1864 Mr. Strong was married to 
Marintlia Shadduckand she isadaughter of Andrew 
and Sarah (French) Shadduclc, natives of New York 
and pioneers of Clinton County, Mich., to which 
they came in 1838. Their daughter was born in 
Eagle Township, April 17, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. 
Strong are the parents of two cliildren: William 
E., born November 30, 1868; and Hattie, January 
1, 1871. The daughter attended Albion College 
and is proflcient in music. 

Believing in the worth of the principles and pol- 
icy of the Democratic party, Mr. Strong is an un- 
failing supporter of the tickets presented by it. 
The famil}' hold membership in the Melliodist Epis- 
copal Church in AVacousta. Their standing in 
society is assured and their interest in what is up- 
lifting is known to all with wliom they associate. 



■ > ' ^^ ' < '" 

JOHN H. FEDEWA, an attorney-at-law and 
ex-Prosecuting Attorne3-, is one of the best- 
known men In Clinton County. He is well 
known in State and county conventions, be- 
ing now a member of the Demociatic State Cen- 
tral Committee. Previous to 1886 there had been 
a fusion of the Democratic and Greenback ranks in 
the Sixth Congressional District, but in tlie fall of 
that year these two parties could not agree upon a 
candidate, and eacli put up a nominee. Mr. Fe- 
dewa was one of the members of the Democratic 
delegation who sought to make peace between the 
two factions, believing liiat it was the honorable 
tiling at that time to give the Greenbackers the 
candidate, as it was tiieir turn, but the larger num- 
ber of the convention did not agree to this and 
would not submit to it. A joint convention was 
afterward held with a view of adjusting this diffi- 
culty and again joining forces. Mr. Fodewa was 
the choice of tlie Democrats as their candidate for 
Congress, and the Greenbackers, appreciating his 
honorable treatment of them, promised to support 



him, but at the time of the election the past lack of 
harmony' broke up the agreement and the two par- 
ties did not cast a heavy vote together, and un- 
fortunately he failed of election. 

This gentleman is a native of Clinton County, 
having been born in Dallas Township, May 8, 1849. 
His father, Morris, was a native of Germanj', born 
in Prussia near the River Rhine. After his mar- 
riage in that countr}- he emigrated to America in 
1842, sailing from Havre to New York, a voyage 
of fifty-three days. He then took passage by canal 
and lake to Detroit, coming to Dallas Townsliip, 
where he entered laud near Wtstphalia and began 
to improve a farm. He was among the first settlers 
here and made his home in a log house, set in a 
little clearing. He afterward removed to West- 
phalia Township where he spent bis last days, pass- 
ing awa^' at the age of sixty-nine years, Aiuil 2, 
1882. His wife Mar}- M. Pung, was also a native 
of Germany and she also died in Westphalia, March 
5, 1888. Of their twelve children ten grew to 
maturity and eight are now living. 

When eleven years old the subject of this sketch 
came to Westphalia wiili his parents. He acquired 
his education at the districts and on the farm, and 
when seventeen years old he engaged in the car- 
penter's trade at Westphalia. For three years he 
worked at his trade in the summer and went to the 
St. John's High School in the winter. When twenty 
years old he engaged in teaching for a short time. 
In the fall of 1870 he entered the department of 
the law of the University of Michigan, and took 
his diploma in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of 
Law. He began his practice in Westphalia and in 
1874 had so far gained the confidence and es- 
teem of the community by his excellent profes- 
sional work that he received the nomination by the 
Democratic party for Prosecuting Attorney of 
Clinton County and was elected at tlie following 
election. After two 3'ears' service in this office he 
returned to West|)lialia where he engaged as an at- 
tornej' and in the real-estate business. His first 
term as Prosecuting Attorney was from 1875 to 
1877. He afterward seived two years, from 1879 
to 1881, and four years, from 1883 to 1887, making 
in all eight years in this responsible office. 

Professional duties do not occupy all this geu- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



40!) 



tleman's attention, as he finds time to deal quite 
larjjcly in real estate. His maniage lock place in 
Westphalia in 1876. The lady whom he niadi; 
his wife was Lizzie Petsch, eldosl daiiylitei' of 
Mathias and Anna I\I. Petsch. Mr. I'l'lssli dieil 
March 10, ISKij. Mrs. IVtbch resides at Si. .lolm's. 

Five children liave gathered ahout the liearlii- 
stone of Mr. and Mrs. Fedewa, of whom Mamie M., 
•John M. and Annie E. are still with their parents, 
Tiie eldest two, Paula M. and Artiiur P., died of 
diphtheria, the latter the 14th, anil the former the 
15th of February, 1883, leaving their bereaved 
parents in sore atliiclion. Tins trial renders even 
dear to these affectionate i)arents the ciiildren wiio 
remain to them. 

.Mr. Fedewa is a Democrat in politics. In 1388 
he was made a member of the Democratic State 
Central Coinniittee, and in the fall of I8i)0 became 
a member of the executive committe of this organ- 
ization. 

-scSfe'S- 



I FORGE C. HAVENS, M. D. Tlie thriving 
(^-, village of Fowler is the home of this young 
iiij) i)hysician, who after carrying (>n a thorough 
course of study and making preiiaration for special 
branches of me<lici'.l work, has been giving his time 
to practice, in which he has proved very successful. 
lie is ason of William and Mary P. (Baker) Havens, 
to whose biographical sketch the reader is referred. 
From them b^' inheritance he has a predisposition 
for medical research, and to their training is due 
the sound foundation of therapeutical knowledge 
which underlies his mental litness for his work. 

Dr. Havens was born in Lansing, December 21, 
1857, and pursued his literary studies there, and 
in 1875 was graduated from the commercial col- 
lege. He then took up his medical studies with his 
parents, both of whom were in pr.actice, and aftci- 
suitable reading entereil the medical department of 
the State I'liiversity in Ann Arbor. He studied 
there during the season of 1879-80, and the ne.xt 
year took a course of lectures at Hahnemann Med- 
ical College at Chicago, and received his diploma 
from that institution in the spring of 1881. He 
took a special course on diseases of the eye and 



car in order to be thoroughly prei»aied to treat 
those im|>ortant numbers. He likewise made special 
study of obstetrics and diseases of women and 
holds certificates from Charles H. Vilas, M. D.,and 
J. Leavitt, M. D. The lirst year of his practice 
was in Laingsburg and he then located in Muske- 
gon, where he remained eight years, zealously at- 
tending to his professional duties and also carrying 
on a drug slcjre. In 1888 he came to Fowler, 
where he has likewise had a successful practice. 

At the residence of .lolin Wesley Ilerrick in 
ftluskegon. May 13, 1888, Dr. Havens was united 
in marriage to Miss Ftlie Ilerrick, daughter of the 
host. The bride is the eldest in a family consisting 
of one son and two daughlers and is a native of 
the I>uckey(! Slate, born November It, 1865. She 
is a well-bred and edncated lady, with a s\mpathiz- 
ing naturi! and social qualities. Her father went 
from the Buckeye Stale to Iowa, but after a sojourn 
of a year removed to Muskegon, this State, where 
he has remained and lives a retired life. To Dr. 
and Mrs. Havens a daughter was born October 18, 
1886. 

In his political views and adherence Dr. Havens 
is a Democrat. He is Health Ollicer, both of Dallas 
Township and the village of Fowler, and is a member 
of North Muskegon Knights of .Maccabees. He car- 
ries a $2,500 policy in the Home Life Insurance Com- 
pany of New York. He is following worthily in 
the footste|)S of his parents and adding to the lustre 
of the name he bears, with a good reputation 
among his fellow-professionals and high standing 
with the people. 



£ - i 'I' i - S '-- 

<^;LBERT HARLOW. The subject of this 
sketch is the fortunate owner of one of the 
!i best farms in \V'atcrlown Township, con- 
taining one hundred and ten acres, wU im- 
proveil and furnished with fine buildin<;s. He is the 
son of Abner and Cynthfa (Conanl) Harlow, natives 
of the State of Vermont, where Albert was born 
.luly 11, 1820. His parents removed to the State 
of New York when he was only about Hve years of 
age. Here he was reared on a farm, and had very 




410 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



■^,-s-*- 



^*'^^:i^^;f?5<^- 



little opportunity to obtain an education, but con- 
tinued wori<ing for his father until he was twenty- 
one 3'ears of age. 

Upon the 23d of November, 1852, he won the 
hanil of the lady who so graciously presides over 
Lis household. Her maiden name was Catherine 
Mapes, and she was a daughter of Peter and Mar^- 
(Earl) Mapes. Her father was a native of Canada, 
but moved into the Slate of Michigan. She was 
born in Canada, January 2.5, 1833. This marriage 
has been blessed wi^h five cliildren, all of whom are 
living: Minnie was born Noveniher 24, 1853, and 
is married to Myron Clary, and resides in Water- 
town Townsliip; Edith D., burn March 10, 1S5G, is 
marrieil to Delbert Forward, and has her home in 
the same townsliip; Florence, born March 23, 1861, 
is the wife of Frani< Clary, and resides in Northern 
Michigan; Nellie, born October 23, 1865, is mar- 
ried to Edwin Stanton, and resides in Clinton 
County; Bertie, born February 11, 1868, resides 
with his parents, and assists in conducting the farm. 

In his political views Mr. Harlow is a consist';nt j 
and i)''onounced Prohibitionist, and is ever wide- 
awake to the necessity of action for the moral and 
social improvement of the community. Tlie fam- 
ilies are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He came to Michigan and located on his 
farm in 1854, and has made great im|)rovorae:its 
upon it, and erected all the buildings which now 
adorn it. 



^I^^RANKLIN ALBERT WElDiMAN. On the 
IL^»| whole wide earth there is nothing more 
/lli nearly approaching the desire of God's own 
heart than a family where love reigns supreme, 
where tlie reins of domestic government are held 
in hands guided by intelligence, judgment and pro- 
gression, where there is a constant growing upward 
in little tilings as in great. The family biography 
of Franklin A. Weidman, who lives on section 27, 
Owosso Townshi|), reminds one of Browning's 
question, "Why stay we here on earth unless to 
grow.?" 

Fr.anklin A. Weidman was born in AA'ayland, 
Steuben County, N. Y., September 22, 1849. His 



father was William M. Weidman, horn in Mauch 
Chunk, Pa., February 13, 1820, and Ids father, 
gramlfather of our subject, was Jacob Weidman, 
also of Pennsylvania. Franklin's mother was Lj'- 
dia (Clements) Weidman, of North Sparta, Livings- 
ton County, N. Y. Both parents now live in 
Owosso. The father was from Scotland. 

Our subject is the youngest of four children: 
Marj', now Mrs. Lorenzo Densmore, is living in 
Owosso; Emma, who is the wife of L. E. Wood- 
ward, and a resident of Owosso; George, who died 
in his twelfth yeai ; and Frank. It is natural that 
the youngest son should be cherished as Jacob did 
Benjamin, and he was kept at home until 1869; 
when iu his twentieth year he came to Owosso, 
where his brother-in-law, Mr. Woodward was then 
living. Unwilling to be idle, he worked for his 
brother in-law for seven j'ears, at the expiration of 
which time his father came to Jlichigan and se- 
cured eighty acres of land on secliou 34, Owosso 
Township, for his son. 

The children of to-day scarcel3' know what it is 
to go into a wild country where carpenter's tools 
arc neither many nor good, and hew dowu with 
one's own hands the trees which must build the 
habitation for the family, clear the stumps from 
the ground, plant tjie corn and wheat liiat must 
furnish the bread for the following year, prepare 
their own meat, and in fact be unto themselves 
sufficient for all their needs. Evidentl}- Mr. Weid- 
man was working with a purpose. Bright e3es and 
loving glances doubtless lingered in his memory, 
for in two years he returned to New York and pre- 
vailed upon Miss Isabella G. Drake to give up a 
life of single blessedness and begin the journey 
with him. Tliey were married at Danville, Liv- 
ingston County, N. Y., October 21, 1871. The 
lady was a native of Danville, her birth occurring 
October 11, 1849, her father being Isaac, also a 
native of Danville, and her mother, Eliza, a native 
of France. 

Mrs. Weidman, who is an unusually intelligent 
woman, was educated at Danville Seminary, where 
she began to teach at the early age of seventeen. 
She maintained her position in the faculty of the 
sciiool for eight j'cars, giving particular attention 
to music, of which she was a teacher, and which 




RESIDENCE or GEORGE W. BOWERS ,5EC, 25,, DUPLAI N TR, CLINTON CO.,MICI-! 




RLblDliiLLOF TRArJK VVL I D M AIM , o LL. 2 7. , W U o oU T t ■ 



. . ^ wU, . [li 1 Cl 1 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



■U3 



slie still continues to toacti. Several children carac 
to grace and hrigliteii llie faniilj' hearth. They are 
William A., wiio is ni'ieleen years of age; (leorge, 
who died in his ninth j'oar; Edward D., who is fif- 
teen years of age; Mabel, who died in infancy' ; and 
Nellie, who is a seven-year-old fairy. The eldest 
son at present makes his home with his grandpar- 
ents in Owosso, where he is taking a business course 
in college. 

Mr. Wcidman's advantages for an education were 
meagre, but since his marriage, assisted and en- 
couraged by his wife, he has studied indetatigably, 
and as a result has become one of the advanced ! 
men, with broad ideas and lilieral princi|)les. Every 
business enterprise which he has undertaken has 
prospered, and his farm is one of tiie most desir- 
able in Shiawassee. It contains four humlred and 
thirty-seven acres of tiie best soil in the township, 
and is all under a high state of cultivation. 

How tile daily drudgery of life can be mitigated 
b}' an intelligent application of simi)le scientific 
princiiiies to tlie commonest means of labor! Few 
farms in Michigan can boast of such admirable 
arrangement as that of Mr. Weidman. His com- 
modious and beautiful home, a view of which ap- 
pears on another page, has all the latest imjjrove- 
ments both in a sanitary direction and for the 
comfort of farm life. He has just com [ileted a barn 
40x90 feet, with stable-room for twenty head of 
horses, r.nd a fine carriage-room, one end of which 
is arranged for an ice-house and cold storage. II is 
cow stable is -lOxfiO feet, with cement lloor. He 
has ample granaries, hog houses and other suitable 
buildings. Water is supplied for use in the house 
and alwut the farm by tanks from a I'eservoir over 
the kitchen, which is filled by an Eclipse wind 
engine. The reservoir is tilled from an inexhaust- 
able well of purest water. He has applied this 
force to his wood saws, feed grinders and stalk cut- 
ters, and in his swine department he uses a patent 
steam cooker, antl finds that the sensible applica- 
tion of all these modern improvements pays in more 
and better returns. He makes a specialty of grow- 
ing and training for fancy driving a number of ex- 
cellent bred horses, and keeps constantly on han<l 
a few choice roailstcrs. 

Mr. Weidman is one of the workers of the countv . 



earnestly interested in cverj'thing that will im- 
prove, not only his own and family's condition, 
but that of his fellow-beings. He is interested 
especially in the educational interests of the county, 
and is an earnest advocate of anj' means that will 
make more progressive the children that are com- 
ing up. Mr. and Mrs. Weidman are not connected 
with any church. He is a stanch Democrat in poli- 
ties. 



'i^^' 



^P?)E0K(;E W. bovvers, one of the most 
jll (— , po|)ular residents of Dui)lain Township, 
^^iijl Clinton County, makes his home on section 
25, and is there carrying on the business of general 
farming and stock-raising. His native place is 
Chenango County-, N. Y., where he was born Feb- 
ruary C, 1833. Ilis youthful days were passed in 
the usual manner of fanner boys and he grew up to 
engage in the duties of agriculture. His father was 
Gilbert lioweis and his mother Delilah (Hancock) 
Bowers, a distant relative of Gen. Hancock. Both 
parents were natives of Connecticut. 

Our suliject was given by bis parents a fair 
opportunil}' to secure an education, and atleniicd 
the common schools, exce[>t during the busy 
season of f;irm labor when he was neeiled to assist 
his father. He made a determined effort foi self 
improvement and was thus able to extract much 
benefit from his school life, which, allliough nut 
presenting a broad curriculum of studies, gave 
thorough and valuable drill in the elenienls of 
education. 

A domestic life of true happiness and prosperity 
began Ai)ril 2!), IKCl, t)y the marriage of our sub- 
ject and Miss .luliet Levee, daughter of Charles and 
Polly (Bramen) Levee, both natives of Connecticut. 
One child, their much loved daughter, Almeda 
came to brighten their home until they gave her in 
marriage to Myron Goodrich. She was born unto 
them May 13, 1862. and is now the mother of one 
beautiful child, George, who was born November 
30, 1888. 

George W. Bowers resided in New York until 
1871, when he removed to the home which he now 
occupies. Here he owns some eighty acres of ex- 



414 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



cellent land, which is considered worth fully $65 
per acre. Two valuable adjuncts of his farm are 
tlie ever flowing springs and the Inexhaustible 
gravel bed, both of which add to its attractiveness. 
In 1890, seven liuman skeletons were discovered 
deposited in this gravel bed and it is supposed that 
they were murdered and recklessly thrown into tlie 
pit and covered from sight. Six of these skeletons 
had double teeth all around, showing that tliey 
were all of one family. 

A sister of Mr. Dowers, now Mrs. Belden, is 
living in Micliigan, and makes her iiome in Liv- 
ingston County. Allhougli our subject is a Demo- 
crat he has been elected at two different times as 
Road Commissioner in a township which is strongly 
Republican. His election w.as evidently not a parly 
movement but it attests the appreciation of the 
citizens of the township of his ability and efficiency. 
His efforts have been deservedly crowned witli 
success, and through the exercise of good judg- 
ment and industry he has gained a prominent 
position among his fellow-citizens. A view of his 
residence, barn, and rural surroundings is presented 
elsewhere in this volume. 




^OUWE B. YNTEMA, A. M., Superintend- 
ent of St. John's public schools, with 
which he has been connected since 1877, 
was born in Vriesland, Ottawa County, 
Mich., May 31, 1851. His father, II. O. Yntema, 
was a native of Vriesland, in the Netherlands, and 
the grandfather, Otto, was a farmer there and died 
while still a young man. The father was reared in 
the old country and there he married and adopted 
farming as his vocation in life. 

In 1847 the young man sailed with his wife and 
family from Amsterdam, landing In New York and 
going directly west to Chicago. From that city 
he came into Michigan, sto|)ping first at Holland 
and afterward going up the Black River on a flat- 
boat. He finally settled about ten miles from the 
lake, being the first one to locate In what was after- 
ward Vriesland, iu the township of Zealand, where 



he and his were eight miles from any other 
family. He blazed the trees to mark his way, and 
entered land, taking one hundred and sixty acres, 
began in true pioneer style, with a log cabin for a 
home. He added to his possessions from lime to 
time and at one time owned three hundred and 
twenty acres, and became so prosperous as to be 
able to loan money for the necessities of his iieigli- 
bors. 

Mr. Yntema was a Justice of the Peace and be- 
came one of the first trustees of Hope Collfgo, at 
Holland. He was a well-read man and possessed 
an excellent fund of Information. He was a char- 
ter member of the Reformed Church, in which lie 
served .is Elder, and was well known thruugliout 
the county-. He was a stanch Republican and ex- 
erted a strong influence in favor of education and 
religion wherever lie was known. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Clara N'an Deikooij. She was 
a native of the same town across the sea as her 
husband, and her father, Douwe Van Derkooij, 
was a farmer in Holland, and died there. 

The mother of our subject passed away from 
earth in 1873, having been the mother of nine 
children, four of whom are living. Prof. Yntema 
was the youngest of his father's family, and, being 
reared on the farm, took training in the i)ractical 
work of agriculture and what schooling he could 
secure in the district schools of that day. These he 
improvec) so well as to be able to enter Hope Col- 
lege Preparatory Deiiartmeut wlien sixteen years 
old. After four years of study there he taught for 
one year and then entered the Freshman class of 
the college, taking his diploma with the Centennial 
class of '76, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. 
He received one of the principal honors of the 
class, being appointed to deliver the Latin saluta- 
tory. He continued his studies after graduating, 
and three years later, in 1879, took the degree of 
Master of Arts, and delivered the Master's oration. 
In the fall of 187G he entered the senior class of 
the Michigan State Normal School, at Ypsilaiili, 
taking his diploma the next spring. In the fall of 
that year he began teaching in St. John's, as the 
Principal of the High School, in which position he 
continued until he was elected Superintendent of 
i the city schools. Ho has a special taste for luathe- 



4 



PORTRAIT ANO BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



415 



matics, and t«acbes that branch of learning and the 
sciences, besides superintending the school sj'Stem 
of the city. 

The subject of this sketch h:is accuiiiulnled some 
real estate and owns land in Kent and Ottawa 
Counties, inchiding twenty acres adjoining the city 
of Grand Ra[)ids. His beautiful home was de- 
signed by himself and bears the marks, both inter- 
nally and externally, of a refined taste and broad 
culture. Here he and his lovely and elHcient wife 
exercise a gracious hospitality. They were mar- 
ried in St. John's, December 27, 1888. Tlic lady's 
maiden name was Mary K. liOomis, and she is a 
a daughter of Leonard Loomis, a native of Loraine 
County. Ohio, wliose father, .lonathan, belonging 
to a New England family, was burn in New York 
and died in Ohio. Both were farmers. The father 
enlisted in the Forty- second (Jliio \'olunteers,wliich 
was raised at the Berean College. He eidisted as a 
private and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 
In the battle of Champion Hills, IMiss., he was 
wounded in the arm and taken prisoner, but was 
held only a few days. He served for three years 
and at the close of the war came to Kent County, 
whither his mother had come before him. He lo- 
cated at Byron and engaged in farming and teach- 
ing until 1866, when he came to Greenbush Town- 
ship, Clinton County', where he is now engaged in 
agriculture. He is an active member of the Meth- 
odist Hlpiscopal Church, a Justice of tiio Peace, and 
was Supervisor of Greenbush Townsliip. 

The mother of Mrs. Ynlema was Elizabeth Ab- 
bott, a native of Kent County, this State. Her 
father, Luther, was born in Connecticut, whence 
be came at an early dale to be a pioneer in Kent 
County. There he resided until the day of his 
death. His daughter, Elizabeth, the mother-in-law 
of our subject, died April 11, 1880. Mrs. Vntema 
was the first child of these parents and was born in 
Greenbush Township, Clinton County, where she 
was reared and educated. She completed her 
schooling by a three-years' course in the St. John's 
High .School, where she took her diphjma in 1884. 
She then eng.aged in teaching, wiiicli ))rofession she 
pursued until her marriage. 

One lovely child, Ilessel E.. brightens the lionie 
of this intelligent and delightful couple. The 



father is an earnest and devoted member of the 
Reformed Church, and the mother of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, and both are active in church 
and Sunday-school work, but they do not reserve 
their religion forSuntiay alone, for the loveliness of 
their Christian character is evident in every way, 
and receives the just appreciation of their neis^h- 
bors. Mr. Vntema is highly' intelligent and well- 
read and a member of the Michigan Teachers' As- 
sociation. He is also President of the County 
Teacher's Association, and a true-blue Republican 
in his iK)litics. 




ON. CHARLES H. COSSll'l, Ur. well- 
known and popidar Postmaster of Owosso, 
\-^^ was born in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, 
Wis., July 10, 1848. His parents were Asa 
L. and Mercy A. (Siiearman; Cossitt, the former 
of whom was born in New York, May 9, 181 3, and 
the latter in Rhode Islanil. From the Empire 
State Mr. Cossitt removed to Wisconsin, and in 
1854 came to Michigan, and during tlie remainder 
of his life was numbered among the resi<lcnts of 
Shiawassee County. He died in Owosso in 1890, 
some years after the mother of our sid)ject had been 
borne to the t()nib. Tlieir family consisted of si.v 
children, l>ut two brothers and a sister arc all who 
now survive. 

The gentleman whose name introduces these para- 
graphs, is the second son in the parental family. 
He received his education in this State, being but 
a small boy when his parents removed hither. His 
Studies were pursued chiefly in Lansing, and after 
finishing his course of instruction he learned the 
trade of a machinist. He inherited nieclianical skill 
and as his father was a wagonmaker he had early 
in life gained some knowledge of the use of tools. 
He became a lirst-class machinist, and for a time 
was interested in the furnace business. He was one 
of the partners of t!ie firm of Howell it Co., owners 
of the .Shiawassee Iron Works, locuted in Owosso, 
and with his associates endured a considerable loss 
wiien the establishment was burned in 188."). When 
but sixteen years old, Mr. Cossitt eulisted in the 



416 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Union Ai'n\v, and for seventeen months he was 
connected with the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, com- 
manded 'uy Col. J. H. Kidd. lie went into the 
service in 1864, and was assigned to the Armj- of 
the Potomac, but subseqvienlly transferred to the 
West, and he received his discharge in the spring 
of 1866. 

For some )'ears past Mr. Cossitt Las been in pub- 
lie life, and has not been interested in business 
other than as a stockholder or silent partner. In 
1881-82 he served as Mayor of Owosso, and in 1884 
he was elected to represent the county in the Legis- 
lature of the State. He was again elected Citj' Treas- 
urer in 1887-88. He was appointed Postmaster bj' 
President Cleveland January 31, 1888, and is filling 
the position with satisfaction. He has been Vice- 
President and President of theOwosso Savings So- 
ciety, and he has often occupied Chairs in the 
Masonic order, beingconnccted with Owosso Lodge, 
No. 81, F. & A. M., and Owosso Chapter, No. 89, 
R. A. M. 

Mr. Cossitt was married July 30, 1870, to Al- 
mira Fairman. She is a native of Ontario, and a 
daugiiter of Nelson Fairman, who came to Owosso 
a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Cossitt have 
one child, a son, Henry, wiio assists his father in 
discharging the duties of Postmaster. He is recog- 
nized .as one of the prominent and influential Dem- 
ocrats in this part of tiie .State. 



-^^ 



E^^ 




URT LYMAN, a prominent young citizen 
N and farmer located on section 21, was born 



in Corunna, Januarj- 24, 1861. His father, 
P. S. Lyman, was a native of Massachusetts, 
and the grandfather, Libert}' L3'man, a native of 
the same State, brought iiis family to Shiawassee 
County and settled in Sliiawnssoe Townslii|) near 
Bancroft, wiiere he located upon Government land. 
For further information in regard to the ancestry 
of this family, the reader will please see sketch of 
Kdson Lyman on another page in this volume. 

Liberty Lyman proceeded to cut down the for- 
est and made his home in a log house upon the laml 
adjoining the old Exchange Place. Detroit was 



the nearest market town, and a trip for provisions 
to that point was a serious matter. The father of 
our subject was a j'oung man when he came to 
Michigan and was married in Ann Arbor. He was 
an original genius and very notable as a prnclio:d 
mechanic and engineer, being employed at the 
woolen mills at Ann Arbor. In 1844 he biought 
on machinery and started a woolen mill which was 
known as the Corunna Woolen Factory, and built 
a brick house the same year in which the family re- 
sided. He was very successful in the woolen mill 
business, and a man of popularity and public spirit 
and soon drifted into politics. He was President 
of Corunna, and became first Town Clerk; w:is also 
County 'I'reasurer, which ollice he held two terms, 
and died on the 23d of August, 1868. He had 
been an earnest Abolitionist, and was a stanch ad- 
herent of the Republican party. 

Mary Ilicks, the wife of P. S. Lyman, was a na- 
tive of Vermont; they were married July 11, 
1844. Her father, Sumner Hicks, was an early set- 
tler of Ann Arbor, where he was engaged in manu- 
facturing. His daughter, now seventy years of age, 
is still an active and earnest member of the Meth- 
dist Episcopal Church in Corunna. Of her seven 
sons our subject is the youngest, and only one of 
liis brothers survived childhood, Orendo, who died 
in 1876, at the age of twenty-one j-ears. 

Burt L\'man took a course in the High School 
after attending the lowergrades of the publicschool, 
and in 1883, when twent^'-two years old, took charge 
of the farm upon which he has made most of the im- 
provements. It is all now in tillable shape, except 
ten acres of oak timber which are yet uncleared. 
His crops are largely grain and potatoes. He is 
ver^' successful with grain, as his laud is produc- 
tive, and in a splendid state of cultivation. He 
shi|)s by car-load and jiuts his products promptly 
upon the market. 

The twenty-second birthday of our subject was 
celebrated most royally hy making it the weihling 
day. He was then united in Corunna with Miss 
Estella Ball, daughter of Dr. A. R. Ball. This lady 
was born June t), 1862, in Marshall, Mich. She 
lived for eight yeais in (irand Ledge, and after- 
ward in Mason. After graduating at Corunna 
High Scho<jl. she taught for one year. She is a 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



417 



lady of high intelligence and lovely Christian char- 
acter, being an earnest and active member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Chiircli. Her tliree cliildren 
were named Edcssn, Editii and I'liny. Edith died 
on the 21st of July, 18'J1. Mr. Lyman is a Repub- 
lican of very decided views, and is [iioiuiiicnt in 
county and Stale conventions. For two years lie 
has served as Alderman of the Second Ward, and 
is for las years one of the most [)roniinent men in 
the town. 



J' OIIN LAMHIE, an honored pioneer of Essex 
Township, Clinton Countj', is the lie.ad of a 
family we arc [tleased to represent in this 
Album, as its members are valued in societj' 
and have been a great aid in elevating the section, 
materially and morally. With many progressive 
ideas and energetic spirits they are always at the 
front in whatever tbej"^ undertalie, and secure the 
respect of others and inlluence them in many ways. 
The home of Mr. Lanibie is on section 11, and his 
estate consists of eiglitj' acres of land that is care- 
fully and intelligently tilled and made to produce 
abundantly of grains and otiier croi)S. It has been 
secured by close economy, industry and persever- 
ance, when there was need, and since prosperity 
dawncHi upon Mr. Lambie he still remains thrifty 
and diligent. He was obliged to borrow money to 
get from New York to Michigan and when he began 
his v;ork here he was H in debt. This was soon 
liquidated and he kept up Ids efforts until he stood 
on a firm basis .is to means. 

'l"hc natal day of Mr. J>ambie was February 1."?, 
1817, and his birthplace Ayrshire, Scotland. He 
is a son of James and Margaret l^ambie, who had 
not sullicient worldly goods to give him more 
than a common-school education but could instill 
into his mind Arm principles and teach him good 
habits. Early in the 'yOs, she decided to emigrate 
lo the New World where he believed be could find 
better opportunities for advancement and do more 
for his family. He took passage at (ilasgow on a 
sail vessel from which he disembarked al New 
York tliirty-scven days after leaving port. He 



came on to Wayne Couniy, this Stale, but in a 
short time removed to Oakland County where he 
remained several years. In 1862 became to Clin- 
ton County and settled on his present farm, then 
in the woods and covered with hcav^- timber. This 
was removed and arrangements made for the com- 
fort and convenience of the family and the [iroijcr 
care of stock and crops. 

Mr. Lambie was married in his native land to 
Miss Mary Sellers a true-hearted, eflicient woman. 
To her there wore born nine sons and daughters, 
the following surviving: Jane, wife of Gabriel 
Anderson; James; Margaret, wife of Frank Rogers; 
Mary who married George Davison; John, Alex- 
ander and Robert. The deceased are Matthew and 
William. Having been bereft of his companion 
Mr. Lan)bic at length married Mrs. Nancy Paul, 
who is now deceased. He is identified with the 
Congregational church and in every movement 
that will be for the i)ublic good he is likely to be 
found connected. For several yeais he has served 
as School Moderator and he is known to be deeply 
interested in educational matters. 

James Lambie son of our subject, who now 
lives witii the father on tiie homestead, was born 
in Ayrshire, Scotland, April 30, 1843. He came to 
this count!-}' with his |)arents and attained to 
manhood in this State, amid somewhat primitive 
scenes. The love of liberl}' that characterizes the 
race from which he sprang, led him to t.ake up arms 
in defence of the American (lag when the Union 
was in danger, and October !), 18G1, saw his name 
enrolled in Company G, Third Michigan Cavalry. 
Before he left the Slate he was transferred to the 
Third Michigan Light Artillery, in which he 
served until January 1, 18C4, when lie became a 
veteran and continued his soblierly work until the 
dose of the war. lie was at different times in the 
the forces under Gens. Pojie and Sherman and 
fought in many battles, some of them of more 
than ordinary note. The list includes Cornith, 
Farmiiigtoi), luka, Lumkin Mills, Tallahatchie, 
Town* Creek, Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty. Keuesaw 
Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Decatur, S. Edislo 
River, Chcraw, Fayetleville. and Benton ville .is well 
as the sieges of Atlanta and Savannah. He to(>k 
part in the march to the sea and its varied incidents 



418 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and privations, and was present wben Joe Johns- 
ton surrondercd to Gen. Slierman. IIo also parti- 
cipated ill till- Grand Review at AVasbinjjton, and 
sliaietl in llie plaudits of the vast crowd wlio wel- 
come<i the retiirninj; victors, while remembering 
with deep grief of tliose who bad fallen. 

At .S. Kdisto Mr. T-ambie w.as wounded and for 
a time was laid uy. He was liunorably disebarged 
at Detroit, June 28, 1865, and he is now connected 
Willi the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging 
to a post in Maple Hajiids. He has taken ujitbe work 
of a fariiicr with zeal and has a good name among 
his class. He owns eighty acres in Lebanon Town- 
ship. He was marricil February 21, 18C7. to Edna 
Clarke who departctl this life in May, 1870, leav- 
ing a daughter. Kdna M, May 18, 1880, he was 
.igaiii married, his bride being Mrs. Loreda Dowd, 
widow of T. G. Dowd of Gratiot County. This 
union has resulted in the birth of a daughter, Har- 
riet. Mrs. Lambie belongs to the Ladies' Relief 
Corps at Maple Rapids, and is a consistent member 
of the Christian Church. 

„, LFRKI) 15. CRANK. Among the brave 
LJi defenders of our couiilry who are en- 




// (I) titled to high honor for their war lecord 
we are pleased to note many residents of 
Rush Township. S!iiawn>see County, and none with 
more praise than Mr. Crane, who received a medal 
of honor (the Kearney Cross) for si>ecial bravery at 
Chancclli>rsville. llis regiment was the heaviest 
loser in bailie, for the number of men (^three hun- 
dred and lifteen) in the regiment, of any in the 
entire service of the I'nion. In the first battle 
after Grant took charge they lost two hundred and 
tweilty-one, and seventy live fell at Spottsylvania. 

Our subject was born in Seneca County. N. Y., 
May U, 1841. and is the sou of Thomas C. Crane, 
a farmer and minisler of the Gospel who w.as born 
in New Jersey in July, 1S2I. The Rev. Mr. T'rane 
had a common-school education and taught for 
several years, and was married when nineteen years 
old to Miss Mary A. Sensaby, the daughter of 
Alfred Sensaby, of New York, she being the eldest 



of two children. Ten children blessed the home of 
Thomas and Mary Crane, the eldest being our sub- 
ject. 

The family removed to Indiana in 1842 and from 
there to Van Buren County, Jlich., and then to 
Cass County. The father spent four years in Cal- 
ifornia, going there in 1855 and then came to Shia- 
wassee County and bought eighty acres in Rush 
Township on section 35, and remained there as long 
as he lived. He, as well as his son, belonged to 
the I'nion army as he enlisted the first year of the 
war in Company K, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry. 
He was at luka. Miss., and in several other en- 
counters, and was killed in the siege of Nashville 
in 1862. His widow lives in New Haven, Mich. 

The military career of our subject began in 1861 
when he joined ^\>nipai)y H. Fifth Michigan In- 
fantry. During his service he was in the following 
b.attles, Ihc charge of Munson's Hill at Washington, 
J). C. Pohic Creek, Siege of Yorklown, Williams- 
burg, F'air Oaks, Richmond, Charles City Cross- 
roads, Malvern Hill. Harrison's Landing, the second 
Manassas, Chanlilly, South Mountain. Anliotam, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Gettysburg, and 
Mine Run. He then went with Grant to the Wil- 
derness and Sjiotlsylvania, and at that latter con- 
llict was in the regiment that led the charge and 
one of the first men inside the works. He also saw 
the smoke of battle at North Anna, Nye River, 
Cold Harbor, and the charge of Petersburg on the 
18th of June. On the 22d he was captured at the 
battle of Weldons Railroad, being at that lime in 
command of the picket line. He was run through 
the face with a bayonet and his skull cracked and 
was taken to Libby Prison. From there be w.ss 
sent to Belle Isle, then to Danville and and Ander- 
sonville, Milan, Savananah. Florence, Castle Thun- 
der and Richmond, where he finally- received his 
release. He rejoined his regiment at Petersburg 
in 18(>.') and was there when the city surrendered, 
being discharged Julj' 4, 1865. 

In 1866 Mr. Crane was married to Louise M. 
Hanford, daughter of James and Catherine (Pat- 
terson) Hanford, residents of Wisconsin. This 
marriage resulted in the birth of ten children, 
namely: Edith. Schuyler C; Clara B., deceased; 
Gordon T., Frank Leslie; John Sherman; Freil C, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



419 



Charles Foster, Robert Lincoln iincl Nellie M. The 
eldest daughter is now Mrs. George Van C'uren, of 
Rush Township. Tiie first (nirchase of our subject 
was eight}' acres of the old farm wliicli he took in 
1 865. He sold it in 1870 and bouglit two hundred 
acres the following year, eighty of which he dis- 
posed of in 1880. 

Mr. Crane is identified witii the order of Odd 
Fellows and has held all the offices in liic lodge, 
being now a Depulj' Grand INIastcr of Emanuel 
Lodge No. 15.3, at llendcison. lie is also apiom- 
inent member of liie T. C. Crane Post G. A. R.,of 
the same ])lace, No. 128. He is a Free and Ac- 
cepte<l Mason at Owo.sso and a well-known member 
of the Union Veteran Union of Corunnn. He is an 
ardent Republican and says that he loves to vf)te 
as he shot during the war. He is an active worker 
in the parly niid has been sent as delegate to 
(ounty. congressional and State conventions. lie 
has lilk'd numerous local offices, sudi as School 
Inspector, Towuship Clerk, Township Treasurer 
and Supervisor, having filled the last nnuicd office 
for thirteen years in succession. For two j'ears he 
was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and has 
been solicited to rc|)rescnt his district in the Legis- 
lature but dccJiiuMi tlie nomination. His splendid 
record in the war is something of wliich he may 
justly feel proud, and his good farm provides him 
for him the comforts which he so richly deserves. 
His political intlucncc is strong and ever worthily 
exercised. 



<jt^nWARl) HOISINGTON, a well-known cit- 
|fel izen of Shiawassee Township, Shiawassee 
/ t — ^ Count}', was born in Ypsilanti, Mich., May 
17, 1852. He was the only son of a famil}- of 
three, his parents being Karl and Betsy Ann 
( Miller") Iloisingtou. His sisters are Mary, Mrs. 
Sidney Johnstone, of Marion, Mich., and Alice, 
Mrs. Earl West, of Newberg. When two and one- 
half years oM Edward Iloisingtou removed with 
his parents to .Salem and five years later to Ver- 
non where they lived until 1861, but returned to 
Ypsilanti for tlirec years, remaining there until 
after the close of the war, when they removed to 



Newberg. After five years there the family re- 
moved to Sliiawasse Township, wliere the father 
working at the cooper trade, which the boy learned 
when fifteen 3-ears old. 

Our subject worked at the trade with his father 
until the last ten years and made a successful busi- 
ness of it, employing about six hands in addition 
to their own labor. About the ^ear 1871 they 
took possession of the farm but still continued to 
work at their tra<l(' till tliirteen years ago, when he 
built a home, and adding forty-one acres to the 
farm gave himself more to general farming. 

Edward was married July 23, 1876. to Miss Mel- 
vina A. Chapman, who was born October 7, 1856. 
This lady is the daughter of Horace Henry Chap- 
man an<l Amanda M. Wells, and h.as one sister, 
Arabella, now wife of William Galloway, of Wood- 
hull Township. Mr. Chapman was a native of 
Connecticut and the mother a native of New York. 
They were ear!}' settlers in Michigan and were 
m.arricd at Ypsilanti. Mr. Chapman came to Bay 
City when that |)lacc was first startiul, and helped 
materially in building it up, as he was a carpenter 
by trade. lie came from Bay City to Shiawassee 
in 1861 and on account of impaired health, devoted 
himself mostly to farm work. His wife died May 
7, 1871, .aged forty-six, and his death occurred 
August 22, 1882 .at the age of sixty-eight. Ed- 
ward and Melvina Iloisingtou have three sons, 
Lewis, born December 15, 1877, Reuben, born 
March II, 18H0 and Ray, March 21. 1885. Polit- 
ically he is a Democrat an<l socially is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity. 

This sketch of our subject would be incomplete 
without further notice of the life of his worthy 
father. Earl Iloisingtou, w.as born in Greece, Gen- 
esee County, N. Y., April 17, 1825. His father. 
Rial Hoisington, was born in \'erraont, and his 
grandfather, Vespacian, was a native of England, 
coming to America when only five years old, and 
making his home in Vermon. He entered the Rev- 
olutionary army when only fifteen years old and 
served for six years. He afterwards made his 
home in Western New Y'ork, and finally came to 
Michigan and settled in .Salem, W.ashtenaw County, 
where he died about the year 1836. His son Rial 
came to Micliigan in 1827, making his home in 



420 



PORTRAIT AND F.IOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



Plymouth, Wayne County, and afterwards in Sa- 
lem, to which he came about the year 1832. Rial 
Hoisington married Almira Cleveland, who is the 
grandmother of our suhject. He died in Canada 
about fifteen years ago, and his wife passed awaj' 
when Earl was twelve years. After this sad event 
the father of our suljject returned to Wnshtenaw 
County and worked at the carpenter's trade for 
some two years, and traveled as a journeNinan 
through the State of New York for four years. In 
1848 he returned to Michigan, and located at 
Ypsilanti where he was married, March 11, 1849, 
to Miss Betsey Ann Miller, who was born in 1828, 
near Cayuga Lake, N. Y. In politi:;s he was an 
old line "Whig but afterwards became a Democrat; 
and was a Mason for twenty years, and was formerly 
an Odd B'ellow. 



tW^F 




/ILLIAM GEORGE HUNTER, a prominent 
and respected resident of the Township of 
Ovid, was born in Canada on October 25, 
1841). His parents, George and Harriet (Coombs) 
Hunter, were both natives of England, and his 
father followed the occupation of a farmer although 
he had been educated for the ministry. Our sub- 
ject passed his early life, until he reached his ma- 
jority, with his parents, receiving a common school 
education. In the meanwhile he had come with 
them to this country as they emigrated to this 
St.ato when lie was nine years of age, locating in 
Ovid Township, in the fall of 1858. He tells inter- 
esting stories of those early days when this country 
was all under heavj' timber. He says that his 
father's first work was to clear away trees enough 
to furnish land upon which to plant a crop, and in 
due time ho removed all the trees and slumps, 
biinging from the wilderness an arable and highl}' 
cultivated farm. 

After our suljjcct reached the age of twenty-one 
years he began farming in this township for a liveli- 
hood, and was soon able to purchase a fine tract of 
land and I'.as always owned his own farm. In the 
year 1870 he decided to lake to himself a wife and 
to begin a home upon his farm. He was married 



November 8th, to Mary Bradshaw, of Ovid Town- 
ship. This accomplished and intelligent lady is 
the daughter of Stephen Bradshaw, and has seven 
children, namely: Graham, born August 16, 1872; 
Nora, January 28, 1874; Minnie, March 24, 1876; 
(iarfiold, June 15, 1880; Pearl, June 24, 1882; 
Cecd, February 8, 1885; Helen, May 2G, 1889. 
These children are all living and are still at home 
wilh their [larcnts forming an agreeable and happy 
family circle. Their father has made his home on 
this same place ever since he became of age, and he 
has placed upon it all the ini|irovem9nts which now 
make it so fine and productive a farm. 

Mr. Hunter joined the army during the progress 
of the Civil War, enlisting in November, 1864, 
in Comi)any K, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry. He 
was placed on detached service and was sent through 
many of Mie Southern States. He w.as finally hon- 
orably discharged in June 1865, at Jackson, Mich. 
His political views lead him to afHliate wilh the 
Republican party and he has held and is now hold- 
ing the ollice of Justice of the Peace in this town- 
ship. He has also held the oflicc of School Director. 
He takes great interest in educational matters and 
is giving his family a thorougli and liberal educa- 
tion. He is one of the prominent members of the 
Grand Army of the Republic and has been Post 
Commander of George A. Winans Post, No. 104, 
at Ovid. 



^. 



^^ 



\l)AY V. RETAN, a well-known .and influen- 
citizen of OvicI, Clinton County, was born 
December 19, 1851, at Commerce, Oakland 
County, this State, twelve miles west of 
Poutiac. His father, Henry K. Retan, was. born in 
Sussex County, N. J., and his motlier Catherine A. 
Voorhies, was a native of Pcapack, N. J. His 
great-grandfather was of Dutch birth and his great- 
grandmother was from France. 

Our subject resided in Oaklanil County with his 
parents for about eleven j'cars. His father was ijy 
occupation a merchant and in his later years en- 
gaged in the hotel business. Wlicn the boy was 
about eleven years old the family removed to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



423 



Owosso, and after one 3'ear's residence there, made 
their home in Ovid. He received but a common- 
school education, attending oni^- at intervals. He 
was in poor health in his j-ounger days, .ind on this 
account was unable to attend school consecutively. 
Since his father's removal to Ovid in 1863, he has 
made this place his home. 

AVhen this young man was eighteen ^-ears old he 
served as an apprentice to the tinsmith trade in 
Ovid for two years, but his health forbade contin- 
uing in tiiis line of work, and he liierefore ab.an- 
doaed it entirely.* Ilis marriage, November 14, 
1S76 united him hajipily with Alice Powers, of 
Eureka, Mich. This lad^- is a daughter of John 
and Mahala Powers. Mr. Powers is a farmer by 
occu|)ation. They have one child Guerd H., who 
was born May 4, 1881. 

When young Relan became of age, he went to 
work for his father in the hotel at Ovid, and con- 
tinued in this way for about five years, until in 
1880 he purchased his father's business and has 
from that day continued tlie hotel under the name 
of the Retan House. He has also added to the 
hotel building and for the past fifteen years he has 
carried on, in connection with the hotel business a 
livery stable. He conducted a farm in Ovid Town- 
shi[) for about two years and was very successful 
in the business, a.°. he has been in ever}^ relation 
which he has sustained in life. He also conducted 
an hotel in Ithica, in jjartnership with D. T. Cov- 
ert, for a period of three 3'ears. 

jW^^ARRISON OUTWATER. A beautiful (Mm 
lYfj)) on section 5, Eagle Township, Clinton 
/^^^ County, is the home of this gentleman and 
(^) his interesting family, the tract consisting 
of one hundred acres well improved and remuner- 
ative. Like many another prosperous farmer of 
Clinton County, he is an old soldier and receives 
the respect and gratitude of those who love their 
country and rejoice in its present prosperity', recog- 
nizing that to those who fought during the Civil 
War this state of affairs is due. He is a native of 
the Empire State, born in Niagara County, June 



15, 1840, and is a son of Nicholas and Sally (Smith) 
Outwater, who were born in New Jersey*, went to 
New York in their youth, and in the latter State 
began their wedded life. 

Our subject was reared on a farm and made his 
home under the parental roof until lie was of age. 
He attended the district school when a bo3- and spent 
some time in Wilson (N. Y.) Academy, adding to 
his knowledge of lower branches much information 
regarding higher studies. In 1860 his parents re- 
moved to Ionia County, this State, and after they 
were settled there the young man taught two terms 
of school. Feeling impelled to enter the arm}' he 
returned to his native State in August, 1HC2, and 
was enrolled in Company M, First New York Bat- 
tery, and was attached to the Arm}- of the Potomac. 
His services were given to that great body until 
the fall of 1863 and during the period he took 
part in the battle of Chancellorsville and was then 
sent to follow Gen. Lee. The battery reached 
Gettysburg on the first day of the fight and it was 
the fortune of Mr. Outwater to see the bod}' of 
the lamented Gen. Reynolds soon after his death. 

The battery was stationed on the south of the 
village and from his elevated position he could see 
the entire movements of the rebel army on the 
third daj', during the heavy artillery duel in which 
over four hundred pieces were participating. After 
Lee's retreat the battery followed to the Potomac 
and when the rebel forces crossed was drawn south- 
e.ast to protect Washington. In the fall the battery 
was transferred to Sherman's Army and from that 
time on followed his fortunes through the famous 
march to the sea «nd the return through the Caro- 
linas, and then took part in the Grand Review at 
Washington, June, 1865. The stor}' of Sherman's 
campaign in the Southeast has been told again and 
again, and every reader can fill in the picture of 
our subject's adventures during the long, weary, 
and yet happy weeks. After his discharge Mr. 
Outwater returned to the home of his parents in 
this State and ere long was established in a happy 
home of his own. 

The marriage rites between Mr. Outwater and 
Miss Finanda Rohm was solemnized in .September, 
1865. The Angel of Death entered their home in 
February 1880, removing the good wife. In August, 



424 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



1881 , Mr. Outwater was married to his present com- 
panion, Miss Catherine A. Petlit, of Jaclison. This 
union has been blest by the birth of four children, 
named respectively: Harry M., Olive E., E. Olney 
and Stank^y S. It is the intention of Mr. Outwater 
to retire from farm life and lo take possession of a 
residence property in Portland, Ionia Count}', that 
he now owns. 

Politically Mr. Outwater is a stalwart Republican. 
He belongs to John McGeary Post, No. 132, G. A. 
R., and Lodge No. 60, A. O. U. W. He has been 
Highway' Commissioner of Elagle Township, and 
School Moderator for the past six years. He is a 
member of the Baptist Chnrcli in Portland, has 
held the office of Deacon for many years, and is 
an earnest, humble Cinistian and ardent Sunday- 
school worker. In the Sunday-school field he has 
become one of the most prominent workers in the 
State and is now Superintendent of the denomina- 
tional district work which covers Montcalm and 
Ionia Counties. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Outwater is pre- 
sented elsewhere in this volume. 



'-'>-^^^^^^^^^^^ 



■•-c-S- 



1 ZEKIEL SALISBURY is one of the goodly 
number of men to whom wordly goods have 
accrued in sufficient quantity to enable them 
to spend their declining years without work. He 
occupies a large brick residence in Ovvosso, where 
creature comforts abound, and is surroun<led liy an 
affectionate family and a congenial circle of friends. 
He was born in Johnstown, Montgomery Count}', N. 
v., January 2, 1812. His father was also born in 
the Empire State, while his mother was a native of 
Dublin, Ireland. Matthew Salisbury, grandfather 
of Ezekiel, was a Revolutionary soldier of Welsh 
and Englisli lineage. John and Mary Ann (Mead) 
Salisbury were the parents of three daughters and 
four sons, but three of their family only are now 
living, of whom E/.ekiel is among the latter. The 
father died in his native State in the year 1838. 
The mother came West and died in Bennington 
Township, Shiawassee County, in 1848. 

The fourth child in the family above mentioned 



was Ezekiel, who passed his boyhood in his native 
county and received a common-school education. 
When sixteen years old he went to Uticaaud began 
to learn the blacksmith's trade, at which he served 
an apprenticeship of four years. He then returned 
to his native place and engaged in business as a 
blacksmith, carrying on a shop there until 1836, 
when he made the journey to this State. He bought 
three hundred and twenty acres of land in Water- 
ford and White Lake Townships, Oakland County, 
and for several years carried on farming and black- 
smithing. He then traded some of his property for 
land in Shiaw.ossee Count}' and removed to Ben- 
nington Township. Here he continued the two 
lines of life in which he had been formel}' engaged, 
doing blacksmithing for the settlers over a circuit 
of twenty or thirty miles and managing a farm of 
four hundred and eight}- acres. In 1866 he shut 
up his shop, sold his tools and giving his farm to 
his two sons, removed to Owosso, where he has 
since lived, looking .after his interests in a general 
way, but doing no hard physical work. 

In May, 1832, Mr. Salisbury was married to 
Miss Martha P. Stedman, only daughter of Fisher 
and Rebecca Stedman, natives of Vermont and New 
York respectively. The bride was born in Wash- 
ington County, N. Y., in 1815, and is still sharing 
her husband's for'.unes and taking part with him in 
social duties and pleasures. There were born to 
them eiglit children — Nathaniel, who died in in- 
fancy ; Sarah E., who became the wife of Edgar 
Harry man; May J., who married Charles Harry- 
man; Eugene P., deceased; George S., deceased; 
Martha A., wife of B. R. Brewer, now living in 
Ovvosso; John F., a resident of Owosso; and David 
R., a boot and shoe dealer in the same place. Mr. 
and Mrs. Salisbury have eight grandchildren and 
one great-grandchild. 

Mr. Salisbury was a stockholder and director in 
the First National Bank and retained his interest 
until within a few years of the affairs of the Bank 
being wound up. He then became connected with 
the Second National Bank and was its Vice-Presi- 
dent until 1 S90, when it was ciianged to the Owosso 
Savings Bank and he became Vice-President of the 
new institution. He has four good store buildings 
which he rents, and his worldly possessions are in- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



425 



creased by various mortgages and notes which he 
holds. The first Presidential ballot cast by Mr. 
Salisbury was for Andrew Jackson and during the 
war he was a strong War Democrat. He was 
Justice of the Peace of Bennington Township four 
years and was Supervisor of the Grst District of 
Owosso for five years. He and liis wife belong to 
the Congregational Cluircli and are numbered 
among its most highly esteemed members. 




,OBERT S. CLARK. No more successful 
dealer can be found among the young men 
of St. John's than Mr. Clark, who is apart- 
^^ner in the firm of Clark (fe Ilulse, who carry 
clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods. He 
has already acquired a competence and the promise 
of his future is more than ordinarily bright. His 
success has been reached liy close application to his 
business and by that strict honesty which is the 
best policy in business and adds greatly to the 
strength of one's character and the regard in whicli 
he is held by his fellow-men. Mr. Clark inherits 
from his father tlie persistency which is a typical 
English trait and from him he also derives tact and 
good judgment in business mt.tters. Add to this 
the fact that in liis youtli he was given training in 
mercantile matters, and it is easy to see wlij' he lias 
succeeded better than other men of his years. 

Tlic father, Robert Clark, was 1)orn in Yorkshire, 
and came to America when seventeen j'cars old. 
Making his waj' to Ypsilanti, this State, he learned 
tiic blacksmith's tra<le, and after working at it there 
went to Ionia and labored for some time. He 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of heavily 
timbered land and later started the first lilack- 
smith shop at Eureka, Clinton County'. He also 
opened a store, which his wife attended while he 
was engaged in the shop. One of the first nurser- 
ies in the county was also started b^' him and in 
each of these enterprises he proved successful. He 
finally gave up all and then entered upon the sale 
of general merchandise on a large scale. He in- 
creased his stock and facilities until he had three 



stores and merchandise worth $20,000. In 1885 
he sold out and retired from trade. He has some 
interest in agricultural matters, owned three hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land and improved a large 
tract. He built a gristmill which he still manages. 
He 15 the largest tax payer in Greenbush Township, 
and is the most successful man Eureka has known. 
He is a leading member of the Evangelical Clinrch. 
His faithful wife, of whose companionship he was 
bereft in 1881, was born in Knox County, Ohio 
and bore the maiden name of Susan Brubaker. Her 
parents are numbered among the early settlers in 
Clinton County, Mich. The family included our 
subject and three sisters: Mrs. Nellie Hulse of St. 
Johns; Mrs. Gettie Davies and Miss Anna M. of 
Eureka. 

The natal day of Robert S. Clark was May 16, 
1860, and his birthplace Eureka. He attended the 
district school and when quite small began to as- 
sist in the store, and thus in very earlj"^ years 
learned something of mercantile life. AVhen fif- 
teen he was placed in charge of a hardware store, 
and did the necessary work until he was eighteen, 
after which he kept the books of the establishment. 
When of age he assumed a third interest in the 
entire business, the firm becoming R. Clark & Co. 
Sid)sequently father and son bought out Mr. Eagle, 
and R. Clark ifc Son carried on the business. This 
partnership lasted until 1885, when they sold out. 
AVhen he became a partner in tlie business, our 
subject had 1^1,000 given him by his father, as a 
birthday present when he became of age. The 
third inteiest in the establishment was worth Jit.- 
3.33. He paid in the *1,000 note and gave his own 
note for the balance at ten per cent interest, and he 
paid up the liability he had assumed within five 
years. 

In 1884 the stock invoiced at*20,G34 and it was 
then that our subject I)ecanie an equal partner with 
his father. After the dissolution of partnership in 
1885 he came to St. John's and started in the cloth- 
ing business in partnership with Jesse Sullivan. 
During 1886 he sold his interest and in a short 
time opened a grocery store, but soon sold it and 
relnrneil to the clothing trade. He carries a large 
and carefully selected stock, and he and his partner 
are constantly working up their business. Young 



426 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Clark had no indebtedness to his father when he 
dissolved with him. and so began in St. John's un- 
incumbered by past obligations. He has a farm of 
eighty acres in Greenbush Township, which is well 
improved and brings in a good sum when rented. 

In Knox County, Ohio, in 1883, Mr. Clark was 
united in marriage with Miss Neva Shipley, a native 
of that place and daughter of George Shipley, a 
well-to-do farmer and prominent citizen; she was 
educated at Adah, Ohio, and she is not only well 
educated in the literary sense but she is a profi- 
cient musician and taught music in Eureka prior to 
her marriage. She is a member of tlie Methodist 
Episcopal Church and is a highly respected mem- 
ber of society. She is the mother of two children, 
Robert G. and Gracie. 

Mr. Clark was so unfortunate as to lose one of 
his lower limbs from a somewhat peculiar cause. 
During the winter of 1890-91, his foot was affected 
by the tightness of the elastic in his shoe, which 
rubbed and gnawed, and having taken cold a ser- 
ious comi)lication set in. The sore spread and be- 
came gangrenous, and it was found necessary to 
perform an amputation. Dr. Gillam performed 
the operation .Tanuarj' 25, 1801, and within five 
weeks Mr. Clark was able to be up, and with his 
artificial member he gets around so briskly that 
few would know tiiat he has been deprived of a 
part of his bod}-. In politics Mr. Clark is a thor- 
ough-going Republican. He is a Mason, enrolled 
in Eureka Lodge, No. 318. He is a very popular 
young man, with an excellent reputation both in 
business and social circles. 



•^s. 
"=^^ 






IZRA B. NICHOL.S. A stranger traveling 
through Watertown Township, Clinton 
1^ — ^ County, would be impressed by the number 
of fine farms and beautiful farm-houses that dot its 
expanse. One of the best tracts of land in tlie 
county is that owned by the gentleman above 
named, consisting of eighty acres on section 35. 
Although not so large as some, the place is so well 
sup[)lied with conveniences for man and beast, and 
the soil is so evidently cared for according to the 



most approved methods, that none can fail to call 
it beautiful. It has long been the home of Mr. 
Nichols, and indeed his memory pictures bat few 
scenes unconnected witli the immediate locality, as 
he came hither when but six years old. 

Grandfather Nichols and his son Jason, father of 
our subject, were natives of the Empire State and 
came together to Michigan in 1835. They located 
in what is known as the Canadian Settlement in 
Eaton Count}', and there the younger man set up 
a home of his own a few ^-ears later, wedding Abi- 
gail Billings, a worth}' woman who aided and en- 
couraged him in every laudable undertaking. 
November 4, 1840, thej' were made glad by the 
birth of a son whom they called Ezra B. During 
the childhood of the lad the father bought land in 
Clinton Count}' originally entered by his wife's 
father, and removing thereto liveil upon it until 
his. death September 20, 1883. He was well-nigh 
seventy years old, having been born in 1815. Be- 
sides our subject, Jason and Abigail Nichols had 
three children, all living. 

Our subject had but a district school education 
but this was sufficient for all practical purposes 
and was a good groundwork for the knowledge 
that can only be gained by experience and person- 
al observation. Since beginning the battle of life 
Mr. Nichols has made use of the i)apers and other 
avenues of information and is well informed re- 
garding events of general interest and practical 
topics. He was fortunate in winning for his wife 
a lady who sympathizes with him in every noble 
thought and intent and has the ability to aid him 
in many ways. She was formerly Miss Sarah E. 
Barnard and is the daughter of the Rev. Daniel 
Barnard of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She 
was born in the Empire .State and her marriage to 
Mr. Nichols was solemnized March 26, 1865. 

The record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Nichols is as follows: Arthur C, born June 3, 1867; 
Nellie E., M.-i.ch ;», 1861); Lou B., October 23, 
1875. Nellie was educated in Lansing an<l her 
younger sister is now pursuing a course of study 
there. Mr. Nichols is now Justice of the Peace 
and in former days he was Deputy .Sheriff of 
Clinton Count}-. Politically he is a Democrat, 
firm in the faith, and convinced that his party ia 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



427 



wortli3' of tlie support of every lover of his 

country. Socially lie is a uieinbor of the Masonic 
order, enrolled in I^odge No. 33, F. & A. M. in 
Lansiuff. Mr. Nichols is a man of <;ood character 
an(i energy and couiniands the re.spcct of his ac- 
quaintances. 



<S)AMKS HAMILTON. The finest photo- 
graph gallery in Clinton County is Hamil- 
ton's Studio at St. .Tohn's. The reputation 
of the work turned out from this gallery is 
equal if not superior to that of any other town in 
Central Michigan, not even oxcei)ting the Capital. 
Mr. Hamilton has perfect appointments, and uses 
a new paper, mauufactureil by himself, wiiich he 
calls the Aristo. By its use he secures clearer and 
more lasting impressions and the finish does not 
fade as did that of the old time photographs. ISIr. 
Hamilton carries a line of frames suitable lor such 
pictures as he turns out, having every facility for 
making the large portraits wiiich are so popular. 

Mr. ILamilton belongs to that honorable class 
known as the Scotch-Irish, his ancestors having 
gone from Scotland to Ireland and made that their 
home during two or three generations. His father, 
.John Hamilton, was boin in the Emerald Isle and 
accompanied his parents to America when six 
years old. They niaile their home at Ogdensburg, 
N. Y., and the grandfather of our subject died the 
next year. The family removed to Canaila and 
.John, though only a little boy, began to do for 
himself. He worked on a farm, later became a 
clerk and finally engaged in the sale of general 
merchandise at Markdale. He was successful as a 
merchant i.nd became the owner of seveial farms. 
He was living a retired life when he died, May 21, 
1890, and was tht^n sixt)'-nine years and ten months 
old. He was a member of the Conservative party 
and was an active and earnest communicant of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The wife of John 
Hamilton and mother of our subject was Pliebe 
Walker, a native of Canada who is still living in 
Markdale. She too is of Irish parentage. 

The natal day of .James Hamilton was August 



14, 1857 and his birthplace Markdale in the pro- 
vince of Ontario. He attended the common 
schools and did not begin the art of photography 
until 1880, when he learned the process. Soon 
afterward he bought a gallery which he carried on 
for three j'cars, then changed his location to Coll- 
ingwood, where he remained ayear. He then sold 
out, and in January, 18.S7, came to this State and 
established himself in business In Albion. After 
sojourning there eighteen months he went to 
Springfield, Mo., and operated as a member of the 
firm of Hamilton & Bushman. The business 
connection was dissolved in 1889 and coming to 
St. Johns our subject benight the two galleries that 
were then in operation here. He carried on both 
until the fall of 1890, then sold one and gave his 
attention entirely to the work done in what has be- 
come so well-known as Hamilton's Studio. 

Mr. Hamilton has a pleasant home which is made 
cosy and attractive by the eflforts of liis wife, 
f(^rmerly Miss Isabella Kenny. She was born near 
Collingwoo<l, Canada, and married tliere, Sept- 
ember 13, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are the 
happy parent-s of a little son, .John .1. Tiie polit- 
ical allegiance of Mr. Hamilton is given to the 
principles tif Democracy, but he takes no further 
interest in party matters than to read of what is 
going on and cast his ballot at the pio|)er time. 
He is a pleasant and well-informed gentleman. 




^ MITII F. WARNER who h.as held the po- 
sition of Supervisor of WoodhuU Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, was born in Che- 
nango County, N. Y., January 25, 1835. 
His father, Smith B. Warner was a native of Wash- 
ington County, N. Y., and was born in December, 
1800 and his grandfather James was as far as is 
known a native of Massachusetts. The family in 
America originated with three brothers who came 
from Wales in Colonial days and settled at Martha's 
\'ineyard lslan<l off the coast of Massachusetts. 
The grandfather, James Warner, was a surveyor 
and farmer and earlj- removed to New York Slate 
where he was reared and died having reached a good 



428 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



old age. The father also was a farmer and fol- 
lowed surveying to some extent. lie also owned 
and operated a grist-mill, a carding machine and a 
scj'the factor}'. He came to Michigan in 1844, 
journeying across the lake to Detroit and from 
there by team to this county. He traded mill and 
farm property in New York for a large tract of 
land here which was then an unbroken wilderness. 
Here he made his home in a log house, which was 
situated on the Indian trail. He was no hunter 
but had dealings with the Indians who were very 
numerous. He drew wheat to Detroit for sale and 
was from seven to eight days on a trip. 

Hannah (.Smith) Warner, the mother of our sub- 
ject was born in Cheshire, Conn., in 1804. She 
reared three of her four children, namely: Mary J., 
Prudence W. and Smith F. She was a member of 
the Baptist Church and a woman of earnest Christ- 
ian character. She survived her husband for many 
years as he passed awa}' in 1846 and she lived un- 
til 1864. Her father, John Smith, was a native of 
Connecticut who settled in New York State. He 
had four brothers in the Revolutionary War; two 
were killed, one was wounded and one was taken 
captive on a British Man-of-War and after dark, 
jumped overboai'd and swimming ashore managed 
to escape. John Smith mairied Hannah Bunnell, 
who was of English descent and they had four 
daughters. He lived to almost complete his one 
hundred years. 

The subject of this sketch came to Shiawassee 
County with his parents in 1844. He attended the 
pioneer schools here walking three miles to liis first 
school-house which was a log shanty with a flat 
roof, walls eight feet high, having a large stone 
fire-i)lace and slab benches with pin legs. The 
school was managed under the rate bill s^-stem. 
He took one term in the schools of Corunna and at 
one time they had school in his father's house, 
children coming to it from four or five miles dis- 
tant. In those days he saw many more Intlians 
than whites. Young John Okanius, son of the 
Chief of the tribe, used to stay all night at the house 
and brought the boys presents. The wolves both- 
ered the sheep and it was with dirticulty that they 
could be protected. He was fond of hunting and 
used occasionally to drop a deer which helped to 



supply the family with fresh meat. He began for 
himself at twenty years of age by making a trip to 
California across the plains, riding eight hundred 
and fifty miles on horseback to Council Bluffs and 
going by wagon the rest of the way. He spent four 
j'cars in Eldorado County, Cal., and was success- 
ful in mining. 

After his return from the West, Mr. Warner 
took the farm where he now resides and also had 
part of the homestead. lie has made most of the 
improvements which now appear upon it. He was 
married in December, 1860, to Miss Sarah A. Bough- 
ton who was born in Westphalia, Clinton County, 
Mich. Eleven children have been granted lo them, 
six of whom are now living. They were named An- 
drew J.; Frances C, Mrs. Osborn; Jennie E. ; Seth 
L.; Arthur F. and Annie M. The mother of these 
children is an earnest and devoted member of the 
Methodist Church and has brought iq) her children 
in the principles of her religion. 

The subject of this sketch has one hundred and 
sixty acres of land upon which he carries on mixed 
farming. He is a Democrat in his political views 
and as has been before said has long been the 
chosen Supervisor of the townsliip. He was also 
Clerk of the township for nine years. He hel|)ed 
to survey many of the roads in this vicinity and 
as an intelligent farmer is a member of the Grange 
and ever active to promote the interest of the agri- 
cultural community. During the war he helped to 
raise a company of men for the army. 



■ji^^RANCIS W. REDFERN. The record of this 
ILi^ citizen of Clinton County is of interest, not 



It) only to his acquaintances, but to others, as 
it shows him lo have beeu a valiant soldier, an 
honorable official and a trustworthy citizen. It is 
impossible in a volume like this to trace his career 
tiirough ever}' detail, but it is the purpose of the 
biographical writer to present the important inci- 
dents and to make such a note of his characteris- 
tics as will enable the reader to fill in the outline 
and complete the picture. Since 1875 he has been 
located on section 28, Essex Township, on a fine 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



429 



farm of one liuiidrcd and lliiity acres, wiiicli is one 
of llie most valuable pieces of property in the 
vicinity. 

Mr. Redfern was born in Toronto, Canada, July 
20, IS 1 2, Ills parents beintj Matthew and llannali 
(Hine) Redfern, who imigrated from England in 
1838. Wiien the lad was about four years old 
they went to Monroe County, N. Y., where they 
made their home some seven y-ears. Thence they 
came to this Slate, locating in Calhoun Count3', 
where our subject remained until after the break- 
ing out of the Civil A^'ar. He received his prelim- 
inary' education in the public schools of New York 
and Marshall, Micii., and in 1859, having com- 
pleted the High School course, entered the Michigan 
Agricultural College at Lansing. Before he bad 
completed the course of study there, he and sixty 
other students enlisted in the service of the Repub- 
lic. Young Redfern was enrolled February 11, 
1862, and was attached to the Engineers' Corps 
under Gen. Fremont. 

For a time our subject was on duty at St. Louis, 
Mo., and when Gen. Fremont was sui)erseded the 
Engineers' Corps was disbanded, and he returned 
to Michigan. He then enlisted in the navy, and 
was sent to join the North Atlantic Squadron, and 
for a short time was on the boat "North Carolina," 
a receiving ship. Thence he was transferred to 
the gunboat '"I'eterhoff," on which he served about 
four months. She was finally sunk at Wilmington, 
having collided with another boat, but no lives 
were lost by reason of the disaster — a remarkable 
fact, as the "Peterhoff" was but three minutes in 
going down. Mr. Redfern subsequently' served on 
the gunboat "Union" in Farragul's fleet and took 
part in the naval engagements at Pensacola, St. 
Mark's and Mobile. 

Mr. Redfern went up the Mississippi as far as New 
Orleans, reaching that place after the fighting on 
the river was nearly- done, and has little of inter- 
est to recall of that stream. He was discharged 
February 14, 1864, and at once enlisted again, 
joining the First Michigan Cavalry. He remained 
with that regiment until the close of the war and 
had the i)leasure of being in Custer's command 
and forming a part of Shcrldan'.s forces during the 
campaign in the Shenandoah \'allcy and the raids 



around Richmond. He was at Apparaattox when 
(ien. Ja'c surrendered and was one of the party 
sent in search of Booth after President Lincoln was 
shot. He look i)art in the Grand Review at Wasii- 
ington and was then sent to tiic plains, where he 
had a taste of Indian warfare prior to liis final <lis- 
charge December 14, 18G5. 

When he could no longer serve his country as a 
soldier Mr. lledfern returned to this State, and ex- 
changed the weapons with whii'h he had boon 
fighting for those with which to subdue antagonis- 
tic elements in the physical world. In the peace- 
ful walks of life he has displaytd the same devo- 
tion to piinciplc which animated him as a soldier 
and he has gained that which is belter than silver 
or gold — a good name aiiong men. For some 
years he has had the companionship and close sym- 
pathy of a noble woman who became his wife Sep- 
tember .'50, 18GC, i)rior to which tijnc she was known 
as Miss Eunice M. Sherman. She is a native of 
the Empire State, and is one of these who while 
making her home and family the objects of her 
chief care, is kindly and useful among her neigh- 
bors. Five children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Redfern but only four live to cheer them by 
their love, their names being Frank, Chahner, Alice 
and Win field S. 

The political afliliation of Mr. Redfern is with 
the Republican party, and in 18',)U he was a candi- 
date for Representative from Clinton County, but 
was defeated by L. W. Baldwin, of Fowler. He 
served as (!rain Comn)issiontr one term and as.Ius- 
tice of the I'eace one term in Essex Township, ami 
some years .ngo, while living in Muskegon County, 
was School Inspector of Montague Township two 
terms. In the spring of 1891 he was elected Town- 
shi|) .Supervisor for a period of one year and lie is 
now discharging the duties of that position in a 
capable manner. He is a member of Billy Begole 
Post, No. 127, G. A. R., at Maple Rapids, wasCom- 
niander one year and at the expiration of his term 
was presented with a beautiful ollicer's sword as a 
memento of his elTicient service. He is also con- 
nected with Essex Grange, No. 439, at M.'>ple Rap- 
ids and was Master three years. He was Master of 
Clinton County Pomona (! range two years, and 
h.is been a member of the Executive Committee of 



430 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




the Michigan State Grange six years. He is also 
identified with tiie Masonic order. He and liis 
wife liold membership in the Cliristian C'hurcli 
at Maple Rapids. The hospitality of tlieif home 
is extended with a lavish hand, and few indeed 
are the homes where better entertainment is af- 
forded both as regards creature comforts or intel- 
lectual pleasures. 



oThs -is^t^^' 



\]L^ ON. RICHARD B. CARUSS. The Caruss 
1 farm is a landmark in Clinton Count}', and 
its owner is one of those to whom the pres- 
ent advanced condition of this section is 
due. In the strength of his early manhood he be- 
gan the toils necessary to bring a tract of undevel- 
oped land under cultivation, and he is happy to 
say that from the proverty of those days he has 
arisen to a position of financial solidity that makes 
it unnecessarj' for him to work hard when he is old. 
He located upon his present farm in 1862, and has 
since taken a leading part in the political and pub- 
lic affairs of Essex Township. 

A native of the State of New York, our subject 
was born February 3, 1827, in what is now known 
as Wyoming County. His parents, H. C. S. and 
Temperance (Bishop) Caruss, were natives respect- 
ively of New York State and New Hampshire. 
His paternal ancestors were English and on his 
mother's side he is of Scotch blood. His maternal 
grandfather, Noah Bishop, was a Revolutionary 
soldier and also served in the War of 1812. Our 
subject accompanied his parents to Michigan in 
1833 and was reared to manhood in Oakland County 
amid primitive surroundings. There his father and 
mother experienced the trials and pleasures of pio- 
neer life and there they remained until called frcim 
earth; he in 1878 and she in 1839. 

Mr. Caruss received the advantages of a dis- 
trict school education, and the intelligence of his 
parents and the earnestness of his teachers inspired 
him with a desire to know both men and books. 
He therefore resolved to avail himself of ever}' 



opportunity of self-improvement, and by a per- 
sistent course of reading he has attained to the in- 
telligence which is his marked characteristic to-day. 
His principal study has been veterinary surgery, in 
which he is particularly well informed. 

The marriage of Mr. Caruss September 21, 1851 
united him happily with Mar}' A. Wolcott, daugh- 
ter of Chauncey and L}dia (Stiles; Wolcott. By 
this union there were born three children, all of 
whom have grown to maturity and are doing well. 
They are: Luana, wife of Charles Fowbel; Carrie, 
a college graduate, who is a teacher and noted elo- 
cutionist; and Temperance is at home. The vari- 
ous members of the family are highly esteemed in 
social circles and enjoy their comfortable home on 
section 25. Mr. Caruss has done much pioneer 
work and now owns one hundred and eighty-six 
acres of fine and productive land. A view of his 
estate with its principal buildings is presented in 
connection with this biographical notice. He has 
attained his present prosperity by the exercise of 
energy and enterprise, and has always been aided 
by the active management of his wife. 

Mr. Caruss sympathized with our Government 
in its struggle during the Civil War and enlisted 
at the first call for troops in April, 18G1, becom- 
ing a member of Company D, Second Michigan 
Infantry. This regiment was made a part of the 
Army of the Potom.ac and took part in the fol- 
lowing battles: the first engagement at Rull Run, 
Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, siege of Yorktown, and 
Charles City Crossroads. At the latter place he 
was the victim of a sunstroke and at Williamsburg 
received a flesh wound. On account of these in- 
juries he receives a monthly pension of $24. After 
participating in the above mentioned battles, be- 
sides in less important engagements too numerous 
to mention, he received his honorable discharge 
August 7, 18G2, being brought home on a bed 
from Harrison's Landing, Va. He was confined to 
his house and bed for over a year after reaching 
home. 

In his political views Mr. Caruss is a Republi- 
can and a le.a<ler in his party. For two years he 
was Supervisor of Essex Township, and in 1880 he 
was elected to the Michigan Slate Legislature where 
he served during the final session of 1881 and the 







^^^^^^^^S^^^f^iS^Si^:;?^:/':':^'-: ■^. 



RESIDENCE or R B C AR U SS , SEC. 2 5. , E55EX TR, CLINTON CO., MICH . 




TENANT HOUSE - JCC. 35 




RESIDENCE OF JAMES R. VAN DYN E , SECEG , M I DDLEBU RY TP,5H IAWAS5LE CO.,M ICH 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAIMIJCAL ALIUiM. 



433 



special session of 1882. A public-spirited man, he 
is an active promoter of ever3' movement for the 
elevation of society and the iiuhistrial progress of 
the count}'. Socially he is idcnlilied with llie 
Masonic order al St. .Toim's. Beside general fann- 
ing, lie is also engaged in stock-raising, and is a 
noted breeder of Scotcii Galloway cattle and 
American Merino sheep, and is heginning to culti- 
vate Percherons. Both he and his estimable wife 
are honored members of society' and have the g(K)d 
will of the community. 



#>^ 



\l? AMKS R. VAN DYNE, a well-known farmer 
of Middlebury Townshi|>, Shiawassee Coun- 
ty, was born in Novi, Oakland Count}', 
Mich., April 12, 1836. lie is a son of 
Abram and Harriet Van Dyne, both natives of 
New York, his mother having been born in Mon- 
roe County and his father in Seneca County, llis 
father was bj' occupation a farmer and came to 
Michigan when Detroit was a small village of only 
? few houses, ile went at once to Oakland County 
and settled twenty miles south of Pontiac. He 
was able to give to his son no advantages except 
those of the district school, which he could attend 
only in winter after he was nine years, for, being a 
pioneer, the father did not realize much cash and 
hence had ditlicultj' in making payment of the rate 
bill. 

Our subject lived at home with his parents until 
he reached his majorit}' and for the next two years 
made a strenuous effort to earn money and acquired 
1300 which he invested in a tract of land in Tus- 
cola County, Mich. But when he came to exam- 
ine this land he found that it was only a swamp. 
He therefo"e began life again at the age of twenty- 
three years empty-handed. He perscveringly and 
undauntedl}' worked at whatever he could get to 
do, cheerfully accepting the wages which were 
offered him, often working for fifty cents a daj'. 
He thus continued until he reached the age of 
thirty years. He lived in Oakland County, work- 
ing on shares and saving what he could, until he 



was able to buy eighty acres of land, paying tl50 

down on it. 

Mr. \'an Dyne came to .Shiawa.ssec County in 
186(; and located on the farm where he now resides. 
He hired considerable work done on his estate and 
during sheep shearing time devoted himself largely 
to that work, at which he was an expert. He 
sheared sheep at ten cents a head and could make 
as much as |8 [ler day. He has been known to cut 
five acres of wheat with a cradle in a day and dur- 
ing one season cut eighty acres of oats and wheat. 
His enter|)rise and energy surmounted all didicul- 
ties and he never failed to make a dollar at any- 
thing to which he could turn his hand. He addcii 
little by little to his possessions until now he has a 
grand farm of four hundred and eighty acres, to 
which he has licen constantlj' adding, both in extent 
and improvement. He has an elegant residence 
••uid nine large barns and one in the course of con- 
struction. A view of his residence with some of 
the outbuildings appears on another i)age, together 
with a view of his tenant house on section 35. 

The marriage of our subject took place September 
24, 1S67, his bride being Amna M. Herrick of 
Middlebury Township. Seven children have blessed 
their home, namely: Albert E., now twent\'-two 
years old; Agnes B., a young lady of nineteen 
years; Luc}' A., who, although only eighteen years 
old. was married on February 11, 1891, to Alonzo 
II. Moten of Middlebury; Ella B., sixteen years 
old, Ilattie E., thirteen,. lames Edward, eleven, and 
Anna, seven years old. Ella is now a pupil in the 
Union schools at Ovid. 

Mr. Van Dyne is intelligent on political ques- 
tions and a Republican in his views. He is now 
filling his second term as Township Treasurer and 
has been Commissioner of Highways. He has 
never sought ollice and these positions of trust 
have been urged upon him by those who believe in 
his integrity and ability. Both he and his noble 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and for the last fort}' years he has been in 
the choir. He and all his family lake a great 
interest in music and are exceedingly helpfid in 
this department of church work, not only in the 
vocal but in the instrumental part of the service. 
He gives liberally to other churches besides his 



434 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



own and is a publicspirilefl raan in every respect. 
He takes more than an ordinary interest in educa- 
tional affairs and has given his sons and daughters 
good opportunities for self-improvement. 




YLVESTER CARTKR. Among the most 
public-spirited citizens of Duplain Town- 
ship, Clinton County, we are pleased to 
aiention Mr. Carter, whose pleasant home 
is situated upon section 25, where upon eighty 
acres of rich and arable soil he is carrying on the 
calling of a farmer and stock-raiser. He was born 
in New Hampshire, September 4, 1815, and is there- 
fore now in his declining years, but is still active 
and energetic. 

Our subject is a son of Jude and Abigail (Pierce) 
Carter, and when he was a little child of three 
years liis people removed to Broome County, N.Y., 
where ho grew up, attending the district school 
winters as he grew old enough, and laboring upon 
the farm in the summers. Upon reaching the age 
of twenty-one j'ears, he decided to come to Michi- 
gan, and in 1837 he located in Oakland County, 
and in Duplain Township in 1839. 

Mr. Carter has been twice married. His first 
wife was Rosetta P. Hale. She lived but a little 
over a year after their marriage, and died witiiout 
leaving any children. His second marriage oc- 
curred INIay 28, 1850, and he then took to wife 
Miss Maria Drake, a daughter of Nathan and Han- 
nah (Hix) Drake. Bj' this union five children 
were granted to Mr. Carter, and they are bj' name: 
8»rah L. married John F. Kelley and lives in St. 
John's; William H., who lives in Fairfield Town- 
shi|> with his wife and three children ; ISIinton S., 
who lives at home; Hannah A., who was snatched 
1)3' death from the arms of her parents when she 
was only four years and seven months old; and 
Sylvia, who still reside." under the parental roof. 

The first tract of land which was purchased b}' 
our subject when he came to Michigan consisted of 
'orty acres. This he afterward sold and bought 
ihe farm where he now resides. He remembers 



with pleasure casting his Presidential vote for Will- 
iam Henry Harrison in 1840, and he was gratified 
to be able to vote for the grandson of that Presi- 
dent. He is an ardent Republican, but has never 
been a seeker for office. He brought his father 
here from New York to pass his declining years, 
and he is buried at the Colony- burying ground. 

Mrs. Carter was born June 18, 1822, iu New 
York. Her mother spent her last days in this 
household, and is now lying at rest in the burying 
ground at Elsie. Mr. Carter is a man who devotes 
consideral)lc time to reading, and thus keeps him- 
self in touch with the most important movements 
of the day. He is alwaj's depended upon to assist 
in promoting any movement which tends to ele- 
vate the morals of the community or to furtlier its 
true prosperity. He offered to each of hiscliildren 
an opportunit}- for a thorough and liberal educa- 
tion, and to those who chose this he gave the best 
advantages. In addition to farming and stock- 
raising, he has devoted himself to some extent to 
the dairying industry. His life work and his steady 
perseverance in industry and integrity are happy 
lessons to all the young who desire the truest suc- 
cess in life. It is to be hoped that his posterity 
will emulate his example in their lives. 






0^*^,TIS FULLER is one of the most popular 
I men of St. John's and every one rejoices in 
' his prosperity. He is an ex editor of the 
liepublican, and is Deputy Collector of Internal 
Revenue for the First District, appointed by Col- 
lector Stone. He was born in (icnesee County, 
N. Y. at Ellia, July 14, 1853. His father, James 
Fuller was born in Bristol, N. H. and both parents 
belonged to old New England families of Englit'li 
and Scotch-Irish descent who came to this country 
about 1640 and later took part in the Revolutioi-- 
ary War. The granilfather came to Genesee 
Count}', N. Y., in tlie earl}' days, and taught school 
for some years. He engaged in farming in I'.llia 
Township. The father was a Captain in the .'^late 
Militia. 

In 1857 the father of our subject located on a 



JfORTliAlT AND liJOGliAPIilCAL ALBUM, 



435 



farm in In<>hain Cuunt}-, owning one liiindied and 
eighty-four acres of finely improyeilland. He acted 
for several years as Supervisor of Vcvay Township 
and died in 1884. He was a Republican in liis poli- 
tical views. The mother, Mary Page, was born in 
Bristol, X. H., and was a daughter of John Page, 
a New f^nglaiid teacher of eminence who imrsncd 
his profession throughout life. He was the son of 
a Revolutionary soldier. The mother was well- 
educated and taught school before her marriage. 

Nine of the children of this intelligent and 
worthy familj' grew to maturity, our subject being 
next to the youngest. lie attended a private 
school, the Fuller Academy, which was kept by his 
sister, where he studied the higher hranclies and 
the languages. At the age of nineteen years he 
began teaching in the district schools, carrying 
this on for three winters, holding a first grade cer- 
tificate. This high grade he took before he was 
twenty-one years old. 

The young man now took up editorial work :uid 
in 187G became a partner in the i)r()prielorship and 
editorial work of the Ingham County News at 
Mason. After being a partner of W. F. Conell 
for si.x months he bought out that gentleni.tn's in- 
terest and managed it alone until 1880, when he 
sold it. In January, 1881, he came to St. John's 
and purchased the Hepublican becoming its sole 
editor and proprietor. This he carried on until 
July, 1889, enlarging it from a nine column folio 
to a six column quarto and building up a good job 
office, making the business double what it was 
when he took it. He put in a steam power press 
and made other imi)rovemcnts. He finally sold out 
the business to C. C. Vaughan. 

The sale of the paper was the result of Mr. 
Fuller's appointment, June 20, 188!), to the position 
of Deputy Revenue Collector of the first district, 
Sixth Division. This includes the counties of 
Gratiot, Clinton, Ingham and Jackson, Clare and 
Isabella. He is an investor in various broad inter- 
ests, being President of the Pulaski Heights Land 
Company, of Little Rock, Ark. This com|)any 
owns a subdivision of Little Rock with a capital 
stock of $1.50,000. He is also one of the directors of 
the Ludington and St. John's State Bank and owns 
stock in the Carson City Stale Bank. He also owns 



an interest in pine lands in .Mississii>[ii. He is 
.School Assessor in St. John's and socially belongs 
to the Knights Templar, to the Ancient Onler of 
United AVorkmen and to the order of Chosen 
Friends. He is a notable man among the news- 
paper men of the State, being well known in the 
State and National Editorial Association and be- 
ing upon the executive committee of the latter in 
I88'J. At the time of the trip which this associa- 
tion took to Colorado, Texas .and Mexico he ac- 
companied them. He has for a long while been a 
frequent delegate to the Republican State Conven- 
tion and for years has been the Treasurer of the 
County Republican Coinmitlee and is also on the 
State Committee. He belonged to the Village 
Board of Trustees for two years and was President 
pro tern during most of that time. He was the 
Republican candidate for State .Senator in 1884, 
but owing to the fusion at that time between 
Democrats and Greenljackcrs he was defcatccL 

hM W. WILLOUOHBV. A man who has 
such a keen appreciation of the value of 
education and culture as to overcome early 
" lack of training and school himself in book 

lore, will prize this privilege for his children and 
will give them as their richest heritage an oppor- 
tunity for a liberal education. Such a man is the 
one whose name stands at the head of this para- 
graph, and his children to whom he has given a 
university education will never cease to thank him 
for this opportunity. 

Mr. Willoughb^-'s fine farm is located on sectiuu 
36, Rush Township, Shiawassee Countj', and there 
he carries on general farming .ind stock-raising. 
Seneca County, Ohio, is his native place and there 
he was born February 28, 1839. His father, T. B. 
Willoughby, a farmer and lawyer, was born in 
Virginia in 1806. He had the advantages of the 
common school ard was also a hard student by 
himself, and trained himself in .ill kinds of busi- 
ness. His father, Robert Willoughby, a native of 
Kastern Maryland, had the appointment of Indian 
agent, and was located near Pittsburg, Pa. His 




436 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



mother Anna Barnes, was the mother of three 
(laughters and two sons, of wlioin T. B. was the 
fourth in order of birtli. Robert was a soldier in 
the War of 1812 and a prominent man in the Ma- 
sonic order. Both Le and his good wife lie at rest 
in Seneca County, Ohio. 

At the age of twenty-one T. B. Willoughby lo- 
cated land in Ohio, and clearing awa}' the trees 
made it his home. His marriage took place about 
the year 1824 in Harrison County, Ohio, where he 
was united with Diana Caldwell, daughter of .Sam- 
uel Caldwell, a native of Connecticut who came to 
Ohio in an early day. Diana was born about 1809 
and was the eldest of a family of two sons and 
four daughters. 

About the year 1832 the young couple removed 
to Seneca County, and bought a farm of eighty 
acres in Venice Townsliip and some fourteen years 
later removed to Wyandotte County. He was a 
man of more than ordinary caliber and worked 
eainesll}' for whatever principles either religious 
or political his convictions pointed out. He was a 
member of the Protestant Methodist Church and 
an officer in the same and he was a Democrat in 
politics. He filled honorably and efficiently the 
offices of Justice of the Peace and Constable. Both 
lie and his wife passed away while residing in Wy- 
andotte County, she being taken from his side in 
1865 and he following iier in 1868. 

The subject of this sketch grew up under some- 
wliai disadvantageous circumstances and had scant 
opportunities for schooling but being a thorough 
student through his natural inclinations and his 
father's example, studied by himself. April I'J, 
1861 he married Esther E. Gilbert, daughter of 
Heber H. and Ann (Collins) Gilbert, natives of 
New England and the parents of two sons and five 
daughters, Esther being l)orn May 31, 1841. 

Mrs. Willoughby is a lady of more than ordinary 
ability and of liberal education, being a graduate 
of tlie medical department of Ann Arbor. At one 
time she filled the position of Matron of the gen- 
eral hospital in that cit^'. Their five children are: 
Juan M., who died when a little over a year old; 
Paul G., who attended the Owasso High School 
until he was about seventeen years old then entered 
the Agricultural College at Lansing, but ill health 



forced him to quit school, aud since he has been 
engaged in breeding and driving horses; Ruth A.; 
Victor R., and Levi Pliilii) Ray. The only daugh- 
ter is a graduate of the literary department of the 
University and is teaching the languages at L;iPurte, 
liid. A'iclor is a junior in the High School at Ann 
Arbor and Levi is at school in tiie same institu- 
tion. 

Mr. Willoughby knows a fine animal when he 
sees it and is well versed in trotting and roadster 
horses, both of which he raises. He has some reg- 
istered stock and several high graded animals, 
keeping at present some seventeen good horses. He 
is a prominent member of the Patrons of Hus- 
bandry' and the Patrons of Industry and has held 
State offices in each. He is a Grand Ann}' man 
aud is independent in politics. His popularity with 
his neighbors is quite independent of his political 
views and lie has held the following offices: Justice 
of the Peace, Superintendent of Schools and Drain- 
age Commissioner. 

As we have before said, this gentleman's mar- 
riage took place April 19, 1861, and on April 20, 
he enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, 
and was sent at once ro Columbus. From there 
he went to Zanesville and on May 25 reached 
Grafton, W. Va. Thence he went to Cheat Moun- 
tain Gap and was there when Gen. Garnet was 
killed at Carricks' Ford. He went from there to 
Red House and then to Oakland, Va., where he was 
at the time of the battle of Bull Run. From there 
he was ordered to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio, 
and mustered out of service in August at Upper 
Sandusky. This peiiod of service had not satisfied 
his desire to serve his country and on the 17tli of 
August 1862 he enlisted in Company F, One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-third Infantry, which was organ- 
ized at Monroeville, Ohio. His company was under 
the command of Capt. Curtis Berry, First Lieute- 
nant A. Robins and Second Lieutenant James Gil- 
Ian. The regimental officers were Col. William T. 
Wilson, Lieut.-Col. Hunter, and Maj. Norton. 

At the time of enlistment our subject was made 
Orderly Sergeant of his conii)any, and receive<l 
orders to go by way of Parkersburg to Clarks- 
burg, W. Va. His first engagement was at Win- 
chester, and he was there promoted to the office of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



437 



Second Lieutenant. During the first fight. June 
13, 1863 at Winchester, twent^'-three officers of his 
regiment were captured some of whom never re- 
turned to the regiment. A number of the oflicers 
captured at this time were of that party who dug 
out of Libby Prison in 1863, and ver^- few of 
tliem ever did active duty in the regiment again. 

Lieut. Willoughby often had charge of a large 
number of men and his experience iiad fitted him 
for command and in June 1863, being sick with a 
fever, he was captured in hospital. He was sent to 
Richmond and paroled and being forwarded to 
Annapolis was put in tiie Marine Hospital, and 
there was exchanged in September but was retained 
by the officer in charge of Camp Parole and detailed 
as distributing officer. Remaining there until 
November or December, he reported for duty at 
Martinsburg, Xa. Thence lie went to New Mariiet 
and was under Gen. Siegel's command and from 
there went to Piedmont where he was under Gen. 
Hunter and afterward was with Gen. Crooks at 
Stanton. Going to Lynchburg, Va., they were 
forced back across the mountain to Parkcrsburg 
and Harper's Ferry. There tiiey crossed the river 
to Snicker's Ferry in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 
where our subject was siiot tUrougii tlic thigli on 
Jul^' 18. He went to Baltimore and was there 
granted a leave of absence and went iiome to Ohio. 

After a siiort visit home the young Lieutenant 
rejoined his regiment November 6, 1863 and taking 
charge of his company at Cedar Cn-ek, W. Va., 
.althougli yet suffering from Iiis wound he went 
from there to Opequon Creek. From there he 
went by way of Washington to tiie James River, 
making Hatchic's Run, near Petersburg, his ol)jec- 
tive point. He had charge of tlie first skirmishJine 
that captured the works at Hatchic's Run. He 
then went to Burkville Junction to head off the 
retreating rebels and readied tliere on tlie night of 
April .5. On tiie 6th lie was ordered to High 
Bridge and was tliere surrounded and ca|)tured 
after his ammunition was spent, bj- the cavalrj' of 
Fitz Hugh Lee. A special order from the Adju- 
tant-General's oHicc finally effected their exchange, 
so that the^' might be mustered out, when their 
term of service expired. 

At the close of the war Lieut. Willoughby de- 



cided to make his home in Michigan and came 
directly to Owosso, but two years later remove<l to 
Rush Township and purchased eighty acres of rich 
and productive land and five jcars later bought 
forty acres more on section 36. It was then an 
unbroken forest but it is now well cleared and is in 
a productive condilion. He h.as never recovered 
entirely as to health from the effects of arm}' life, 
and he is gninled a pension b}- the Government. 
He generally hires a man to do the farm work and 
paj's his individual attention more fully to his 
slock, making a specialty of fine horses. 



-^ 



(| IfelLLIAM JOHNSON. The Last century 
\/iJi/ '"^ been characterized by such gigantic 
W^ strides in the evolution of the arts and 
sciences that are applied to the commonest as well 
as the most complex features of daily life that the 
latter part of the century seems as different from 
the fore part as though epochs had elapsed between 
them. A man or woman whose life has s|)aiined 
a large part of the century cannot but have been 
sha[>ed more or less by the current of events that 
has gone to make this the most wonderful age in 
the world's history. Our subject, William John- 
son has attained patriarchal years and can recount 
events that have occurred during his lifetime that 
would have made the heroes of old blush for the 
comparative modest}' of their works and achieve- 
ments. 

William .lohnson was born in Sodus, Wayne 
County, N. Y., about one mile from Lake (Ontario, 
October 9, 1812, the date that is so memorable to 
Americans as that of the struggle in which Amer- 
ica irrevocably assorted her independence and 
claimed her rights. Our subject's father, Ichabod 
.Johnson, was a native of Vermont, while his 
mother wliuse maiden name was Polly Farnham, 
was also born in Vermont. The father died when 
William was six mon'hs old and the mother after- 
ward married Thom.as Boyd, who -.vas connecteil 
with the eng.agement of Sodus Point. The orig- 
inal of our sketch was raised on the farm until his 
ste()father's death at which time he w.as fourteen. 



438 



PORTKAIT A^'D BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



After this sad event our subject remained three or 
four years with his mother, aiding in the work of 
the farm. When seventeen ^-ears okl he went witli 
his brother to Oswego. Here lie remained two 
years and then returned to Sodus which continued 
to be his home until 1835, wlien lie came to Micli- 
igan. 

October 8, 1835, the young man left home be- 
hind him and started out for what was then the 
wild West. He came to .Shiawassee, Sliiawassee 
County, this State, where lie remained until his 
marriage, which event was celebiated February, 5, 
18-10. His wife's maiden name was Diantha 
Wright, a daughter of Ephraim Wright of Shia- 
wassee, who came to that place in the spring of 
183() from Ohio. Our subject made his living for 
a time by working for Hosea Baker. About this 
time he went to Xew York State where he re- 
mained for six months. On his coming to this 
State he bought eighty acres of Mr. Baker, paying 
for the land by giving him his team with which 
he had come West and six months work. He was 
compelled to do what work he could find and 
could devote but little time to the improvement 
of his purchase. An eugagement to put a roof on 
the Newburg Mill which had at that time been just 
begun, required much of his time. July 31, 1840, 
he moved onto his farm which at that time had a 
log iiouse and he continued to live in the place for 
fifty-one years. 

Mr. Johnson managed to pick up the carpenter's 
trade and contracted to build a great many houses 
and barns. The contract of building the Shiawas- 
see IVHIls was given to him in 1863. In 1852 Mr. 
Johnson was in Minnesota where he assisted in 
building a mill at Minncajjolis and worked at his 
trade in St. Paul. During the winter of 1835-36 
while working for Hosea Baker, he was twice sent 
to Pontiac to mill and each time met with a se- 
rious mishap. There were then no bridges and the 
streams had to be forded. The first aceideut 
s))oken of occurred as he was on the return trip 
from Byron. Finding the river frozen over he 
had to ride one horse over at a time breaking the 
ice with an ax, |)icking his waj' carefully across 
the stream on his horses' back. Then unloading 
the wagon, before he could pursue liis way he was 



obliged to repeat the operation time after time to 
get all across the river. Our subject was present 
at the first township meeting held in the spring of 
1836. It was at the house of Hosea Baker of 
Newburg, sixteen votes being cast. Mr. Johnson 
has never since missed a township election. In 
politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican, having 
voted in 1840 for William H. Harrison and during 
the last campaign for his grandson. 

Mr. Johnson's wife died after about fourteen 
years of wedded life having been the mother of 
five children. He w.as afterward married in Febru- 
ury, 1856, to Mrs. Amanda Van Nolier, whose 
maiden name was Bristol. They were married at 
Coruniia by the Rev. Mr. Arnold, the Presiding 
Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After 
being his helpmate for twenty-eight years she 
died, July 22. 1887. Mr. Johnson had no chil- 
dren by his second wife. The first family arc as 
follows: George W., who lives in Clinton County; 
Lydia Ann who is Mrs. E. A. Campbell and resid- 
ing in Lamoure County, N. Dak.; Henry who died 
at tlie age^of fourteen; Huldah, Maria and Rilej' C. 
Huldah married Reuben Lafler and died at about 
thirtj' years of age. Riley C. was born May 19, 
1850, and was married August 17, 1876, to Mi- 
randa Monroe, of Clinton Count}'. 

Our subject is a stanch, straightforward old 
gentleman. He has alwa3-s been an active man, 
used to hard work and even j-et is vigorous and 
energetic. He has been for man}- j'cars a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



jICHARDC. DAVIES, of the firm of Davies 
/( & Adams, has been engaged in his present 
!ms ^ enterprise but a short time, and the business 
of the firm is in its infancj'. They occupy 
two floors of a building eighty feet deep and have 
the largest stock of vehicles and harness in St. 
John's. Mr. Davies himself is an old settler of 
the county and has been intimately connected with 
the business life of this section, as an employe of 
his brothers, W. T. k R. E. Davies. He is in in- 
dependent circumstances and able to establish a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



439 



business on a firm financial basis, and with his 
experience ami acumen is likely to make a success 
of his new piojoct. 

Tlie birthplace of Mr. Davies was Sandgutc, 
County Kent, England, and liis natal day January 
14, 184L His father, Robert Davies, was a native 
of Wales, i)ut from his young manhood was a sol- 
dier in the English army and after acting as a mil- 
itary servant of the Crown twcnt^'-one years lie 
was retired as a pensioner and recived a Govern- 
ment appointment. He had charge of the militar}' 
canal and road in County Sussex, and died there 
when about threescore and ten years old. During 
his army life he took part in the war of liie allied 
forces against Napoleon under the leailership of tiic 
renowned Gen. Wellington, and fought in Spain, 
Portugal and France, and likewise served in Cana- 
da; he held the rank of a Sergeant. He was a 
member of the Ciiurch of England. Ilis wife, 
formerl3' Mary A. Thomas, was born in Kent and 
spent her last years with her children in America, 
dj'ing in Clinton County in 1873. Their children 
are William T., a manufacturer of fanning-mills in 
Greenbush; Robert E., a partner in the same busi- 
ness; Richard C, subject of tliis notice; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth S. Adams, of St. John's; and Mrs. Mary A. 
Goddard, deceased, who died in Greenbush. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was 
reared to the age of nineteen years in his native 
land. The years were mainly' spent in Count)- 
Sussex, at Winchelsea on the coast of the P^nglish 
Channel, where he had the advantage of good 
common and private schools. lie began to acquire 
the painter's trade when fifteen years old and con- 
tined his work while he remained in England. His 
father died in 18.09 and the next spring Richard 
with his motiier and sisters came to America. His 
brothers had already become established in busi- 
ness in this State, having entered upon the manu- 
facture of fanning mills in Greenbush in 1855. 
The younger members of the family, with the 
mother, took passage at Southampton in July, 1800, 
landed at New York and spent a month in the Em- 
pire State. They then came West and our subject 
located in Greenbush and became salesman and 
collector for his brothers, traveling in the northern 
part of the State. He continued his work in tlie 



fanning-mill business until December, 1890, when 
he entered into partnership with R. T. Davies, and 
established his present business. His partner died 
about Christmas, 1890, and Mr. Adams became in- 
terested in the business in January, 1891. Of Mr. 
Davies' present partner mention is made on another 
p.ige in this volume. 

In Greenbush Township in 18G5, Mr. Davies was 
united in marriage with Miss Serena F. Smith, a 
native of St. Leonard's, County Sussex, England. 
She has proved her efliciency in domestic and social 
life, and is an esteemed member of the Methodist 
E|)isc()pal Church. For two years Mr. Davies was 
Treasurer and Collector of Greenbush Townshi|), 
but with this e.xceplion his time has been given 
exclusively to his business affairs and such duties 
as all loyal citizens owe. He votes the Rci)ublican 
ticket with unfailing regulai'ily. 




■*-^ 



RTHUR S. THOMA.S, the genial proprie- 
tor of the Junction House at Durand, was 
born in Canada, July 23, 1853. His fa- 
1^ tlier was George Thomas, a native of 
London, England, and born March 25, 1812. He 
engaged in clearing vessels, and came to Detroit in 
1839 ; the same year he proceeded to Canada, where 
he was engaged in buying and selling wheat in 
Montreal. From that place he went to London, 
Canada, where he became manager of the Bank of 
Montreal. He was then sent to Chatham in order 
to start a branch of tlie Bank of Montreal. Besides 
being engaged in banking in that place he became 
interested in real estate, in which he was a dealer 
until 1859. At that time he went to Detroit, 
where he wtis engaged in the gri)cery business. 

The father of our subject after leaving the 
grocery business, entered the Auditor's ollice where 
he remained until ISG'.l. lie then i)urchascd an in- 
terest in the railro.ad dining-room at Owosso, of 
which he secured entire control in 1871, when he 
built the present ilining-rooms at Owosso. Since 
1871 he has continued in the same business, it 
being just twenty years since he began the business 
in this location. His elTorts to pleiuse the public 



440 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 



and provide comfortable aecomniodations have 
proved successful, and be is much liked by the 
traveling fraternity, and indeed by all who meet 
him in a social or business ■may. 

Not confining his attention solely to catering to 
the public, Mr. Thomas has built five substantial 
brick stores in Owosso on Main street near the 
corner of Washington. These buildings were com- 
pleted in 1886 and are commodious and admirably 
adapted to their purposes. Mr. Thomas removed 
from the corner of Main and Washington Streets 
one of the oldest frame houses in the city, erecting 
in its place the handsome three-story brick block 
which now adorns the city. Our subject has made 
three additions to the city of Owosso near the 
Junction. He deals largely in real estate, having 
sold on contract many lots at $50 to $500 each 
witli small payments down and satisfactory monthly 
payments. He has a fine farm of over one hundred 
and fifty acres of good land that is highlj' culti- 
vated, well drained and has two good dwellings. 
In 1890 he sold five acres to the Catholic Church 
for a cemetery. He is a man of broad interests but 
his .attention is more strongly hold by news at large 
than by that of local circles. 

In politics Mr. Thomas is independent, voting 
always for the man whom he believes best fitted 
for the office. He is a Mason, socially, having 
been Master of the lodge at Chatham, Canada, three 
successive terms. Since coming to the T'nited 
States he has not united with any lodge. In re- 
ligion he is an adherent of the Episcopal Church 
and very devoted to his church work. He was 
Senior Warden for twenty-two years, ever since 
coming to Owosso, and was in the vestr}' of St. 
Paul's Cliurch of Detroit. 

Tiie mother of our subject, Eliza M. (Gibbs) 
Thomas, is a native of Canada and of English an- 
cestry. Siie died in 1854 the motlier of five chil- 
dren, four sons and one daughter, all living but 
one, who died in infancy. Henr^' is a master me- 
chanic of tlie Detroit, IJ.ay City & Alpena Railroad 
and resides in Taw.as City; Alfred T. is in the 
grocery and dry-goods business in Owosso; Eliza 
M., the oldest child, resides in Detroit; our subject 
is the youngest member of the family. His first 
scliool days were passed in the old Capitol school 



of Detroit and he finished his education in the 
Bishop's school in the same city. He remained with 
his father, assisting in his business until 1887, when 
the father purchased the place which the son now 
operates. He was manager of this until the spring 
of 1891, when he purchased the place of his father. 
He also owns fifteen lots adjoining the properly 
and has twenty-five acres outside the corporate 
limits of the place. 

The Junction House which Mr. Thom.as so suc- 
cessfully conducts has twenty-four rooms. He has 
another house east of the railroad which he uses for 
sample rooms and in cas6 there is an overflow from 
the main hotel. The hotel has in connection a lunch 
counter. Twenty years of the life of our subject 
have been passed in the hotel business, and he lias 
filled every position incident to the care of such an 
house, even to cooking. He was married in July, 
1886, to Isabelle Kerr, a native of Ireland. Tliej' 
are the parents of one son — Heniy A. 

In addition to other varied inteicsts Mr. Thomas 
has invested in the Loan Association. Socially he 
is a member of the Masonic order. He belongs to 
Blue Lodge, No. 81, of Owosso, Chapter No. 89, 
also of Owosso, Corunna Comraandery, K. T., No. 
21, and the Detroit Consistory. Politically he has 
not allied himself with any political party, but votes 
for whom he believes best qualified to discharge the 
duties of the position in question. 




RANKLIN FORWARD. There is prob.a- 
1^-; bl}- no man in Clinton County, wliosework 
is more apparent and more prominent tlian 
that of the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. The more than forty buildings which ho 
as a carpenter and contractor lias erected in Clin- 
ton County, may truly be considered .as monuments 
to perpetuate the character of the individual. For 
his enterprise, his thoroughness and his integrity 
are marked b^' the excellent character of the work 
which he has done, and the architectural value of 
these buildings. 

Mr. Forward is now devoting his time mostly to 
farming and resides on section 16, of Watertown 




'\ r 





PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



443 



Township, where he has a beautiful farm of over 
one hundred acres. It is well improved and in a 
high state of cultivation and has upon it two sets 
of excellent farm buildings. He is the son of 
George and Sarah (C'ager) Forward, natives of 
Sussex Countj', England, who came to America in 
1833. They were married two 3ears previous to 
their coming to this country and upon arriving in 
America located in Cayuga County, N. Y., where 
thi.s son was born August 11, 1836. Our subject 
was reared upon his father's farm in New York and 
assisted him in the duties of agriculture until he 
readied his majoril}', after which he learned the 
trade of a carpenter and joiner. 

In October, 1860, Franklin Forward was married 
to Harriet Stalker, and two cliildren blessed this 
marriage. Charles E. born October 22, 1862, is 
now married to Ailie GoodscU. He resides on the 
farm and assists his father in carrying it on. 
Clara was born August 28, 1869. She is single and 
resides at home. The mother of Mrs. Forward is 
sfill living and has a home with her son Franklin. 
She is now eighty- two years of age, but is in pos- 
session of all her mental faculties. She was the 
mother of thirteen children and nine of them are 
still living. Franklin has been very successful in 
life and has accumulated a good share of this 
world's goods. In politics he is a Democrat but 
cannot be called in any sense a politician. The 
family belong to the liajitist Ciiurch of Waucousta 
in wliich they arc active and eflicierit members. 



-i-^f=^^=€+-H- 




ORNELIUS GROVE. In noting the pres- 
ent prosperity of Clinton County it is well 
to remember that it was once a great tract 
of undeveloped land, and that those who brought it 
to its present condition underwent much toil and 
in many cases sufTered privations unknown to men 
of the present d.iy. The subject of this biographi- 
cal sketch, although he did not come here in pio- 
neer times, yet hewed out his farm from the forest, 
taking possession of one hundred an<l sixty acres 
of woodland in Lebanon Township. He now has a 
beautiful and remunerative piece of property 



where order prevails and good management is 
shown in all the details of farm work. Numerous 
and substantial buildings stand on this tract and the 
comforts of home abound in the pleasant residence. 
The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
Wendell Grove, who was born in Lancaster Count3-, 
Pa., and was married to Miss Coon, a nol)le Christ- 
ian woman. When the \Vestern Reserve was being 
opened up he went thither and was one of the first 
settlers in what became Mahoning County, Ohio. 
He not only cleared and improved land, being a 
thorough far.'ner, but in the early daj-s he manufac- 
tured wooden plows and was a famous hunter and 
tanner of skins. He reared a large family, among 
whom was a son Andrew, born in Ohio, April 4, 
1804. 

This gentleman remained in Mahoning County 
until he was of age then went to Trumbull County, 
which was his home during the rest of his life. 
When he began laboring for his own maintenance he 
worked on the farm by the mouth and he also did 
carpentry. He was a Major of the county militia, 
held various township olHces and was a prominent 
resident of Trumbull County. He died January 
12, 1887, when in his eighty-third year. His wife 
preceded him to the tomb, passing away Novem- 
ber 3, 1885, aged scvent^'-seven years. Airs. Grove 
bore the maiden name of Catherine Palm and was 
married October 31, 1826. The children born to 
them were David A., Maria, Jacob, Jonathan, Cor- 
nelius, Milo, Shannon, .laspcr \'., Almira and War- 
ren. 

Cornelius Grove was born November 10.1836, 
in Trumbull County, Ohio, and made his home with 
his parents until his marriage. He had good school 
privileges anil made the best use of his o|)portuni- 
ties, becoming well grounded in all the subjects 
that he studied. The settlers on the Western Re- 
serve were noted for their desire for good schools 
and young Grove after taking the lower course, 
attended an .academy at Warren and one in his 
township — Lordstowu. He adopted the profession 
of teaching and followed it for a number of years, 
for a time being an assistant in the academy. He 
paid some attention to farming and building, hav- 
ing learned the carpenter's trade from his father. 
In 186!), a few months after his marriage, he came 



444 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



to this Stale and made his home where he has since 
lived — on section 32, Lebanon Township. 

The lady whom Mr. Orove won for his wife was 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Udulci L. Stull, 
and was a native of the same county as himself, 
born in Liberty Township, January 2, 1846. She 
had tlie misfortune to lose her mother by death 
during her early childhood and she was reared by 
her grandmother, Mrs. Caroline Stull, who was 
born under the shadow of the historical Charter 
Oak. She was educated in the schools of the county, 
bccime a teacher and did excellent professional 
work for five years. She ha<l two sisters older and 
one 3'ounger than herself, their names being Mary 
C, Elizabeth F., AdraA. Her father was Valentine 
Stull, a native of Geauga County, Ohio, born March 
31, 1818. He was married when of age to Miss 
Mary M. Boyd, who died in 1849. He subsequently 
married Mary A. Goist and this union was blest by 
the birth of the following children: Amanda J., 
Valentine R. and Eliza A. Mr. Stull was a farmer 
and carpenter and was engaged in meicantile pur- 
suits to some extent; he was a Captain in the Ohio 
militia. He lived in Trumbull County some years, 
then in Mahoning County and finally came to Gra- 
tiot Count3-, this State, where he died October 5, 
1887. 

The hapiiy home of ]\Ir. and Mrs. Grove is 
brightened by the presence of three children — P. 
Birdie, Selbie D. and Wellyn P. — and they have 
buried three whose names were Ola M., Ina L. and 
Catherine M. Birdie and Selbie are teaching in 
the home and adjoining townships during the in- 
tervals of study and will be graduated from the 
Pcwamo School in 1891. AVellyn is ably assisting 
his father on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Grove have 
been Spiritualists for many years. In politics Mr. 
Grove is a Greenbacker. He has never asi>ired to 
political honors hut has preferred the life of an 
independent farmer. He has held office in various 
farmers' clubs, has been President of the Central 
Fair Association at Hubbardston and President of 
the Michigan Buckeyes. While living in his na- 
tive State he held the rank of ISIajor in the Second 
Regiment of Trumbull County militia. 

Mr. Grove has written many able articles for 
papers, treating of various topics, including relig- 



ion, finance and education. He has contributed to 
the county papers, the Lyons Ilemhl, Pomeroy's 
Dfmncrat, the Advanced Thought, and several other 
papers. He has written a very able production on 
free newspapers to promote knowledge in the gen- 
eral public, which should be read by everyone 
who favors a higher and more thorough educa- 
tional system. The Grove family is one that is 
well known in the communit}' as taking a great 
interest in mental progress and mattcis that lead to 
a higher standard of thought and culture; and its 
various members arc given their due meed of re- 
spect by their many acquaintances. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a litho- 
graphic portrait of Mr. Grove, presented in con- 
nection with this biographical sketch. 




LFRED G. GUNNISON. Among the 
most prominent and highlj' respected citi- 
zens of DeWitt Township, Clinton County, 
(^J^ we find Mr. Gunnison and his wife, who 

are highly educated and influential in all directions 
which tend to the upbuilding of the social, educa- 
tional and .agricultural interests of the township. 
This gentleman was born in Green Oak, Livingston 
County, Mich., June 18, 1835. His father, Elihu 
Gunnison, was a native of Newbur}', N. H., where 
he w.as born August 28, 1803. He was reared 
upon a farm in New England and early imbibed 
the love for education and intelligence which 
marks those old New England families. He clerked 
for a time in a store and removed when a young 
man to Lansingburg, N. Y., and there learned the 
trade of comb-making. 

Eliliu Gunnison came to Michigan in 1829, mak- 
ing most of the journey on foot and making his 
first home at Superior, Washtenaw Count}', where 
he opened and operated a store for a short lime. 
His marriage with Ruth Ann Pryer, who w.as born 
in Batavia, N. Y., Ma}' 15, 1815, was an event of 
great importance and the beginning of a life of un- 
usual domestic happiness. This union was solem- 
nized in Washtenaw Count}', March 11, 1833, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



445 



resulted in the birth of eigiit fhikiren, seven of 
whom grew to maturit}' and bore the following 
names: Alfred G., James H., Arsanius B., Hannah 
E., Joseph W., Ann L. and Nancy. The mother 
of these children is still living in Lansing with her 
daughter, Nanej' Livonia (Mrs. Willard). 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Elihu Gunnison 
made their first home in Green Oak, Livingston 
Count}', :ind after a few years he came to Clinton 
County, and in November, 1835, bought of the 
Government one hundred and sixty acres of land 
on section 14, DeWitt Township. In February 
following he removed his family with an ox-team 
and sled to the new home, crossing the streams on 
the ice, and made his final settlement on the Look- 
ing-glass River, in Victor Township. During their 
three years of residence at that point tiiej' had very 
few white neighbors, but the Indians were numer- 
ous and friendly, and they were glad to trade with 
him and sharpen their knives on his grindstone. It 
was a three-days' journey to take grain to mill at 
Pontiac. Wild animals were abundant and he had 
great difficulty in [irotecting his sbcei) from the 
wolves. 

In the spring of 1839 Mr. Gunnison removed his 
family to the spot which he Iiad first picked out. 
He built a log house and ini|)roved the wild land 
with the help of his boys, and lived there until his 
death, September 23, 1877, with the exception of 
one year, 18.50, when he lived at Lansing and 
rented out his farm. His intention in going to 
Lansing was to educate liis children, but he found 
that the rental of his farm was not suflicient to 
support his famil}' in the city, so he returned to iiis 
liomc. 

The subject of this sketch came into this county 
when only six monliis old, !uid attended the rate- 
bill .school in a log sciiool-house of the most primi- 
tive kind, taking his writing lessons with quill pen 
at the wide writing desk on the wall. The father's 
determination to give his children wlint he consid- 
ered the great desideratum, an education, was not 
to be balked by the failure to continue his residence 
at Lansing. Alfred and James, after the year at 
Lansing, went to school at Leoni, in Jackson 
County, for six months and at the State Normal 
School, at V[)silanti, for two years, going on foot 



to and from that point, and boarding themselves 
while there. In 1857 and 1858 Alfred attended 
the Agricultural College at Lansing. 

Alfred fiunnison and Amanda Thomas became 
man and wife March 21,1871. This lady is finely 
educated and accomplished and is an old school- 
teacher, having taught eleven terms in New York 
State and some after coming to Michigan. It was 
while on a visit here that she consented tt) teach 
and at the same time met our subject, whom she 
afterward married. She was born in Hrutus Town- 
ship, Cayuga County, N. Y., August 14, 1845, and 
is the daughter of John and Desire (Pierce) 
Tiiomas, natives of New York State. Mr. Gunni- 
son also taught previous to his marriage, in Delhi 
in Eaton County, and in Oakland County. This 
intelligent couple are the parents of three daugh- 
ters, namely: Bessie, now teaching school in Ben- 
gal Township, Clinton County, and (Jertrude and 
Lena, at home. 

Our subject settled on his [)resenl farm in 1863 
and has one hundred and twentj' acres in all, upon 
whicii he conducts mixed farming. His house is 
delightfully shaded by large forest trees. He w.as 
formerly a Democrat, but is now a prominent Pro- 
hibitionist. In 18G4 he was elected Supervisor of 
the township, and has also served as School In- 
spector, School Superintendent and Superintendent 
of the County Poor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gunni- 
son are very prominent members of the Sons of 
Temperance in both county and State organiza- 
tions, and they contributed generously of their 
means for the erection of a fine brick building 
having a Sons of Temperance hall in the basement 
and a church-room above. This building, which 
cost $3,000, belongs joiuti}- to the Methodist ICpis- 
copal Church and the Sons of Temperance. Mrs. 
Gunnison has served as Grand Worthy Patriarch 
in the State organization of this order. They are 
both also prominent and active in the (Jrange and 
Farmers' Alliance, Mr. Gunnison being Vice-I'resi- 
dent of the County- Cirange and bis wife Secretary. 
He was for two years Chaplain of the County 
Grange. Mrs. Gunnison has been Lecturer of the 
Grange and is now Lecturer of the Alliance. She 
also takes part in the Literary Pioneer Soeietj' and 
is correspondent for two iiewspai)ers. On account 



446 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of their superior literary abilitj- they are put to the 
front in every undertaking and their service is 
given so freely and cordially as to make them ex- 
ceedingly popular. 






'=-'T^ 






j^^REDERICK SCHEMER. For about twenty 
f^Sf years this gentleman has been carrj'ing on a 
'li, successful moicantile trade in Fuwler, Clin- 

ton County, during a part of the time having been in 
partnership with Mr. Gruler, who is mentioned on 
another page in this Album. Mr. Schemer is one 
of the best informed of tiie German-American citi- 
zens in this locality and is an excellent representa- 
tive of the belter class of foreigners, who prove 
such trustworth3' citizens and add so much to the 
prosperity of the sections in which they locate. 
His father, Frederic M. Schemer, was born in 
Bavaria, German}-, and when a young man went 
to Ulm, Wurtemburg, where he spent the rest of his 
life. He was married there to A. M. Schmidt, 
who, after his decease became the wife of Dr. 
Fisher, a native of Ulm. Mr. Sciiemer was the 
father of two children, Frederick and Caroline, and 
they have a half sister, Fredericka Fisher. Mr. 
Schemer was a trader in furs and a manufacturer 
of fur goods, but his principal business was in 
liandling raw skins. He died in 1840. The mother 
of our subject breathed her last in Fowler in 1888, 
at the advanced age of eight^^ j'ears. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
in Ulm, Germany, September 9, 1829, and was given 
excellent educational privileges. In the Real 
school he studied French as well as his mother 
tongue, and also the natural sciences. He served 
a three years' apprenticeship in the furrier's trade 
and worked at that business while living in his na- 
tive land. As a matter of course, he was a member 
of the German standing army. In 1855 he de- 
cided to emigrate to the United States, and cross- 
ing the Atlantic he made his home in Piiiladelpliia 
for a year, then spent the same length of time in 
New York City, following his trade at each place. 
Ho then came to this State und took possession of 
a farm in Bengal Township, Clinton County. Dur- 



ing the ensuing twelve j'ears he gave his attention 
to agricultural work, clearing a large number of 
acres and breaking the soil on a quarter section, on 
which he raised good crops. 

We next find Mr. Schemer locating in Fowler 
and engaging in mercantile business in partnership 
with M. C. Gruler. After a few j'ears the partner- 
ship was dissolved and each of the gentlemen con- 
tinued in business, occupying separate and distinct 
rooms. Mr. Schemer has been quite successful, and 
has a fine tract of land, comprising about two hun- 
dred acres. He is aided in his store by his son 
Ernest. He has two children deceased, Albert who 
died at the age of eleven years and Emilie who 
died at the age of four years. His wife was known 
in iier maidenhood .is Miss Romana Gruler and 
their marriage rites were solemnized at her home in 
Bengal Township in 1856. She is a daughter of 
Philip Gruler, of whom mention is made elsewhere 
in this work. Mr. Schemer has been School In- 
si)CLlor and a member of the Village Council, and 
he is now one of the Board of Trustees. Since he 
became a citizen of the United States he has always 
cast a Democratic ballot. 



-•^^^ 




HARLES E. SHATTUCK, a prominent 
business man of Owosso, is a native of 
New York State, having been born in Mad- 
ison County, in the Township of Lenox, October 
12, 1.S34. His intelligent and worthy parents, 
Roland and Evalyn (Wimple) Shatluck, were na- 
tives, the former of Massachusetts and the latter of 
New York. His ancestry was of English blood 
and hers of Holland extraction, she being the 
(laughter of Myndert Wimple. The father of our 
subject was called away from \iU'. when the son 
was quite young. His mother was first married 
to Myndert (iuackenbush, by whom she had three 
sons — Col. Quackenbush of East Lansing is her 
eldest son. Her second marriage resulted in three 
cliildren, two daughters and our subject. Charles 
removed with his mother to Owosso, Shiawassee 
County, in 1818, when he was about fourteen 
years old. He first came to Michigan in 1843, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



447 



and spent five 3'eai-s at Ann Arbor. He clerked 
in Dr. Barns' general store in Owosso for about 
three years. He then went to Port Huron, Mich., 
anil clerked for twelve months. Returning to 
Owosso he built .1 liousi' and carried on a gi^n- 
eral store for about three j'cars — then pur- 
cliased the Owosso American Printing Press, 
whicli he edited and managed successfully foi' a 
time, selling out his press eighteen months later. 
He next purchased a grocery stock which he 
handled for three years and then went north in 
com|)any with his half brotlier Tessee H. <^uacken- 
bush, and bought two hundred acres of pine laud 
anil engaged in cutting logs and hewing the same 
into lumber. He had seventeen hundred and 
fifty thousand feet on the dock at Saginaw at the 
time of the breaking out of the war and in selling 
it lost several thousand dollars but w.as able to 
retain liis home at Owosso. He then started in a 
general store which he carried on during the war 
and finally disposed of it by sale. For two years 
he filled the office of Internal Revenue Assessor. 
He then served as clerk and collector in M. L. 
.Stuart's Bank, and while thus engaged became in- 
terested in the sale of sewing machines. He sub- 
sequently added organs to his stock and employed 
men to sell them through tlie country, building up 
a large business and establishing local salesmen 
whom he supplied on commission. Having quite 
a wholesale trade he added pianos to his business 
and has continued in this line for nearly a quar- 
ter of a century, putting in a full stock of musical 
instruments and sheet music. 

Mr. Shattuck is now building a double three- 
story busiijcss house on Washington Street which 
he will furnish during the summer and to which he 
will move his splendid stock of goods. It will 
have the finest front of any business house between 
Detroit and (irand Kapids. His marriage, which 
occurred September 21, I8G0, was the most im 
porlatit event in his life in its influence upon his 
liap|)incss and future prosperity. Abbie C. Palm- 
er of Saginaw, a native of Vermont, and a daugh- 
ter of Michael Paln.er. then became his wife, and 
her helpfulness and infience were beyond compu- 
tation for the welfare of her husband. She died 
here December 7, 188y, leaving three children, 



Jesse C, Minnie A., and Edith. The son is a 

graduate of the University of Michigan in the class 
of 1887. After graduation he became superin- 
tendent of the schools of St. Clair, Mich., for 
three years and in 1890 returned to Owosso jind 
was President of the Owosso Business Men's Asso- 
ciation one term which was organized in 1887. 
He is also a member of the Michigan Sewing Ma- 
chine and Organ Company which was incorpor- 
.".tcd in 1887, of which he is President. The eld- 
est daughter Minnie is the wife of O. W. Stebbins, 
now of Montgomery, Ala., and Edith took a 
course of study at Alma College, Alma, Mich., and 
is now at home. 

The subject of this sketch was elected Super- 
visor several terms of the second district of Owosso 
and is also president of the organization in this 
city of the Building and Loan Association of 
Bloomington, III., He is prominently identified 
with the Masonic order and is a Knight Templar. 
His political views lead him to atliliate with the 
Democratic party in the local councils of which 
his judgment is respected. His handsome brick 
residence on Exchange Street is delightfully sit- 
uated and surrounded by extensive lawns. 

ALVIN FLINT who lives on section 31, 
Caledonia Township, was born February 3, 
'^' 1836, in Four Corners, Shenango County, 
N. Y. Mis father was Horace B. Flint, a native of 
New York and a farmer and tr.adesmau. Before 
coming to Michigan he was in the clothing busi- 
ness and at one time had been a carpenter and 
joiner. Our subject's mother was Hannah (Hart- 
well) Flint, also a native of New York in which 
State the parents were married and there remained 
until 1833, when they moved to Ohio and settled 
in Crawford County. 

In 1836 the parents of our subject came to Shi.i- 
wassee County and settled in Perry Township, but 
after one year they built them a home in Antrim 
Township. He, however, had the distinction of 
building the first log house in Perry Township. 
At that time the country was full of Indians, wolves. 




448 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wildcats, deer and bears were more plentiful than 
tbe commonest necessities of life of to-day. lie 
had means enough to tiring his family here and get 
a yoke of oxen and a cow. The family came by 
the overland route fi-om Ohio with an ox-tearn, 
first to Ann Arbor and tlien to this county. They 
lived in Perrj' and Antrim Townships for eighteen 
years, improving and putting in tine condition a 
farm which he finally sold, and in Marcii, 1854, 
he moved to the farm where our subject now re- 
sides. At the time of purchasing it was partially 
improved. The family remained here until the 
time of death, the mother passing away March 26, 
1864, and the father Marcli 1, 1867. They were 
the parents of six cliildren, two of whoin are now 
living — Orlando, wlio lives in Perry Township and 
our subject. 

The ])arents are both members of the Baptist 
("hurch of wiiich body the father was a Deacon for 
many 3'ears, also holding the position as Clerk and 
contributing of his means most generously' for the 
support of the same. He alwaj's took an active 
part in local politics. In early life he was a Dem- 
ocrat but in his later years he became a supporter 
of the Republican party. He Jield many local po- 
sitions in the township, having been .Supervisor of 
Antrim Township, also Treasurer, Justice of the 
Peace and the first Overseer of the poor in the 
county. He was also a member of the School 
Board in which he was particularly interested. 
Mr. Flint amassed a very comfortable fortune be- 
fore his death, having alwa>'S been a hard worker, 
very economical and a good trader. 

Our subject, Calvin Flint, was ten years of age 
when his parents came to Michigan. He attended 
the first schools built in Antrim and Perry Town- 
ships. At the early age of eleven he began to real- 
ize the earnest side of life, for at that time he be- 
gan chopping and splitting rails. From that on 
he swung the ax until within a few years ago. He 
began for himself when twenty -three years of age. 
Mr. Flint was in partnership with his father until 
the death of the latter and was laigely instrumental 
in his financial success. 

In 1860 he entered matrimonial life, taking as a 
partner of his joys and sorrows Elmira D. Waugli , 
fi daughter of Nelson and Polly (Cook) AVaugh 



both natives of New York State. The lady's father 
was a farmer, having come to Michigan at a very 
early date. Soon after he married his wife and re- 
sided in Oakland County until in 1837, when they 
removed to Shiawassee County and settled in Ben- 
nington Township where thej- took up a farm from 
the Government and where they lived until the 
death of the father. The mother died in 1887 and 
the father in 1890. They were the parents of 
eight children, seven of whom are now living. 

Mr. Waugh and his wife were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in which he was a 
Class-Leader. In politics he was originally a Dem- 
ocrat, but late in life became a follower of the Re- 
publican party. He was appointed first Highway 
Commissioner of Bennington Township. Mrs. 
Flint was born May 26, 1840, in Bennington 
Township, where she grew to womanhood. She re- 
ceived a good distiict-school education of which 
she appreciated the importance enough to lake ad- 
vantage of every opportunity to advance in cul- 
ture and refinement. She became a teacher, in 
which she was engaged for one year. 

When married, our subject settled upon his own 
farm where he has remained ever since. He has 
one hundred an<l thirty-four and one-half acres, 
ninety of which are under the plow. At the time 
of his purchasing here the greater part of the tract 
was heavily timbered. He has cut out about twen- 
ty-five acres of this, still having a very fine wood- 
land left. In 1861 he built him a comfortable and 
cozy residence at a cost of ^1 ,000. During the years 
that have passed he has made many changes and 
additions to his placi;. He still carries on mixed farm- 
ing which in the end he considers most profitable. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children. The eldest, Charles L., died in child- 
hood; MyrtieMaj' is the wife of F. B. Richardson 
and lives in Owosso; they have no children. Mr. 
and Mrs. Flint are members of the Baptist Church 
in which he has always been very active, having 
held the positions of Clerk and Deacon for many 
years. They have also been strong supporters of 
educational measures that promise improvement 
in that direction. Their daughter, Mrs. Richard- 
son, is a graduate of the Owosso High .School and 
is also efficieiit in musie and art. 



rORTKAlT AND BIOGRAPHIcAL AJ.BUM. 



449 



Our subject has taken an active interest in pol- 
itics. He lias been Overseer of the township for 
twenty- five years. For eighteen 3'ears he lias held 
the princi|)lcs of temperance paramount to any otlicr 
orilinai-3' issue. He is now a member of tlie Roy- 
al Templars in whicli he carries.'a policy^of !t;2,000. 

On first coming to the State, Mi. Flint's 
father worked in Owosso for a season at the 
carpenter's trade and erected the first grist-mill 
ever built in that place. He traveled from there 
to Antrim, a distance of twelve miles through the 
woods, packing his food and necessary clothing on 
his back. The efforts of such men .is Mr. Flint 
have made our State what it now is. 



--^ 



-^^ 



OIIN S. HARDER was born in Cliafham, 
Columbia County, N. Y., August Xh. 1822. 
His parents were Charles ;>nd Marin (Sny- 
jj/y der) Harder, members of good old IVIohawk- 
Dutch families. The father died at the age of 
fifty-two years in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 184.S. 
The gentleman of whom we write was the younger 
of two brothers, the elder being .Tacob S. TTnrder. 
now a minister of the IVfetliodi-it Episcopal Church. 
He resides at N.ashville, this State. Oiii- subject's 
mother died when tho lad was eight years old and 
his father not long afterward married Eva SnvdT. 
a sister of his first wife. .She and the boys came 
to Michigan in 18 II. buying eighty acres of land 
on section 1.5. .lae^ob. who was twenty six at the 
time of his arrival in the State, began to feacli< 
having acquired a fair education at Cazenovia 
Academy. For seventeen years the family contin- 
ued living in this way. until Jacob entered the min- 
istry, joining the IMichigan Conference. In 18.''il 
he settled in Portland. He has been here but one 
year since joining the conference, at which time he 
taught in the home school. The stepmother who 
took the place of an own mother to the children, 
died in 1864. 

The gentleman of whom we write continued to 
reside on the farm, adding to it until it numliered 
two hundred acres. Here he resided until the fall 
of 1880, when he gave up his farm and went to 



Grayling, Crawford County, this Slate, where he 
remained for ten years, being pru[)rietor of a hotel 
in that place. The failure of iiis health while on 
the farm caused him to make the change. While in 
Grayling he difl much to build up the town, he 
himself erecting a number of houses which he made 
accessible to the poorer class of people by selling 
on the monthly installment plan, he having intro- 
duced the idea in that place. For three years lie 
was the Superintendent of tiie County Poor. 

In February, 1891, he (lecided to come back to 
the old homestead and purchftsed the Potter place 
in the village of Newburg. He still owns eighty 
acres of the old farm. In 18,56 he w.as elected 
Township Clerk, which position he filled for two 
years. From 18.59 to 1862 he was Highway Com- 
missioner and in 1869 and 1870 Township Treas- 
urer. He has always been prominent in church 
work, having taken a distinctive place among the 
organizers of the Methodist-Episcopal Church, and 
for twenty years he h.as been .Suiierintendent of the 
Sunday-school of that denomination. 

Mr. Harder was married in 1851 to Miss Eliza- 
beth Loomis. a daughter of Erastus and Caroline 
(Lonshury) Loomis, who settled in an early day 
on the farm now occujiied by W. H. Phelps. His 
rleatli occurred in December, 1877, he being at that 
time in the eiglitietli year of his age. His wife sur- 
vived him but a short time. Mrs. Harder is one of 
three children and the only one living. Her elde.st 
hrotiicr. Trumbull, took a prominent part in the 
Michigan Volunteers in the war. He belonged i<\ 
a company of the First Michigan Cavalrv and 
' served until ho:'orablv discharged. The father, 
mother and otiier brother died within a year of 
each other. 

Our subject ard his estimable wife .ire the |>ar- 
ents of four cliiblren who are named respeetivelv: 
Imogene. now Mrs. O. J. Smith, deceased in 18J»fi; 
Charles W.. a painter by trade at Grayling: Cnr- 
rie, now Mrs. Forbes Ferguson, of Shiawassee: and 
Alice, who is IMrs. William Hanson, of Newburg: 
George C. Harder is a member of their family and 
though not a son by birth was adopted at the age 
of eleven weeks, now having attained sixteen 
years. He is regarded in ever^- sense as a member 
pf the familjr and as much love and tenderness is 



450 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lavished upon him as upon the other children. He 
is a student at the liigli school at Bancroft. He is 
a bright boj' and his friends anticipate that he will 
have a brilliant career in the world. 

Mr. Harder was brought up a Democrat, but 
since 1856, when he voted for Fremont, has stood 
by tiie Republican party. He is a straight temper- 
ance man although not in favor of the third party. 
He has been a member of tiie Methodist Episcopal 
Church since sixteen years of age and has been in- 
strumental in building up that body wherever he 
has lived. Mr. Harder has returned to Newburg 
with the intention of spending the remainder of his 
life with his friends. 



\T'AMES A. HUBBARD. It is a pleasure to 
record the successes of one who enters upon 
his life work with a determination to suc- 
ceed, and who for a long period of j^ears is 
classed among the good citizens in any locality'. 
We are glad to speak of Mr. Hubbard, whose name 
i>: not unknown to our readers, as he has long 
been idtinlified v/ilh the agriculturists of Bingham 
Township, Clinton County. He lias a fine farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres on section 3, ex- 
tending to within half a mile of the corporation 
line of St. John's. The tract was brought to its 
])resent condition by his person.al efforts and the 
old log house which was his first dwelling here lias 
been replaced by a handsome frame house. Mr. 
Hubbard began his life work with limited means 
and has passed through the varied experiences 
while accumulating property. 

The first of the Hubbard family to come to 
America emigrated from England during Colonial 
days and made his home in Massachusetts. There 
John Hubbard, the next in tlic direct line, was 
born, and thence lie vvent to Washington County, 
N. Y. His death, however, took place in Genesee 
County some j'ear.s after the Revolution, dur- 
ing which he had fought bravely. His son, 
Jonathan, was born in Washington County, N. V., 
May 14, 1789, and died July 9, 1870, at the 
ripe age of eighty-one 3'ears. When the War 



of 1812 began he organized a company and went 
into the service as its Captain. He was an almost 
life-long member of the Presbyterian Church. He 
married Alice Archer, a n.ative of New York, 
who was born May 17, 1787, and died April 15, 
18G4, in her seventy-fourth j'ear. She was con- 
nected with the same church as her husband. To 
them came nine children, three of whom are now 
living, one being the subject of this biographicil 
notice. 

The natal day of James A. Hubbard was Octo- 
ber 9, 1816, and his birthplace Salem Township, 
Washington County, N. Y. He was reared on a 
farm and received a common-school education, 
having to work hard and paj- for schooling as the 
free-school system was not then in vogue. He 
made his home with his parents until 1845, when 
he came to Michigan and spent the winter in Liv- 
ingston County-. About 1837 his brother had 
entered land in Clinton County and the spring 
after his arrival in the State our subject came to 
look at his purchase. He found a wilderness with 
but few scattered clearings and concluded not to 
make his home on the property but lo go to the 
mining regions of Lake Sujjerior, which were just 
being opened uj). He entered the employ of a 
mining com|)any, known as the Isle Royal Com- 
pany, on Isle Royal, as overseer oi a large force 
of men, and remained there three years. He then 
went to the South Shore and spent five years as 
overseer at the Bohemian mine. He gained quite 
a knowledge of mining during these periods and 
won the confidence of his employers, who found 
him trustworthy and faithful to their interests. 

In 1854 Mr. Hubbard learned that a railroad was 
laid oui near his Clinton Countj' land, and think- 
ing that the property might be worth something 
he decided to look after it. On his arrival here 
he found the railroad in process of construction 
and a public house being erected where St. John's 
now stands. There were many primitive condi- 
tions existing here, however, deer being plentiful 
and small game abundant. He set himself to work 
to clear a tract on which to make his home, and 
soon had ten acres free from timber and adorned 
with a log house, which landmark is still standing. 
He continued his work upon the place, determin- 






w 




1^ ^1 
111 







tssii 



a:ai£gik&;^g^agS^^ 



m^i.-S&^»d^i^^^L 



s^^jsfa^:- 



fJLWS PRINTING HOUSL. J. C. STONE, PROPR. LAINGSBURG MICH. 




RESIDENCE OF JAMES HU BBARD.SEC. 3.,bl NGH AM TR, CLINTON Cu.,lvliOf-i 



PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPIUCAL ALUUM. 



453 



ing to make liis pennancnt home liere. His suc- 
cess has been already iiienlioned. In 1862 lie 
secured an efficient helpmate in the person of Miss 
Charlotte Dawson, a native of Niajjara Count}', 
N. Y. Their marriage has been blest by the birth 
of two sons — Martin D., who was born Ainil 11, 
1868; and John, who die<l in infancy. Mr. Hub- 
bard is a Democrat and has been a delcj^ate to 
county conventions, but is not an office-seeker, 
preferring to devote his time to his personal affairs 
and the duties which every citizen owes to him- 
self as well as his country. 

A lithographic view of the fine homestead of 
Mr. Hubbard appears on another page of this 
work. 



JOHN C. STONE, editor and proprietor of 
the Laingsburg jVe/'s. has the honor of be- 
ing a native of Michigan. He was born in 
Jackson, February 28, 1813, and is the eld- 
est of four children whose parents are Amasa and 
Minerva (Munger) Stone, natives of New York. 
The father was a wagon maker by trade and in 
connection with that occupation followed farming. 
He was three times married, his first wife being 
Nancj' Kendig, of the Empire Slate. For his sec- 
ond wife he married Minerva Munger, and with 
his family in 1836 emigrated Westward, settling in 
Jackson Count}', JHch., where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. He became one of the first 
surveyors of Jackson County, and was a highly 
respected citizen of the community. In politics he 
was a supporter of the Democratic party. The 
family of Amasa and Minerva Stone numbered 
four children — John C, Marco D., Vitelli D. and 
Catherine M. After the death of his second wife 
Mr. Stone wedded Sylvia Howard, their union be- 
ing celebrated in Jacksou County, and unto them 
was born a daughter, Amanda. 

John C. Sione was reared to manhood in the city 
of Jackson, Mich., and received his education in 
the common schools. He learned the cabinet mak- 
er's trade which he followed until 1863, when at 
the age of twenty years, he joined the army as a 
private on the I'Jth of December, and was assigned 



to Comp.any O, First Michigan Engineers' and Me- 
chanics' Regiment. He served with liio Army of 
the Cumberland under Gen. Sherman until the 
close of the war whei; the country no longer needed 
his services, he was iionoraldy <iischarged .at Jack- 
son, Mich., November I, 186.J. He participated 
in llie battles of Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., Col- 
umbia, S. C, and Raleigh, N. C, and was very for- 
tunate in his army experience in so far that he was 
never wounded or taken prisoner. 

When the war was over l\Ir. Stone retuined to 
his home and once more resumed the dress of a 
civilian, entering upon business for liiniself. He 
established a job (irinting ollice at what is now 
Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Mich., where he re- 
mained for aliout three years, when in 1877, he 
came to Laingsburg and established the Laings- 
burg News which he has since published. It is an 
independent paper, favoring Prohibition, and is 
devoted to the interests of the community. Mr. 
Stone has met with excellent success in this under- 
taking. The Xetrs now has a circulation of a thous- 
and copies among the best class of people and is 
well deserving of the liberal patronage it receives. 

On February 4, 1868, Mr. Stone led to the mar- 
riage altar Miss May Doty, daugliter of William 
and Rachel (Matthews) Doty. The lady is a na- 
tive of the Empire Stale, but at Hie time of her 
marriage was living in Ionia County , Mich. Tliev 
have a i)leasant home in Laingsburg and are sur- 
rounded by many friends, being widely and favor- 
ably known throughout the communily. Mr. 
Stone is connecteil with several civic societies, be- 
ing a Third Degree Mason, a member of the Odd 
Fellows' Lodge, and Henry Deming Post, Xo. 192, 
G. A. R. He is also connected with the Good 
Templars Society and embodies the temperance 
principles which he has long advocated in his polit- 
ical sentiments, being a sup|)orter of the Prohibi- 
tion |)arly. His fellow-townsmen have honored 
him with a number of village and township uflices, 
the duties of which have ever been faithfully dis- 
charged in a quiet, yet efficient manner. We see 
in Mr. Stone a self-made man, one who has risen 
from a lowly position by his own exertions. Al- 
though he had no capital when he started out in 
life, he is now at the head of a good business and 



454 



i'OKTKAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



is the owner of the building wiiicli lie occupies — 
a substantial tlii-ec-stoiy brick, one of the largest 
blocks in town and represented b}' a view else- 
where in this volume. His public and private 
career have alike won him the respect of those with 
whom be has come in contact. 



^^EORGE W. NAY. Among the prominent 
III' citizens of Clinton County, selected for a 

^^^ place in this Aluu.m, we take pleasure in 
representing the worthy subject of this sketch, 
whose home is in St. John's. His valuable saw- 
mill phvuts is located on section 15, Grcenbush 
Township. The main saw is a sixty inch one, the 
top saw measures thirty inches, and they are of 
t>yracuse, N. Y., make. The engine also, which is 
of fifty horse power, is from the Syracuse engine 
works. The mill turns out some ten thousand feet 
in a day's work of tea hours. Ten men are em- 
ployed in the mill when it is running at its full 
capacity. 

The subject of this sketch is sole proi)rietor of 
the mill, and also owns eighty acres of the adjoin- 
ing land. He is a native of New Hampshire, 
where he was born in Hillsboro County, April 6, 
1831. He is a son of James and Jane (Farns- 
worth) Nay, both natives of the old Granite State. 
His paternal ancestors were Scotch, and his mother 
was from English and Irish stock, lie is the eld- 
est son in his father's family, and grew up in his 
nat've State, where he received both the coramDU- 
school and aca<lemic education, attending at the 
academy at Pelerboro, N. H. 

Upon reaching the age of eighteen, the young 
man began to serve an apprenticeship of three 
years at the machinists' trade, and afterward fol- 
lowed this trade as a journeyman many years, be- 
coming finally locomotive engi.ieer on the New 
I'^ork Central Railroad, running from Rochester to 
Buffalo and Niagara Ealls, and followed this call- 
ing a number of years. 

L A noteworthy event in the life of our subject 
was bis marriage, June 25, ISGS. to Mary E. Corn- 
will, daughter of Daniel and Fannie 1'. Cornwell. 



By this union there was born one daughter, Marian 
v., who is at home with her parents. Mr. Nay 
first came to Clinton County, in the si)ring of 
1882, but did not bring his family to reside here 
until 18y0. He is, therefore, a comparatively re 
cent addition to the social and business life of St. 
John's, but has already gained a high standing in 
both departments of life. 

The subject of this sketch is a Republican in 
his political views and affiliations, and a miu of 
broad intelligence in regard to the movements and 
policy of his party. He is well-read in regard to 
both its history and the character of the men who 
prominently represent it. He is a public-spirited 
man, and is depended upon as one of the active 
promoters of every movement which is, in his 
judgment designed to elevate the community and 
redound to the prosperity of the city. He began 
at the bottom of the ladder, and has reached his 
present prosperity' through his own efforts. He 
has been more than ordinarily successful in life and 
commands to a marked extent the confidence of the 
business community. 



\|7 EiMlEL K. NICHOLS, a well-known and 
I (?§) *-'""^''^"'' Sujjervisor of the First District of 
jll_^ Owosso, Shiawassee County, Mich., was 
born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., June 24, 
1844. He is a son of H. H. and Harriet I. 
(I'arker) Nichols, both iiativos of New York 
State. The father was a tanner and currier by 
trade and followed that vocation for raan\- _\ears 
in Gowanda, N. Y. The grandfather, Caleb 
Nichols, was a soldier in tiie War of 1812, and 
was of Scotch descent. Nine of the twelve chil- 
dren of the father's family lived to years of ma- 
turity. 

The early boyhood (Ia3's and school life of i>ur 
subject were spent in his native county. He came 
to Michigan when thirteen years old to visit his 
uncle and made his home among strangers and 
worked at farm work until he reached the age of 
eighteen years, spending his winters mostly in 
school at C)xford, Oakland County. 



PORTRAir AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



455 



Tlie young msiii had tlie liearl of a patriot and 
i-es|)onded promptly to bis country's call in ber 
bour of peril. He enlisted in tlie Seventb Mich- 
igan Infantry under the command of Ira R. Gros- 
vcnor, and bis regiment was attached to llie Army 
of the Potomac and was sent at once to join tbe 
army in front of Yorktown. lie was taken i^ick 
witb swamp fever and bad to lie in the hospital. 
This sickness resulted in bis discharge on a sur- 
geon's certificate. 

Afer he had recovered bis health Mr. Nichols re- 
cnlisted in the First Michigan Sharp Shooters and 
was sent to join tbe Army of the Potomac. At 
the battle of the Wilderness be went in as .Sergeant 
and carae out in command of his company, the 
CaiiUlin iiaving been killed. He took part in the 
encounters at Spotts^ Ivania and Petersburg, bis 
regiment being the first to raise tbe flag over 
Petersburg. He was then sent to look after pris- 
oners, seven hundred of whom he transferred to 
tbe authorities at Petersburg, and when be was 
discharged in August, 1865, at .Jackson, he ranked 
as First Lieutenant commanding Compan}- K. 

Returning to the paths of peace, Lieut. Nichols 
entered into business on bis own account, choos- 
ing tbe marble trade and locating in Ortonville, 
Oakland County. Here he continued for two 
years, and then removed to St. John's, where be 
was burned out, after two years' run of business, 
and lost nearly all that he bad. In 1872 be went 
to Vassar, Tusc(jla County, and established him- 
self in tbe marble business, continuing for ten 
years, when, on account of failing health, he sold 
out, and coming to Owosso, entered tbe employ 
of L. E. Woodard, of the Casket Works, being 
given the position of sbip|)ing clerk, which he 
still holds. 

The spring after bis return from the war Lieut. 
Nichols decided to establisii a home of bis own 
and chose a partner for life's joys and sorrows. 
He was married April 19, 18GG,to Miss Sarah Smith, 
of Brandon, Oakland County, a daughter of Jas- 
per and Cordelia Smith, natives of New Jersey 
and of Dutch descent. Three children have blessed 
this happy union: Cora, wife of J. Robins, .Jr., of 
Owosso; Alice G., at home; and Arthur .).. who 
has charge of the hardware department of the 



Owosso Casket Works. Mr. Nichols served as 
Deputy Sheriff four years in Oakland County, 
and in the same office two 3'ears in Tuscola 
County. In the spring of 1891 he was elected 
Supervisor of the First District of tbe City of 
Owooso. He is a member of Austin Lodge, No. 
18, F. & A. M., and a prominent memlier of 
C^uackenbusb I'ost, No. 205, G. A. R., in which he 
holds the office of Past Commander. In politics 
be is a stanch Rei)ul)licaii anil resides at No. 522, 
River Street, an attractive and delightful home in 
which true hospitality abounds. 



pSs HARLES COWAN. 



_ This name will be rec- 

iJ( ^ ognized by many of our readers as that of 
\^' a business man of Ovid, Clinton Count}-. 
He is senior member of the lirm of Cowan & Pearl 
and conducts tbe business in which their means are 
invested, that of the sale of gentlemen's clothing 
and furnishing goods, and tbe handling of wool, 
which they buy every year. The firm was organ- 
ized about a decade since but Mr. Cowan has been 
connected with the affairs of Ovid for a, much 
longer period. He came here in 1861, and with 
the exception of ten years spent in the service of 
the American K.xpress Company, and while in the 
army be lias been in business here. 

Mr. Cowan was born in Oaklaiul County, August 
9, 1847, and his educational .advantages were con- 
fined to the country schools in the winter months 
and two terms at the Pontiac High School. He 
left home when thirteen years old, determined to 
make his own way in the world, and when butsi.x- 
teen enlisted in Company D, First Michigan Cav- 
alry, and was sent to Virginia where be w.as on de- 
tached duty and that of Provost Marshal. Thence 
he was sent across the plains and discharged at 
Leavenworth, Kan., in 18G4. Rv;turning to his 
native State he found employment with tbe Ex- 
press Company and was agent at Monroe three 
years and messenger seven years. He went out 
witb the first express car sent from Detroit on the 
Detroit, Lansing cfe Northern Railroad. While 
agent at Monroe he also conducted a drug busi- 



456 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ncss there, which he sold out when he came back 
to Ovid. Here lie started in the business he is now 
following. He was Secretar}' and Treasurer of the 
Schofield Buggj' C'ompauy prior to 1890. 

The parents of Mr. Cowan are N. B. and Louisa 
(Stone) Cowan, natives re?pectively of Massac-liiis- 
etts and New York. They are now living in Ovid, 
enjoying good health and an unusual degree of 
physical strength, although both are quite aged, 
the father being eighty-one and the mother seven- 
ty-four years old. Our subject has three brothers 
and two sisters — Albertus, Oscar, Elmer, Mrs. 
Charles Farmer, and Mrs. Jerome Winslow. 

The family of Mr. Cowan consists of a wife and 
four children. He was married April 19, 1871, to 
Addie Longcor, of Ovid, and their children are 
Frank H., A. Monroe, C. Howard and Harry V. 
Mr. Cowan is a Democrat, is a member of the 
County Committee and is Chairman of the Town 
Committee and takes quite an active part in carry- 
ing on political vvork. He has been Village Treas- 
urer and for several years has been connected with 
the Milage Council. He luis been a member of 
the School Board eight years and is a member of 
the Soldiers" Relief Coniniissiun of Clinton County. 
He lakes an active interest in Llie promotion of ed- 
ucational matters anil in all public enterprises which 
promise to increase liie prosperity and advance the 
welfare of the people by whom he is respected as 
he deserves. 

AVID G. BAXTER. Among the promi- 
nent citizens of Clinton County consider- 
able mention belongs to Mr. Baxter, who 
during liis long residence in this county, 
has acquired a reputation for integrity and perse- 
verance and wherever known is highly respected. 
In his youth he was orphaned b^' the death of his 
father and mother, and was therefore early thrown 
upon his own resources. To such men as he 
America owes her high standing among other older 
countries, and to the efforts which such citizens 
as he have made, Clinton Countj- may justly attri- 
bute the development of her limitless resources. 




Mr. Baxter owns and operates a well-improved 
farm of fifty acres on section 12, Dallas Township, 
and this has been the scene of his labors for many 
years. He has a commodious residence with sub- 
stantial outbuildings, an ara|)le supply of farm 
machiner3' and all the other apiiliances for prose- 
cuting his calling in a profitable and succel^sful 
manner. He makes of farming an art and a 
science, and by reading and observation keeps him- 
self thoroughly posted as to the best methods 
employed in connection therewith. Before locat- 
ing ijcrmanenlly in this State he visited the South, 
looking for a good place to settle, but a careful 
investigation convinced him that Michigan offered 
better opportunities for acquiring independence 
than an}' other State in the Union. 

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Baxter, whose 
given name was John, was a native of Scotland, 
and in an early day settled in Connecticut, where 
he passed the remaining years of his life. He was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His family 
comprised three sons and one daughter, who 
attained manhood and womanhood, and among 
these was John Baxter, Jr., who was born in Con- 
necticut ami at an early da^- came to New York 
State, where he died. The mother of our subject 
bore the maiden name of Martha M. Babcock and 
was a daughter of John Babcock, a native of New 
York. Unto John Baxter, Jr., and his good wife 
were born eight children, named as follows: Abbie 
H., Delaud H., Lydia, Elijah, Almeda, David G., 
Amy E. and Charlotte M. 

The father of our subject was a prominent man 
in the community where he passed the greater part 
of his life. He was a lumberman and brickniaker 
and finally engaged in farming pursuits. He 
served in the War of 1812. For forty years he 
was a Deacon in the Baptist Church, of which his 
wife was also a member, and he filled various 
township offices satisfactorily. His death in IH.IO 
was a loss to the coininunit^', to the development 
of which he had been so devoted. David G., of 
this sketch, was born February 8, 1838, in Rens- 
saelaer County, N. Y., and resided in his native 
State until he was twenty years old. After the 
death of his parents he made his home witii a 
brother until, in 1858, he came to Clinton County, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



457 



and settled on a forty-acre fnrm in Lebanon 
Township. 

After residing on that farm fourteen years our 
snbjet'l removed to (Iratiot County, wliere he lived 
on a farm he purchased there for one and one-half 
years, and then traded it for the estate he now 
owns. February 8, 18C'2, was a very important 
date In the life of Mr. Baxter, for he was then 
united in marriage with Ellen L. Strickland, the 
wedding ceremony being solemnized in Clinton 
County. The bride was the daughter of Peter 
Strickland, a native of Pennsylvania, whence he 
removed to Ohio. In Lorain Count^', that State, 
he married Wealthy Pollock, daughter of Elijah' 
Pollock, and the^- became the parents of eight 
ciiildren, as follows: F'annie M., Lydia M., Samuel 
D., Prudence J., William J., Ellen L., Charles C. 
and Andrew J. 

In 1849 Mr. Strickland came to Michigan, set- 
tling on a farm in Bengal Township, and thence 
removing to Dallas Township and later to Lebanon, 
where he died. He was a life long farmer and 
owned forty acres at the time of his death, although 
he had been the owner of one hundred acres at one 
time. A pioneer settler, he witnessed many 
changes in the community wiiere he settled; when 
he first located there it was two miles to the near- 
est neighbor, and hogs could not be kept on 
account of the wolves. Mr. Strickland was a 
hunter and killed many deer as well as much small 
game. 

The happy wedded life of our subject and his 
wife has been lilessed to liicm by the birth of the 
following children: Krancis J., William R., Ettie 
M., Cora B., Joel I)., Lydia M. and Jolin G., all of 
whom are living. Ettic M. is now Mrs. Myers and 
resides in Fowler. William R. is lu Nortlicrn 
Michigan, while the other children are under the 
parental roof. Mr. Baxter is a member of llie 
A. O. U. W., No. 19, at Fowler; he is also a mem- 
ber of the Farmers' Alliance and the Patrons of 
Industry. Politically' he has always been a standi 
Republican, but has never aspired to ottice, and 
although elected to minor oflices has refused to 
accci)t. 

Three brothers of Mrs. Baxter were soldiers in 
the liilon army during the Civil War; the eldest, 



Samuel D., was twenty-eight years old when he 
enlisted, while the youngest, Charles C, was only 
eighteen. William J. was killed at James Island, 
Samuel died at Hilton Head, S. ('. and Charles at 
Bowling Green, Ky. The grandfather of Mrs. 
liaxter, Elijah Pollock, was a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary War. A noble woman, Mrs. Baxter h.as 
stood side by side with her husband in moral 
endeavors and her quiet dignit}' is felt in every 
circle that she enters. She is a consistent member 
of the Methodist Church. 



^^^^^" 



^^ EORGE W. PARKS. It has been but a few 
II ,^— , j'cars since this well-to-do farmer and prom- 
^^J) inent citizen of Dallas Township, Clinton 
County, was called to his long rest. He passed 
away November 1. 1889, at the age of fifty- five 
years, leaving a widow and eleven children. He 
was one who had not only done much agricultural 
work, aiding in clearing land and fitting it for 
cultivation, but had been connected with social 
orders and local affairs, and had made many friends 
by the way in which he had conducted himself. 
One of his distinguishing characteristics was his 
fondness for books and few men actively cng.aged 
in farming read more than, if as much as he. He 
was well read in the law and was the better able to 
discharge the duties of Justice of the Peace, which 
otrice lie held for thirty-four years. 

The grandfather of our subject Is David Parks, a 
venerable man who h.as reached the age of ninety- 
nine years ami is the oldest person living in Dallas 
Townshii). He was born near All)any, N. Y., 
October 16, 1792, and is one of five sons and three 
daughters Iiorn to Smith Parks, a Revolutionary 
foldier. David Parks lived in his native State 
unlil he had grown to manhood and was married 
there to Catherine Coon. During the early scttle- 
i ment of Oakland County, this State, he came 
hither, then went to Ohio, but after some years re- 
turned to Michigan and located in Clinton County. 
After the death of his wife he went to Nebraska, 
thence to Iowa, and finally returned to Clinton 
County. He made a second marriage, wedding 



458 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mrs. Demis Holmes, ((ceBigelow. There were nine 
children born to liis first wife and one to his second. 
Mr. Parks was Justice of the Peace for a number 
of j'ears and was also Township Clerk and Super- 
visor. He possessed much natural ability and was 
well read in the law. 

The eldest son of David Parks was Samuel H., 
who was born in JNIadison County, N. Y., October 
14, 1812, and accompanied his parents to Allegany 
County when about nine jears old. He came to 
this State with them in 1833 and Oakland Count}' 
was his home nearly a decade. He then came to 
Clinton County, where he has since lived. When 
he came hither he settled on eighty acres of land 
belonging to Mr. Hays and after a time bought 
eighty acres on which he lived four years. Atone 
time he owned considerable real-estate, but he sold 
much of it and divided a part among his children. 
He has cleared and broken a large number of acres 
and he and his wife have worked very hard, as 
they were among the pioneers and lived in a part 
of the countrj' where neighbors were remote and 
wild animals abounded. He followed farming 
until he retired and he and his wife are now living 
in Fowler. Their respective ages are seventy-nine 
and seventy-six years. To them have been born 
the following children : George, Orin, Rilej', Sid- 
ney, Edwin, Albert and Mariette. Edwin died 
while in the Union Array. 

The wife of Samuel Parks bore the maiden name 
of Zelplia Butler and their wedding took place in 
Allegan}' County, N. Y., January 3, 1832. The 
bride was a daughter of John and Betsey (Brown) 
Butler, natives of New Y'ork City and Chenango 
County respectively. Their other children were 
Finetta, Minnie, William, George, Sarah, Maria and 
Haltie. Mr. Butler had been married before and 
his first wife bore him two sons, Richard and John. 
Mr. Butler was a tailor by trade. He removed 
from New York City to Delaware County and 
lived there until his daughter Zelpha was four 
years of age. He then reraorcd to Steuben County, 
where he died at the age of forty-nine years. His 
wife died when thirty-nine years old. 

George W. Parks, subject of this sketch, was 
born in Novi Township, Oakland County, in 1834, 
and was nine years old when his parents came to 



Clinton County. Reared on a farm, he adopted 
the occupation in which his father and grandfather 
were engaged, and after owning several farms 
settled on that now held by his widow, in 1881. 
March 23, 1862, he was united in marriage with 
Lois Mansfield, daughter of Miles and Samantha 
(Eddy) Mansfield. The bride's father was born in 
Vermont in 1803 and in his early life went to New 
York where be spent a number of years. There he 
was married to a daughter of Abraham Eddy, a 
native of Massachusetts, and after a time came to 
Michigan. Mr. Mansfield cleared eight farms in 
this State. He died June 16, 1879, but his wife is 
still living in Newaygo County and has now 
attained to the age of eighty -three years. The 
daughter who became the wife of our subject was 
thoroughly instrucleil in domestic matters, received 
a good education and has the characteristics which 
render her a useful member of the community. 
Her children are Rosa, Edna, Archie, Perry, Clar- 
ence — Addison, Ida and Eidith are deceased — F'loyd, 
Maggie and Beryl. 

The late Mr. Parks devoted some time to teach- 
ing during his early years, but spent his life prin- 
cipally in farming. During the late war he was 
drafted and furnished a substitute. He was a 
Master Mason, enrolled in St. John's Lodge, and 
was a member of the Society of Chosen Friends at 
Fowler. He was also a member of the Grange. He 
w:is at one time Township Clerk, and was School 
Inspector several years and belonged to the Board 
of Heallli. 



^ 



^ 



aHARLES F. CURRIER. New England has 
perhaps not so many representatives in the 
'' Western States as have other sections of the 
country, because] of loyalty to their native States, 
but when they do break the ties that bind them to 
home, they are always found to be among the most 
substantial members of the community in which 
tliey settle. Our subject, who is of New England 
origin, owns a fine farm on section 4, Caledonia 
Township, Shiawassee County. The family to 
which he belongs occupies a prominent position in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



459 



the old Bay State. His mother was Alinira A. 
(Smart) Currier, a native of Maine wliose famil}' 
■were from Massachusetts. His father was also 
from a New England family. Tlicy were married 
in New York. 

From New York Mr. Currier's |)arents went to 
Ohio in 18;J2, where tiio father was engaged in work- 
ing farms on shares. Wliether this was profitable 
or not does not appear, but in 1850 lie removed to 
this Slate and settled in Caledonia Township on 
section 4. The tr.act that he had selected for his 
new liome was entirely unbroken. The father's 
health was poor and the prospect seemed tlark foi the 
family. In 1868 the father died, and May 16, 1890, 
the mother followed him. They were the parents 
of eleven children, seven of whom are now living. 
Both the parents of our subject were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in this Slate 
th(! father officiated as a local preacher. He was 
much interested in schools and was active in poli- 
tics, at 6rst casting his vote with the Whigs, and 
later with the Republicans. He was an ardent 
advocate of temperance and even at an earl}' day 
when temperance was not so popular as it now is, 
he did much toward inculcating its principles in 
the youth of the county. 

Our subject was the fourth child, and was born 
July 1, 1831, in New York. He was an infant 
when his parents moved to Ohio, and when they 
came to this Slate he had reached young manhood. 
He had received all the education that a district 
school afforded. In the intervals of school life he 
helped bis father on the farm. He remained at 
home until twenty-one years of age, from which 
time he worked out on a farm by the month for 
the space of two years. He then S[)ent four years 
in the pineries in Northern Michigan, after which 
he located ny>on his present farm, which is jiart of 
the original farm of his father. Here he has lived 
ever since. 

Charles Currier was married July .3, 1858, his 
wife's nan)e being Annette B. Lemunyon, a daugh- 
ter of Horace and Permelia (Wilcox) Lemunyon, 
natives of New York. Her father's natal day was 
(October 13, 1810, her mother's June 22, 1814. 
They were ."narried in New York and came to this 
State in 1851. They first settled in Shiawassee 



Township where they remained for two years, then 
went to New Haven Township, taking up land on 
section 32, where they settled upon a new farm. The 
tract was lieavily timbered and the work of im- 
provement necccssarily slow, but it is now finely 
cultivated. Mrs. Currier's mother died December 3, 
185'J, her father, December 24, 1S80. Nine chil- 
dren gladdened their hearthstone, but three passed 
awaj' in childhood. The father was a leading 
member of the IMelhodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. 
Currier was born November 28, 1841, in Ontario 
County, N. Y. There she was reared and received 
her education in the district school. After her 
marriage with our subject thej- settled upon their 
present farm, their first home being in a shanty. 
Before bringing his wife to their new home Mr. 
Currier had eighteen acres under cultivation. He 
now owns sixtj' acres, of which fift^^ are under cul- 
tivation. His residence is a very pleasant one, 
whicli was built two years ago at a cost of *1,500. 
He has also erected other buildings upon the place, 
having large and commodious barns and sheds for 
stock. He is engaged in mixed farming and when 
the seasons do not favor one croj), he turns bis at- 
tention to making tlic most of another. He has a 
fine orchard which he himself set out and which by 
great care and attention produces a large harvest. 
Our subject and his wife are the parents of six 
children, three of whom are now living. They 
are: Alice A., who was born June 10, 1861 ; she is 
the wife of Edward (iailoway and lives in New 
Haven Township, her home being gladdened with 
one child — Nina A.; Horace Edward, born April 
24, 1867, is as yet unmarried and lives at home; 
Mina A., born June 24, 1871, resides with her pa- 
rents. The children have had the advantages of a 
common-sctiool education. Mr. Currier was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 
twelve years, and Class-Le.ader for a number of 
3-ears. The family are members of the Free Meth- 
odist Cliurch, of whicli rlenomination our subject 
was a Steward for a period of ten years. He has 
also been a Class-Leader for twelve years, and Su- 
perintendent of the Sunday* -school for a long time. 
He is also a leader of the Bible class. He has 
been elected to a position on the local School Board, 
taking more or less interest in politics, at first cast- 



460 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ing his vote with the Democratic partj' and later 
favoriiif; the Republican platform, and is now a 
strong Prohibitionist. Mr. Currier and his wife 
are both workers in tlie temperance cause. 

Tlie early experience of our subject is not un- 
lilie that of many anollier pioneer settler. They 
were not overstocked with money when they came 
to this Slate, and have known what it is to do with- 
out filthy lucre for n whole year at a time. At an 
early d.ay farmers used to drive into Corunna with 
a part of a loail of apples and sell them out at a 
penny apiece. 




ARTIN SMITH, Under Sheriff of Clinton 
Count3', opened an establishment for the 
manufacture of wagons in St. John's in 
1870, and lias been almost continuously en- 
gaged in th.at work since that time. The same year 
he began the manufacture of carriages and from 
time to time enlarged the works until he was car- 
rying on tlie most complete wagon manufactorj' in 
the place. He employed a good force of men and 
the Smith buggies and wagons were sold on the 
road, the number disi)Osed of each year running 
up into the hundreds. In the fall of 1890 Mr. 
Smith closed down the works and gave up manu- 
facturing, continuing only his blacksmith and re- 
pair shop. A sliort time afterward he was appointed 
Under Sheriff and now occupies his lime in official 
work, having taken charge of almost every duty 
belonging to the Sheriff. 

Mr. Smith is a native of Bavaria, German}', born 
at Speir, March 19, 1850. He comes of an old. 
German family and the name was in the old coun- 
try spelled Schmitt. His father, Joseph Schmitt, 
was horn m 1800, owned a small farm and carried 
on agricultural work until he emigrated. He spent 
six years as a sohlier and it was on account of his 
feeling regarding tlie military laws of the Kiu|)ire 
that he decided to leave his native land. lie 
thought the system opiiressive and did not wish iiis 
sons to endure the hardsliips he hail passed through 
and with two who would soon be subject to mili- 
tary duty he crossed the Atlantic in 1854. He lo- 



cated at Detroit and engaged in huckstering, 
following the business successfully until his death 
in 1870. He was joined by his wife and four 
younger children in 1857. Mrs. Smith was a na- 
tive of Bavaria, and bore the maiden naoje of 
Elizabeth Bernatz;slie died in Detroit March 8, 
1861. Mr. Smith was a member of the Roman 
Catholic Cliurcli. 

Martin Smith was the youngest of seven children 
and was seven years old when he accompanied his 
mother to America. He vividl}' recalls tlie voyage, 
which was long and stormy. The partj- sailed 
from Havre un Good Frida}-, and did noi, land in 
New York until the middle of June. Coming on 
to Detroit, the lad had limited school privileges 
until he was eleven years old, pursuing his studies 
in the parochial school. He then began to assist 
his fatlier liy driving a huckster's wagon over a 
circuit of some twenty miles, and during the next 
three jears made more money than his parent. He 
was then apprenticed to a wagonmaker and served 
until he was sixteen, when he began journey work 
at ^2.25 per da}'. He was in the employ of Hugh 
Johnson until February, 1867, when he went to 
New York and entered the coach manufactory of 
Dunn Bros. In 1869 he made a cliange to Roch- 
ester and entered the employ of James Cunning- 
ham & Son, well-known carri.age-inakers, but after 
working for them some nine months returned to 
Detroit. In a few months he had opened wagon 
works in St. John's and three years later |)ut up a 
blacksmith's shop, and from that time increased his 
business as circumstances warranted. He became 
the owner of real estate and now has several resi- 
dences and a store on Main Street. He is truly a 
self-made man and the competence he has secured 
is an indisputable proof of his energy and business 
ability. 

Jii Roclicsler, N. Y., in July, 1 86«, Jlr. Smith 
was married to JMiss Catherine Lechner. This lady 
was born in Bavaria in 1851, and is a daughter of 
Laurence and Barbara (Schmuck) Lechner. Her 
parents emigrated when she was about four j-ears 
old and settled in Eric, Pa. When the Civil War 
began her father was one of the first to answer the 
call for volunteers, and lie went out with a Penn- 
s^'lvania regiment. After the short enlistment, he 





O^l^L^^l/ 




^;^/^^' (f z^^^-^c/V^c^ 



r ^^^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPHlCAL ALBUM. 



468 



re-entered tlie service as a cavalryiiian and having 
received a severe sabic wound was discharged on 
account of pliysical disability. He recovered suHi- 
ciently to enter the navy and remained in tlial 
brand] of the service until the close of the war. 
He is still living in Erie but his wife died several 
3ears since. The religion of the family is that of 
the Lutheran Church. 

Mrs. Smith is an excellent housekeeper and a (!(■- 
voted wife and mother. Her union witli our sub- 
ject has been blest by the birth of six children, all 
of whom are at home except the first-born; he is 
now attending the Tniversit^- of Michigan in the 
department of law. He was graduated from the 
High School in St. .John's in 1889. The names of 
the sons and daughters are William A., Jose|)h P., 
Lina IL, Minnie (I., Mary and Tru'^y. Mrs. Smith 
is a communicant of the Catholic Church. Mr. 
Smitii votes the Democratic ticket. He is a well 
disposed, social and energetic man, straightforward 
and courageous in the discharge of his official 
duties and well liked by his acquaintances. 



IDWARD BROWN. This well-known resi- 
dent of St. John's, Clinton County, has 
I' — ^ dealt more extensively in farm lands than 
any other man in the county, an<l has in addition 
been interested in other projects of a business na- 
ture, in some of which he still has a share. He owns 
lands not only in this but in other counties, the 
largest holding elsewhere being in Wexford, Sagi- 
naw and Henzie Counties. He is now extensively 
engaged in the grain and produce trade and occu- 
pies a fine farm of two hundred acres in and ad- 
joining the city limits. It has been well improved 
and is supi>lied with adecpiate buildings, including 
two residences. It is well adapted for stock rais- 
ing and excellent arrangements have been made for 
the care of stock as well as for the cultivation of 
crops. The place is well watered, wind power 
being used to convey the liquiil from |)oint to 



point wherever it is required. Mr. Brown keeps 
from twenty to thirt3' cows and su|)plies the cheese 
factory with a large quantity of milk. He was one 
of the founders of that institution and has been its 
Treasurer since it was opened. In August, 1889, 
he bought the Brown Brothers' elevator, where a 
thriving grain trade is carried on. 

Mr. Brown was born ui County Antrim, Ireland, 
near the city of Lisburn, November 18, 1844, but 
is of English slock. His great grandfather was in 
the English army and having been sent to Ireland 
during one of the wars, he made his home in 
County Antrim and there liis descendants lived for 
years. The grandfather of our subject was a weaver, 
and to his trade and the business of farming his 
son, Francis, father of Edward, was reared. In 
1846 Francis Brown emigrateti, sailing from Liver- 
pool to New York, and being six weeks on the 
ocean. He settled in New .lersey, near .lersej' Cit3-, 
and engaged in farming and the dairy business. In 
the spring of 1851 he came to this State and for a 
year or more farmed in Oakland County. He then 
came to Clinton County, and bought eighty acres 
of wild land in Bengal Townshij), paying ^2.50 
per acre. There was no settler within ten miles of 
bis place on the west, and there were no bridges 
and but very poor roads, scarcel3' more than tracks 
over which to travel. His sup|)lies were secured 
at Lansing, where he weui with an ox-team, camp- 
ing out on the way, as it took two or three days 
to make the round trip. His table w.as supplied 
with venison and other game, and he manufactured 
black salts, which was legal tender and exchanged 
for groceries. 

Mr. Brown hewed out a farm, adding to his acre- 
age until the estate consisted of two hundred and 
forty acres, all of which was placed under good 
improvement. His eldest son, .John, worked in 
Oakland County-, for ^12 a month to get money 
with which to pay for the first eighty acres. He is 
now Supervisor of Bengal Township. 'I'he father 
died on his farm May 30, 188;}, and the mother, 
who is now eighty-five years old, lives with some 
of her children on the homestead. Mr. Brown was 
a Presbyterian, but as there was no church of that 
denomination in the neighborhood, he worshiped 
in others. Mrs. Brown, whose maiden name was 



464 



rORTKAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Susannah Corkin, was born in Countj' Antrim, 
Ireland, in June, 1806, and came of the old Scotch 
Presbyterian stock. Her i)arents were Robert and 
Lucj' Corkin, the hitter of whom was born in Scot- 
land. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Brown con • 
sisted of nine children, Edward being tlie sixth in 
order of birth and the youngest of those born in 
Ireland. 

Our subject vvas early set to work on the farm 
and while his father and older brothers worked 
out, he had much of the clearing and breaking of 
ground to do. When but a small lad he chopped 
trees like a hero and became an expert ox-driver, 
as the ground was broken by means of those ani- 
mals. He had no school [jrivileges until he was 
thirteen 3'ears old, and then began his studies in the 
primitive log school house. A better building and 
better opportunities came in later years, and while 
still carrying on tiie farm he went to winter school 
until he became fairly well educated. He remained 
under the parental roof until he was thirty years 
old, although when of age he bought eighty acres 
adjoining tiie homestead, and undertook its im- 
provement. He subsequently purchased an im- 
proved farm of eighty acres which he operated for 
some j'cars, and finally became the owner of vari- 
ous tracts, amounting to over live hundred acres. 

In 1872 Mr. Brown went to Europe, enjoying a 
pleasant voyage from NevT York to Glasgow on 
the steamer "India." He visited the home of his 
mother's people in Scotland, his own birthplace in 
the Emerald Isle, and then spent some time in 
England, France and Germany. Early in 1873 he 
returned on the steamer "California," sailing from 
Glasgow and on iliis occasion experiencing what 
a storm brings to an ocean traveler. After his re- 
turn he began dealing in farm lands, buying and 
selling unimproved propcily until over three thou- 
sand acres had passed through his hands. Of im- 
proved farm lands he has handled tracts in Gratiot, 
Ionia, Montcalm, Saginaw, Midlanil and otlier 
counties, and in this and Gratiot Counties alone 
lie has owned some five hundred farms. At the 
same time he has carried on agricultural work, 
operating some five hundred acres of land. Besides 
operating in this State Mr. Brown has dealt in pine 
and oak lands in Arkansas, principally in Cleve- 



land, Desha and Pulaski Counties. In 1889 he es- 
tablished his home where he is now living. 

Mr. Brown has various financial interests besides 
his ownership of about fouiteen hundred acres of 
land in this county and real-estate elsewhere. He 
and J. Corbet own the St. John's Hotel and he is 
associated with Robert Young in the ownersliip of 
three stores, and with his brother in that of one 
and has two others of his own, he is a share-holder 
in a company that owns most of Durand, Siiiawas- 
sec Count}', and is President of the Durand Laud 
Company, which was organized in July, 1888. He 
is also a stock-holder and Director in the State 
Bank, and was Cashier from 1887 until October, 
1889, when he resigned as he had not time to at- 
tend to his duties. He is also a Director and large 
shareholder in the Cooper Boiler & Engine Com 
pany, which manufactures engines in which gaso- 
line, cosl or wood can be consumed. 

Notwithstanding his extensive business interests 
Mr. Brown finds time to discharge some public 
duties and join in some social schemes. In 1883 
he was elected County Treasurer and re-elected 
two years later, serving continuously until Janu- 
ary, 1887. He has held some township offices since 
he was of age and at various times has been Treas- 
urer, Clerk and Supervisor. He held the last-named 
office in Bengal Township, until bis removal. He 
has been Notarj- Public for j'ears, is a momber of 
the School Board, and was one of the Committee 
on designs for the building when the present build- 
ing was put up. He was nominated for tiie Legis- 
lature in 1870, and run two hundred ahead of his 
ticket in the western half of the county and came 
within tiiirty votes of election. His name was 
placed before the people on the Republican ticket 
with which party he was identified until the Green- 
back movement. He is now independent in poli- 
tics. He has been sent as delegate to various 
conventions c>f each party, and for several years 
was Chairman of the Greenback Count}- Central 
Committee. 

Mr. Brown was married in Bingham in January. 
1876, to Miss Ella Conn. This lady was born in 
the Green Mountain State but has lived in Michi- 
gan since she was a year old. Of tlie happy union 
there has been born two chikh-en, Bulab ami Ralph 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



465 



the latter, deceased. The family attend and support 
the Methodist Episcopal C'hurcli. Jlr. Brown is 
connected with the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men. His portrait is presented in connection with 
this brief biographical notice. 




ERKY HADSALL was born in Exeter 
Township, Luzerne County, Pa.. March 1, 
1837. He is a son of Edward and .lane 
(Diamond) Hadsall. His parents were 
natives of the same State and county in which tlieir 
son was born. They came to Michigan in Septem- 
ber, 18jG, and settled in Colioctah, Livingston 
Count}', on a farm, where they are both residing. 
The father of the family has attained more than 
the prescribed tlirce-score and ten years and at the 
age of suvcnly-eight is still able lo oversee and 
conduct much of the work of ids farm. Agricul- 
ture has been a life business with him and he still 
owns the small farm on which he resides. 

Edward Hadsall is one of the many who suffered 
most bittcrl}' from the horrors of the laic war. 
During the war he was taken prisoner by the Con- 
federates and was held two months at Danville, 
and from there he was sent to Libby Prison, where 
the few months in which be en<lured the short ra- 
tions, abuse, filth and vermin almost terminated his 
life. However, he was more fortunate than man}' 
of his comrades, who (lerisiied so miserably in that 
dread Southern prison, and w.as exchanged. Onlj' 
those who have had friends that the}' believed lost 
to them, returned as it were, from the dead, can 
understand the joy of such a home-coming as that 
of Mr. Hadsall after his bitter Southern experience. 
He was never able to do a good day's work after 
his discharge. He was an ardent Republican in 
politics, but never had any ambition to hold otlice. 

The parents of our subject had a family of nine 
children, of whom Perry was the third. He 
was reared in his native town and county on the 
farm, where he remained until September, 18G5, 
when he came to Michigan and located in Byron, 
taking up the business of milling, which he fol- 
lowed for a year. He then turn(;d his attention to 



working at the carpenter's and builder's trade, 
which business he pursued for about nine years and 
then built his present sawmill, to which he has 
ever since given his time and attention. With his 
milling business he also combines that of the insur- 
ance business, being agent for the Oakland, Gen- 
esee and Shiawassee Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
pany. Mr. Hadsall started in life without any 
means whatever and has jjroved his executive abil- 
ity b}- amassing more than a competency in his 
chosen branches of work. He is a Republican in 
politics, having cast his lirst vote for Abraham 
Lincoln. 

The esteem in whicii Mr. Hadsall is held in the 
township in which he resides is evidenced b}' the 
numerous ollices which have been conferred upon 
him by the vote of the peoi)le. He has attained 
the third degree in the Masonic order and has been 
honored by all the odices in the lodge. 

In the fall of )850, in the bright sunny days of 
October Mr. Hadsall was married to Miss Emily 
Bailey of Exeter Township, Luzerne County, Pa., 
who became the head of his house and home. The 
lady was born in Goshen, Orange County, N. Y., 
March 7, 18;59,and was a daughter of Samuel and 
Permelia (Blain) Bailey. The gentleman of whom 
we write and his estimable wife are the parents of 
one child, Permelia J., now the wife of Dr. B. S. 
Knai)p, of Owosso. They have been blessed with 
two children — Carl and Hazel, both of whom are 
living. 



'f^sm- 



ROBERT E. DA VIES. This name will be 
J^ recognized by many of our readers a.s that 
>* of one of the firm of W. T. <fe R. E. Da- 
^^ vies, proprietors of the Green bush Fan- 
ning-mill Factory, whicli turns out hundreds of 
those useful articles each j'ear. Tlic works are lo- 
cated on section 15, Greenbush Township, fitted 
with adequate machinery, and during the year 
1801 the output is expected to be at least four 
hundred. Mr. Davies is also well known as one of 
the officials of Clinton County, now serving in the 
capacity of Clerk of Giecnbnsh Township. He 
has held the ollice continuously since 1863, and 



466 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



prior to that time had acted one year, in 1861. 
Besides his extensive manufacturing interest Mr. 
Davies lias a half ownership of over four hundred 
acres of land. He resides in an attractive dwelling, 
which is furnished in keeping with his means and 
and the good taste of the famil}', and enjo.ys the 
manj' comforts of a prosperous rural resident. 

The parents of our subject were Robert and 
Marj' A. (Thomas) Davies, the one a native of 
"Wales, and the other of County Kent, England. 
His father was a valiant soldier in the British army, 
fought during the Peninsular War in Spain, took 
part in the battle of Waterloo, and was stationed 
in France three years after that famous engage- 
ment. The son of whom we write was born in 
Counly Sussex, England, October 5, 1830, and was 
reared in his native land to his twentietli year. 
His education was mainly acquired in the national 
schools, but after he emigrated to America, he did 
some studying in the Empire State, attending a 
school in Lyons. In 1849 he crossed the Atlantic, 
taking passage at Liverpool on the American clip- 
per ship ''DeWilt Clinton," and after an ocean 
voyage of thirty days landing at New York City. 
Thence he went to Lyons, wliere he served an ap- 
prenticeship of three years in a fanning-mill fac- 
tory. He remained there nearly two years after he 
learned his trade, then in the fall of 1854 came to 
Michigan. 

Mr. Davies stopped at Grand Rapids, and spent 
a year working as a journeyman, then located in 
Clinton Count}', and with his brother William T. 
embarked in business. The brother had come to 
America in 18r)l, and learned the trade in L3ons, 
N. Y., and the two undertook the manufacture of 
fanning-mills and milk safes. For three years thej' 
rented a shop, then having acquired some capital, 
they bought land and put up a building, some 
20x30 feet in size, to which the}- have added at 
various times until the factory has .assumed its 
present large proportions. Their fanning-mills 
have acquired a wide reputation, extending over 
the State, and thoGreenbush Fanning-mill Factory 
ranks among the leading industries of the kind in 
Central Micliigan. The factory is supplied with 
such machinery as will facilitate the labor and re- 
duce the cost of production, so that the mills can 



be sold at reasonable rates, an<l much ability has 
been manifested by the proprietors in carrying on 
their project and building up their tr.ade. 

For a number of j-ears Mr. Davies had the sym- 
pathy and encour.igement of a devoted wife, 
whose maiden name was Alice Thomas. She was 
a daughter of Slieai and Hannah Thomas, was well 
able to discharge the duties devolving upon a 
housekeeper and mother, and possessed a fine 
Christian cliar.acter. She was identified with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in the faith of which 
she died March 17, 1889. She was the mother of 
four children, named respectivelj', Robert T., Nel- 
lie, Edith M. and James R. The first-born is de- 
ceased. The older daughter is the wife of Lewis 
AV. Marshall. 

Mr. Davies is a Methodist, and has been Steward 
in the church. Politically he is a Republican. He 
has been jtre-eminently successful in life, and his 
career affords an example of what may be accom- 
plished by a young man of determined spirit and 
good natural ability, without financial aid from 
others. He is courteous, obliging and hospitable, 
keeps abreast of the times in his knowledge of 
general topics, and takes a deep interest in the 
progress of mankind, both ne.ar his home and in 
remoter regions. He is one of the most inlluen- 
tial men of the locality, and one in whom his ac- 
quaintances have implicit confidence. 



<JI )»ILLIAM WRIGHT. Shiawassee County 
\ r\jl is noted for its fine farms, and i'S|)ccially 
W^J for the comfort in which its agriculturists 
live. Almost universally they have spacioii!^, com- 
modious homes, in which the comfort and conve- 
niences that seem so necessary to modern life are 
to be found. The farm of William Wright, located 
on section 17, Owosso Township, is not an excep- 
tion. Its owner came to Michigan in 1876, having 
been born in Frontenac, Canada, in 1842, the 29111 
of November. He was the j'oungest of a family 
of eight. His father was John Alexander Wright, 
a native of Ireland, who settled in Canada in 1839. 
His mother's maiden name was Alice Dunn. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



467 



Our subject's father purchased the farm wliioh 
liail previously bc'loi)<>e(l to William Mason, ami 
which contained eighty acres, and to which he 
afterward added ei;,dity acres more. This farm 
boasts of all the latest iini)rovements in agricul- 
tural implements. Mr.Wright is engaged in hand- 
ling farm machinery, among which are the Peerless 
binders and mowers and the Butler wind-engine, 
and he owns the Van Wagoner patent fence, for 
which he has the agency in Rush, Midtllebury, 
Owosso and Bennington townships, lie is also en- 
gaged in manufacturing and erecting a fine wire 
feuce for the gas works in Owosso. 

In 1870 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Rhoda 
Ann Orsen. who was born in Frontenac County, 
Canada. Their family consists of George U., A. 
Torrence, J. Howard, Edmund G. and Sadie Pearl. 
George lias attended the ISt. John's High School 
and the Industrial College, at Owosso, and expects 
to engage in mercantile business. Torrence is a 
student at the Oakside School at Owosso, where he 
is preparing to take upon himself the work of a 
teacher. He also intends evenlually to take up the 
study of law. Our subject was formerly a Repub- 
lican, but since the formation of the Prohibition 
party he has transferred its allegiance to it. Mr. 
Wright has a fine farm that is very well im- 
proved. It is well drained, and the purest water is 
accessible from every part of the farm, conveyed 
thither by pipes that lead from a reservoir filled b^- 
a wind engine. 



]^^ ANIEL B. CHASE, a reitresentative farmer 
' residing on section 2'.), Essex Township, 



P 



Clinton County, is a native of New York, 
being born in Albany County, .Iiine 30, IS12. His 
father, Joseph J. Chase was born in Rhode Island 
in 1T80 and came to New York when young, and 
followed farming. He died about the year 1804 
and left behind him the respect and esteem of all 
who knew him for his honest and earnest Christain 
character. The grandfather, .Joshua, was the son 
of another Joshua. William Chase was the first of 
the family in America, coming with the fieet which 



brought Gov. Wintliio|) and his colony to America 
in 1C30. He died in 1659 and his two sous, 
Thomas and Aquilla, were among the first settlers 
of Hampton, N. H. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Mary Snyder, and was a native of Albany 
County, N. Y. She died about the year 185.5. Of 
her nine children three are living, two daughters 
and one son, our subject. He was reared on the 
farm and had very little education in his boyhood, 
although his father was possessed of a good educa- 
tion and was a teacher. Most of his school days 
were passed in Cayuga County, N. Y., where he 
went to school in the log school-house. When he 
was twenty-one years old he hired out to work on 
a farm at ^11 a month. The following spring be 
decided to go West, and taking a canal boat at Pt. 
Byron for Buffalo and thence a steamer to Detroit, 
he reached that jwjiiit and journeyed on foot to 
Chicago, reaching that place in 1831. He worked 
for a short time in a brick yard and then on a farm 
at Naperville, twenty-five miles west of Chicago, 
receiving ^12 a month. He did not remain there 
long but spent part of the year at Ottawa. In the 
spring of 1835 he walked eighty miles to Chicago 
to attend an auction of Government land, ftnd bid 
o£f a quarter-section which lay along the Illinois 
River. At the same time he purchased a lot in 
.loliet for forty dollars which he kept for twenty 
years and sold for S^GOO, the same lot four years 
later bringing ^10,000. He soon disposed of his 
quarter-section of land to friends and returned 
East to Cayuga County, N. Y. on foot. He travel- 
e<l to Michigan City lifty-two miles the first day. 

The young man now undertook the management 
of his father's farm on shares and afterwaid 
bought twenty-seven acres which was sold at slicr- 
ilT's sale, and three months later disposed of this 
land for twice what it cost him. The following 
fall he returned West and began work in the pin- 
cry in Allegan County, at >^'2Q per month. After 
si)ending part of the winter here he walked U> Chi- 
cago and from there to Soutli|)ort, Wisconsin. After 
a short time there betook up a claim. The follow- 
ing spring he [)urchased six yoke of oxen and with 
another man undertook breaking |)rhiric for neigh- 
bors. For three years be kept bachelor's hall. He 



468 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAFHICAL ALBUM. 



fenced his half section and exchans<-efl it for a small 
farm in New York, wiiere lie now settled down to 
farming. 

In 1862 Mr. Chase exchanged his New York 
farm for part of what he now owns on section 29, 
Essex Township, Clinton County, Mich. The 
eighty acres which he now owns, was pretty well 
improved and he secured about eighty .acres more. 
His marriage took place in 1837 and he was then 
united with Catherine Switzer of New York. She 
died November 8, 1;863, having been the mother 
of nine children. Those now living are, Munson, 
Catherine (Mrs. George Bush,) Nancy (Mrs. 
Horace Skinner), Charles H., editor of the Gratiot 
County Journal, and Adelbert, who is also 
connected with tliat paper. To all of his children, 
Mr. Chase gave an excellent education. His second 
marriage took place July 7, ISSO. His wife was 
Mrs. Melissa Swarlhout who had been twice 
married before uniting her fortunes with those of 
our subject. Her first husband was James Kollcy, 
a native of New York who lived in Michigan. 
Her second husband was Charles Swarthout who 
died soon after their marriage. She is the daughter 
of Ralzmond and Sallie (Jason) Griffin, natives of 
Connecticut and New York respectively. Mrs. 
Chase is the mother of four children, all by her 
first husband and all of whom are married and 
gone from home. 

Mr. Chase was reared a Democrat and became a 
Republican about the time of the organization of 
that party. He has belonged to the Methodist 
Episcopal Ciiiirch for fifty years and Mrs. Chase 
is an efficient member of the Baptist Churcli. He 
has one hundred and sixty acres of land all well 
improved, and has placed upon it a fine large house 
and a good barn, and has in a word an elegant 
farm which is an ornament to the township. In 
1886 he rented his farm for three j'ears and made 
his home in Palo, Ionia County, after which he re- 
turned to the farm. He has had considerable 
dealings in lands both buying and selling. 

Ralzmond Griffin, tlie father of Mrs. Chase w.as 
the third son of Lomcr (Jriffln, and was born in 
Barkiianistead, Conn., February 22, 1803, and 
died May 1, 1888. His father was a native of 
Granby, Conn., where he was born April 22, 1759, 



and died at Lodi, Ohio, in 1880, at the extreme 
age of one hundred and twenty-one years. Before 
his death he had seen grandchildren, great-grand- 
children and great-great-grandchildren. The moth- 
er of Mrs. Chase died in 1884 at the age of eighty- 
two years. She was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and her husband was a Con- 
gregationalist. Five of their seven children are 
still living. Our subject has held the ofl5ce of 
Highway Commissioner, .School Inspector and As- 
sessor. The offices were held in New York. 



'S^{^- 



* i w ■ • 



B. HOLMES, a well-known and leading 
business man of Dur.and, Shiawassee Count}', 
was born in the same township, Vernon, Jan- 
uary 18, 1850. Here he has grown to manhood 
and has made such a record throughout as to have 
gained the esteem of his neighbors. His father, 
Edward Holmes, a native of New York, was born 
in 1810 and after being reared in his native place, 
came to Michigan in 1847, and coming direct to 
Vernon Township, locited on a farm in section 19. 
This he improved and remained on it as long as he 
lived and passed away from earth in 1881. He 
was a Democrat in his political views and was 
identified with the Masonic order, being a Royal 
Arch ISIason. 

Nancy Kinney was the maiden name of her who 
became the mother of our subject and she was born 
in New York, in which Stale also she married Ed- 
ward Holmes. Nine children came to gather 
aiound their fircsiile and they had the joy of seeing 
them all grow to manhood and womanhood and fill 
positions of usefulness in life. 

Mr. Holmes is the third son and fourth child of 
his parents and his first and only schooling was re- 
ceived in Vernon Township. He remained with 
his parents until twenly -one years of age and after 
working by the day in a sawmill for three years, 
spent seven years clerking in the general store of 
L. D. Goss, first at Vernon, then at Perry and 
afterward at Morris. His first independent busi- 
ness venture was made at Morris, where he put in 
a stock of groceries, and carried on business for 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGEAPHICAL ALBUM. 



469 



throe years. He Uien sold out in Aiiril, 1887, ancl 
the year followinsj; located at the stand where he 
now does business. The same year be built the 
brick store which he occupies and has increascil his 
stock by the addition of dry goods, hats, ca|)s, 
boots and shoes. 

Mr. Holiness' union in marriage witii .lulia Tyler, 
took place on New Year's Day, 1871*, and has 
brought him a happy home and one son, Carl T. 
wlio was born in 1880. Mrs. Holmes is a native of 
the Wolverine State, and was born in 1856. Her 
education and training were received at Perry. 
Tliis gentleman's political views are somewhat in- 
dcpcndcnt in their nature and he voles for the man 
vvliom he considers the best possible incumbent for 
thii oHice to be filled. He is identified with the 
Masonic order and belongs to tlic North Newberg 
Lodge at Durand. Corunna Chapter No. 33, and 
Corunna Commandry No. 21. He is a liberal con- 
tributor to every cause which he considers worthy 
and is wideawake to the interests of the community. 



-o*o.-^^<,^^-o*a^ 



^ II. I'OWEU, a prominent young liusiness 
'' man of St. John's, is Cashier of the State 
Rank of that city. He is a native of the 
county, having been born on his father's farm one 
mile south of Eureka, August 18, 1863. His 
father, the late J. E. Power, was born in Perry 
County, Pa., near Pliiladelphia. He learned the 
trade of a millwright at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and 
worked there until about 1850. He then came to 
Clinton County, this State, and took up three hun- 
dred and twenty acres in (ireenbush Township. 
He was among the first settlers there atid bis claim 
was in the thick woods, where he literally hewed 
out a farm. He did not entirely abandon his trade, 
but gave his principal attention to farming until 
his death, in 1885. He was Township Supervisor 
fifteen years. He was married in Mt.N'ernon, Oliio, to 
Mahalu Hrown, who survives him and is now living 
in St. John's. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, 
her father being Asa Brown, a farmer there. She 
is a most estimable woman and has been a devoted 
mother to her eight children, of whom D. H. is 



the youngest. She is a niemlicr in good standing 
of tlic Christian Church. 

Tiie gentleman whose name introduces these 
paragraphs spent his early years on a farm and [jur- 
sueii his studies in the district school until he was 
fifteen years old. He then attended the high 
school at Ovid and having eoniiileted the course of 
study was graduated in 1883. Tlic fall of the next 
year he entered the State Normal School at Ypsil- 
anli and after diligent study for twelve months was 
graduated from the English class. He had already 
begun teaching, |)utting in his time at professional 
work in the intervals of attendence at school, his 
first term iiaving been begun when he was nineteen 
years old. After leaving the Normal school, ht had 
charge of the grammar de[)artmcnt in the Ovid 
school one year, and he then became a salesman 
for the Dickerson Publishing Company of Detroit. 

For two years Mr. L'ower worked for that com- 
pany throughout the Southern and >Vestern States 
and in the prosecution of the duties of general 
agent, he visited twelve of the sisters of the He- 
public. In January, 1887, he became connected 
with the State Bank of St. John's, as discount and 
collection clerk. His faithfulness and accuracy 
and his evident fitness for bauking led to promo- 
tion and in a short time he was book-keeper for the 
institution. He then became Teller and Assistant 
Cashier and for a year — the Cashier being absent — 
he transacted all the business pertaining to that po- 
sition. In October, 1889, when Mr. Brown re- 
signed, he was chosen to success him. Mr. Power 
is o.ie of the stockholders in the bank, and his 
financial ability and reputation for thoroughness 
and honesty arc potent factors in the success of the 
institution. 

At the bride's home in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1880, 
Mr. Power was united in marriage with Miss Clara 
La Montine, daughter of Thomas La Montine, a 
prominent railioad employe in the Forest City. 
She was born there, had liie advantage of excellent 
schooling and good associations, and is well calcu- 
lated to make a iiapi)y home and attract to it a 
pleasant circle of actpiaintances, Mr. and Mrs. 
Power have one child. Mr. l'ower is a Knight 
Templar, belonging to a eoinmandery in St. John's. 
He is a member of the Michigan Banker's Associa- 



470 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tion, and politically is a Republican. Active, 
quick-witled, well educated and well informed, be 
is an excellent business man, readily perceiving 
what will be for the advantage of the institution, in 
which he is engaged and the town in which he 
lives. He has pleasing social qualities and is a pop- 
ular member of society. 



---s-*- 



^^-^^Vt^^^T^^^- 



y ALTER WRIGHT, who has resided in 
Antrim Townsliip, Shiawassee County, for 
forty years, is a native of Coxsaekie, 
Greene County, N. Y., born September 4, 1824. 
His father, .lames, came to Livingston County, 
Mich., in 183G, and entered a half section of land 
which he cleared and improved. He came across 
Canada with two yoke of oxen .ind a team of 
horses. His life ended at Howell, Livingston 
County, this State, about 1872, at the ripe old ag'c 
of eighty-four j'ears. He was a man of prominence 
and influence and lias held various local offices in- 
cluding that of Justice of the Peace. He was also 
a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

The grandfather, William Wright, of New York, 
was a Revolutionary soldier, coming out of that 
struggle as Orderly Sergeant, and drew a pension 
until his death in 1838. The mother of our subject 
bore the maiden name of Cynthia Clark and w.as a 
native of Connecticut. She died in 1851, leaving 
to her children the fragrant memory of a beautiful 
Christian life. She was a devoted member of the 
ISIelhodist Episcopal Church and a faithful mother 
of twelve children, eight of whom still live. 

The sul)ject of this brief sketch was reared upon 
the farm and received his education in the district 
schools. He was twelve years old when his parents 
removed to Michigan, old enough to be a keen ob- 
server of the various phases of pioneer life and 
well remembers this country when deer, bears, 
wolves and other vvild game were plentiful. He 
was not a stranger to the red man for he used to 
"dicker" with him frequently, exchanging "nappa- 
nee" (flour) for buckskins and other commodities. 
Young Wright helped his father, who was a car- 



penter, to build the first frame schoolhouse in his 
district. He afterward worked at the trade consid- 
erably and has built agood many barns and sheds 
for his neighbors. He remained at home until of age 
when he struck out for himself, working a year or 
so at coopering, a trade at which he became quite 
an expert. 

Antrim Township became the home of our sub- 
ject in the fall of 1848, and purch.ased the farm on 
section 21, where he now resides. Some few .acres 
had been cleared of trees but were onl^' partially 
improved, lie entered into partnership about this 
time with a brother and built and operated a saw- 
mill. In 1851 he went to California to seek his 
fortune, journeying via the Isthmus and spending 
four years in the Sunset .State. He mined to some 
extent and was also connected with a company 
which operated a sawmill. After working at these 
and other employments he returned in 1855 to his 
former home, where he had retained his interest. 
Here he resumed farming and continued to clear 
and improve the hand. 

After his trial of Western life Mr. Wright de- 
cided that it would be best to inaugurate a home 
of his own, and he was married in 1858 to Miss 
Hannah Miller, a native of Macomb County, Mich., 
by whom he has had five children, namely: Alice 
at home; Mira, tlie wife of .Jonathan McCaig, a 
farmer in this township; John L. and Millie who 
are at home, and one child who died in infancy. 
He was reared a AVhig but became a Republican 
and more recently a Prohibitionist. For twenty- 
two years he filled the offlee of Justice of the 
Peace, was Treasurer for four years and School 
Inspector for quite a term. He belongs to the order 
of Ocid Fellows. 

One of the strongest formative influences in the 
life of Walter Wright and his family h.as been the 
religious atmosphere which has ever pervaded their 
home. Being descended from godly parents, the 
Christian religion has ever been their inspiration, 
guide and strength. They are connected with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Wright 
has been a merabe'- for over fifty years, and where 
he has been prominently identified in an official 
capacity and as a zealous worker for all its good 
objects. He has ever been a liberal contributor 



PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



473 



to benevolent and otlier wortliy causes and sjavc 
liberally toward the erection of a handsome cliuicii 
in his neigh l)orliood. His character and tlie true 
l)rinciples by which he lias ever been sruided com- 
niend the relii,'ioii in which he believes to all wiio 
know him. He began the battle of life without 
means but has attained to a handsome properly of 
one hundred and forty acres of rich and arable 
land in a high state of cultivation. 

A view of this estate is shown on another page 
of this work. 




vILLIAM riXLKV \AN J.IEW. The gen- 
/// lleman whose name he.ids our sketch and 
who owns a farm on section 16, Henning- 
ton Townshi|), was born in Monroe Courity, N. V., 
October 2, 1824. His parents were .lohn and 
Uosina ( \'an T:issel) \'an Liew, of New Jersey. 
'I'hey are both descendants of old Knickerbocker 
families. In ISGS Mr. Van Liew came to Michi- 
gan and for four 3'ears lived at Franklin, Lenawee 
County. In Ma}', 1872, he came to Shiawassee 
County and .secured liis present farm, a part of 
which is one of the earliest settled places in tiie 
county, liaving been secured by the Coif family in 
1830 from the Government. The original settlers 
were oblige<l to cut out their own roadway through 
the forest for two miles from the (irand River road. 
Mr. Van Liew is a man of taste and judgment 
and his home, which is a very handsome ))Iace, 
bears evidence to his culture and refinement. His 
beautiful residence, a view of which is presented on 
another page, would grace the fashionable thorough- 
fares of any of the large cities and tiie interior ar- 
rangement and finish compare favorably with the 
much more pretentious residences on Euclid or 
Madison Avenues. The house was erected in 1887 
from plans prepared by a professional architect, 
and the interior finish is in natural oak and walnut. 
The latter bears a tinge of color and tone of rich- 
ness found only in the choice lumber seasoned by 
time. The walnut used is taken from the boards used 
as the chamber floor in the first house constructed 
by the pioneer Mr. Coif over half a century ago, 



.and aside from its richness of tone, it for this rea- 
son has a value, because of its historical associa- 
tion. \\:iter is supplied by an automaiic wind en- 
gine, which forces it into a reservoir over the 
kitchen, whence it p.asse.s through large pipes to the 
large barn and cattle sheds. Commanding :is it 
docs a view of the surrounding fields and spri'ad- 
ing countr}', the hoini^ is a delightful one and a de- 
sirable place for a man to live a retired life, realiz- 
ing the comforts and benefits of the real home. 

Mr. Van Liew was married in Wayne County, 
N. v., October 10, 1850, to Miss Louisa Ilollen- 
beck, who was born at Upper Lisle, Broome County, 
N. Y., being the daughter of .Silas W. and Anna 
Catherine (Coburn) Ilollenbeck. One son, Henry 
Beech Van Liew, born August 8, 18,54, is the or)ly 
child. He was married April 13, 1887, to Sarah 
Wilcox, who was born December 16, 1858. They 
have two children, l'"clicia Louisa, born May lo, 
1888, and .Vrtluir Ma.\, born January 12, 1890. 
The son of our subject, Henry B. Van Liew, is the 
Township Clerk and is looked upon as one of the 
active, progressive young men of the neighbor- 
hood. At present he has charge of the farm, which 
consists of one hundred and fori y-five acres. 

Mr. \'an Liew's I'ainil}- is as pleasant as only cul- 
ture and refinement added to naturally amiableaud 
delightful qualities can make one, and their ac- 
(juaintance may be considered not only agreeable 
but beneficial to those with whom they come in 
contact. 



<«l IfelLLIAM M. MESLER. This gentleman 
\/yJ// is a representative farmer, whose home is 
^NS^ in Essex Township, Clinton County, on a 
tract of land consisting of one hundred acres, 
where he has made a good home by industry, and 
judicious management. He is a native of the Em- 
pire .State, having been born in Orleans County, 
August 27, 1838, and is one of the nine children 
born to Absalom and Sarah (Wyman) Meslcr. His 
father was a native of New Jersey and his mother 
was born in Vermont. The other surviving mem- 
bers of the parental household are Candace, wife 



474 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Nelson Thompson, whose home is in Niagara 
County, N. Y. ; Charles V., a captain of the Union 
Army; William M.; Augusta, who lives in the Em- 
pire Stale; Samuel; Mary, wife of Samuel Barton; 
Sarah and Merrill. 

When our subject was an infant less than two 
years old bis parents removed to Niagara County, 
N. Y., where they remained and where he grew to 
manhood. He received a fundamental education 
in the schools of the time, and having been in- 
clined to read, he has supplemented the knowledge 
obtained in his youth by much information re- 
garding topics of general interest and the history 
that is making. In 1866 he came to this State and 
for a time his home was in Lenawee County. 
Thence he removed to his present location in 1868, 
taking possession of a tract of woodland, on which 
he had much hard work to do in subduing the 
rude forces of nature and making it what he 
wished. 

July 1 1, 1868, Mr. Mesler was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Miller, a native of Lenawee County, and 
daughter of Mattison Miller, an early settler there. 
Five children have come to bless the happy home, 
their respective names being Wallace, Ada, La- 
vcrne, Sarali and Ernest. They are being care- 
fully reared and prepared for useful and honorable 
stations in society, and the older ones are already 
assuming their places as worthy children of 
respected parents. 

October 15, 1861, Mr. Mesler enlisted in Com- 
pany B, One Hundred Fifth New York Infantrj-, 
which was consolidated with the Ninety-Fourth 
Infantry in March 1863. He became an integral 
part of the arn.y operating on the James, and was 
with the celebrated First Corps. He fought in the 
battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chancellor- 
ville. Mine Run, the Wilderness, and otiiers of 
minor importance, and was honorably disc^harged 
in November, 1861. By reason of disability in- 
( ured while in the service of his country he is in 
receipt of a pension of ¥22 per month. With his 
comrades of a Grand Army Post at Maple Rapids 
he lives over again the scenes of his array life, and 
from them and others he hears much that is of 
interest, regarding the work done in other parts of 
the South. He is a Republican in politics. Mr. 



Mesler has been Treasurer of the School Board in 
bis district, and has in various ways been con- 
nected with the best interests of the people by 
whom he is respected and among whom he has 
many warm friends. 



]|(^_^ EBER W. HILL, who resides on section 6, 
ji De AVitt Township, was boin in Watertown 
'^y^ Township, Clinton Countj', November 25, 
t^l) 1840. His father, Stei)hen, was born in 
Maine, in 180',), and the grandfather, Enoch, was a 
native of England, and made his home for years 
upon the island of Newfoundland, whence he came 
later to Maine. He there followed lumbering and 
farming and owned a finely- impi'oved farm. Me 
reared twelve or thirteen children and died in old 
age. 

The father of our subject learned the trade of a 
sawyer in Maine and followed it there. He came 
to Michigan while yet a single man in 1836, and 
located at Plymouth, Wayne County, where he 
worked on a farm and taught school. After re- 
maining there two years he came to Clinton County, 
in 1838, and settled tirst in Wateitown Township, 
taking up one hundred and sixtj' acres of (iovern- 
ment land at $1.25 per .acre. He brought with 
him enough flour to last until after harvest, and 
jet he saw some hard times. He raised some wheat 
on shares in Wajne County and from that got 
enough flour to last for several years. He jour- 
neyed there on foot to harvest his wheat. 

Mr. Hill was united in marriage in IMyuiouth, 
AVaj'ne County, this State, to Miss Olive Gooch> 
and built a log cabin on his claim, where he 
was surrounded by friendlj' Indians and wild game 
in great abundance. He was no huntsman but 
bought meat from the Indians. He was a hard 
worker, a Republican in politics and Justice of the 
Peace for years, besides holding other minor of- 
flces, ami died iu 1886. 'i'lie mother of our sub- 
ject was born in .Maine in 1816, and came to Mich- 
igan with her parents through Canada by team in 
1834. She is still living in Watertown Township. 
Of her eight children live grew to maturity. Lucj' 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



475 



(Mrs. Utley), ITeber \V. ; Bartlette who died in the 
Wnr; Elre\' 15.; Leo C; Amos; Frank; and .lessie 
who died wlien youno;. Their niotlier's parents, 
Benjamin and Lucy (Boyington) Gooch, were 
natives of Maine where Mr. Gooch engaged in 
lumbering, beinj^ also a merchant. He had a cargo 
of lumber destroyed by the English during the 
AVarof 1812, wliich broke him up in business. He 
came West about 18;) 4 and lived first in Waj-ne 
and then in Kent County' and died in Grand 
Rapids, wlien eighty-seven 3'ears of age. He w.is 
a Democrat in politics. The mother of Mrs. Hill 
was drowned in the Erie Canal on their way West. 
She was walking across the dock of the can.Tl boat 
at night in the lain and accidentally stoppe<l off 
into the water. He afterward twice marrii'd. 

The subject of this skctcii was born in Water- 
town Township. Clinton Count)% and reared ui)on 
the farm. He walked three miles to his lirst school, 
which was a lug house furnished witli slab seats 
and writing desks around the wall. <^uill [lens 
were then in use, the rate bill system was in vogue, 
and the teacher boarded around. When twenty 
years of .age, our subject hired out liy the month, 
on the w.ages of ^15, and after three years, he took 
his savings and went into the lumber business which 
he followed for eight years. 

In 1864 Mr. Hill settled on a small farm in Kent 
County, while luniberiiig there, and ran a grocery 
for a year and a half at (4 rand Rapids. He after- 
wards went into the furniture and undertaking 
business at White Hall, Muskegon County, but after 
four years sold out his business and bought the 
farm where lie now resides. He afterward return- 
ed for three years to While Hall and engaged in 
wagon-making, after wliich he returned to his pres- 
ent home in 1878. 

Ilebert W. Hill married Florence I'tlej' in IHIM. 
This lady was born in DeWilt Township this 
county, May 21, 1848. .She is the mother of six 
children: Kiltie B., Bessie A.; Cnrmalila, (Jrace 
M.; one who died in infancy and Kandolph. The 
three eldest daughters are teaching school. Mrs. 
Hill is a member of the Uaptist Chiireh and Mr. 
Hill has been connected with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church for fifteen years. For many years 
he was a Republican and later an Independent and 



is now a stanch Prohibitionist. While living in 
Kent County, he held many of the iiiinor township 
oflices and was an Ald'.'rinan at While Hall, lie has 
a fine farm of eighty-two acres which he is carry- 
ing on and he also runs a milk wagon, gathering 
up milk for the condenser at Lansing. 




OBERT CHARLES SHEP.VRl). It has been 
our i)leasing task to ohronicle the history 
'v\\\ of the maternal side of our subject's family 
■lunder the biographical sketch of Mrs. Lucy 
Doanc. In ancestry the family might successfully 
vie with any of the New York "Four Hundred" or 
the F. F. V.'s of Virginia. Robert Charles Siicpard 
was born April 21, IS.iS in Owosso Township and 
is the cider of two sons, the younger being Samuel 
Manley Shepiird, who was born August 2G, 18(;i, 
and died of consuinplioii March 1, 1887, at the age 
of twenty -two years and six months. 

This is one of the oldest families of Central 
Michigan, they having settled in Owosso 'i'ownsliip 
in 1841. Capt. Chauncy Franklin Shepard de- 
ceased, the father of our subject, was horn Septem- 
ber 21, 1829, in Ni.agara County, N, V., where his 
parents Samuel and Miss Ann Park were married. 
He was inanied June 1, 1853. to Amanda K. (iiiil- 
fonl, daughter of Franklin Paul and Samantha 
(Manley) Guilford, who was born February 6, 1831, 
and died .Tune 13, 1883. Capt. Sli(>pard w.as prom- 
inently connceled with the educalloiial interests of 
the county, having been te.acher for upwards of ten 
years and mucii of that time Principal of the Hen- 
derson graded school. The young couple imme- 
diately made their home on the farm adjoining the 
present farm of F. M. Shepard, his half-brother, 
upon which they resided until after his return from 
the array. 

Capt. Shepard was at one time quite prominently 
connected with strong financial men in the devel- 
opment of oil properties in Canada, but his venture 
in this direction, as has been the history almost 
universally with oil operators, proved the opposite 
of satisfactory and he severed his connection with 
that company to engage in farming, securing the 



476 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



homestead at present occupied by liis son, in 18G7. 
Capt. Sliepard's military career is a prominent one 
and few men did more to raise troops and further 
the cause to which he was devotedly attaeiied. He 
had strong- convictions and having engaged in the 
cause of union and liberty he considered no sacri- 
fice too great and his whole effort and service was 
to uiihold and support the war. 

The father of our subject was fii'st enlisted in 
Company D, First Michigan Cavalry' under Capt. 
Josiah Park of Ovid and was stationed at Detroit. 
The following year he enlisted one hundred and 
twelve soldiers in Shiawassee County for Company 
B, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and his merit and etti- 
ciency were recognized by the old war Governor, 
Austin Blair, who issued his commission as Lieu- 
tenant of that command under Ca|)t. Mix. After 
going with his company to the front he was taken 
sick and when he was siiffleiently recovered to 
travel, was discharged and returned home. Recu- 
perating sufficiently, he again assisted in recruiting 
soldiers for Company F, of the Tentii Michigan 
Cavalry and this lime enlisted one hundred and 
twelve men. He received his commission October 
24, 1HG3, making him Captain of the company. 

Capt. Siiepard ilistingulshed himself on many 
occasions during the bloody period when the South 
revolted against the Nortii. One notalde occasion 
w.as at -Slrawberry Plains where he commanded two 
hundred and seventy-five men who were attacked 
August 24, 1864, by a force of six thousand rebels 
with nine pieces of artiller}'; after a sharp fight the 
enemy was driven back and the fort and railroad 
bridge saved from destruction. The Captain was 
an otticer of commanding appearance and a skilled 
swordsman, having received the unusual instruc- 
tion in America, in the art of fencing from his 
father who had enjoyed tiie advantage of excellent 
military training. 

The gentleman of whom we write received in 
consideration of his eminent services recognition by 
some of the bravest officers in the war. Grant was 
pleased to honor him particularly and he was fav- 
orably mentioned in various commander's reports 
and finally rewarded a liberal pension. His ability 
as a commander was appreciated by his fellow- 
townsmen who ever after the war insisted on his 



acting as Marshal upon occasions of public parade 
and civic displays where a cool head and clear 
brair. were needed. Politically he was a Democrat 
of the Democrats and did all in his power to in- 
crease the strength of his party's ballot. Wliile 
his party was in a minority in the county he was 
recognized by men of all political complexions :is 
an honest, able and honorable man and one who 
would grace any position to which the will of the 
peoi)le might call him. His decease occurred Feb- 
ruary 18, 18;t(), after a lingering illness covering 
tile last fifteen years of his life, duiing most of 
which time he was confined to his house. 

No one of the [)ioneers of Shiawassee County 
is remembered by more people with a more len- 
der regard than Cai)t. Shepard and when cycles of 
time will have rolled around he will still be num- 
bered among the benefactors of ihe county and one 
of Michigan's most honorable sons. Our subject 
was married October 23, 1877, at Ellington, Chau- 
tauqua County, N. Y., to Miss Emily Stevens, who 
was born there May 7, 1850, being the daughter 
of Cyrus and Fleveline (Manlcy) Stevens. He, 
like his father, lauglil for a short lime and has 
ever been idcnlitied with educational interests, 
being Director of his district. He is a I'rohibitioii- 
ist in politics and votes vvilh that party. Two 
bright children have resulted from the union of 
Mr. and Mrs. Shepard — Blanche Fleveline, who was 
born .September 14, 1880, and Merle Frank, born 
August 25, 1882. 

(41 &ESLEY E. WARNER. The field of news- 
\/\/// ]"^V^^' work opens to men uf mental power 
W^ '"i"'' business tact an opportunity differing 
widely from that of any other line. There are cer- 
tain peculiarities in this work that have come to 
be classed distinctly and if hard to define they are 
easy to distinguish. The man who succeeds in ed- 
iting a good and paying paper in a small town dis- 
plays qualities that entitle him to high considera- 
tion and such are found filling a prominent place 
in society, and a re looked to for the supiioit of all 
I worthy enterprises. In the town of Maple Rapids 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



477 



such a position is held by the subject of tliis sketch, 
who is proprietor and editor of the Maple Rapids 
Dispatch. 

Before noting tlic principal facts in tiie life of 
Mr. Warner some mcnliun of liis parents will not 
y be amiss. His father is (^harlcs J^YlIaiinerj^ who 
was born in Vermont, April 6, 1830, went from 
the Green Mountain Slate to New York and thence 
to Lorain County, Ohio. In the fall of 1855 he 
came to this State and located in Lebanon Town- 
shii), Clinton Count}-, where he still lives. He has 
cleared and improved a farm and carries on agri- 
cultural work although he is a cooper by trade. 
His wife was taken from him b}' death September 
IG. I8'.I0. She was born in Cattaraugus County, 
N. Y., .lanuary 21, 1820, and boi-e the maiden 
name of Angelinc J. .Jackson. Siie was a teacher 
of good repute, and the first term taught in Round 
School-house in Lebanon Township was l>y her 
and ill a log shanty. She was a wfniian of deep 
religious feeling and upright life, but was not ac- 
tively connected with any church at the time of 
her death. Six children were born to this couple 
and four of the nunibcr are now living. 

The son of whom we write was born in Lorain 
County, ()lii(/. October II, 1M.').'5. He was there- 
fore an infant wlieu he came to this State and his 
recollections and associations are entirely with 
Clinton County and the surrounding territory. 
He WPS reared on a farm and obtained his educa- 
tion principally in tiie district school, the temple 
of learning in which he studied being generally a 
a log one. He spent about one j'car .as a student 
in the Ionia High School. Having a bright mind 
and an earnest desire for knowledge he applied 
himself diligently and became thoroughly acquaint- 
ed with the studies tliat he pursued. In Novem- 
ber, 1872, he began leaching and he has a record 
of twenty-three terms of pedagogical work. He 
sjjenl a year and a half in iK)rmal work. In lo- 
calities where he taught he is remembered with 
gratitude and respect, and those whom lie led up 
the hill of science recall wilh ever increasing thank- 
fulness the efforts he made to aid them over llie 
hard places and increase their love of learning. 

In .Inly. 1S85, Mr. Warner purchased the Maple 
Rapids Dispatch and the first issue under his man- 



.igement was on the 1 7th of that moth. The paper 
was founded b}- Orrin and E. I). St. Clair in 1878 
and was conducted by them about three years. It 
then passed into the hands of K. R. Reed, who suc- 
ceeded by Mr. Warner. It is a five column quarto, 
neatly and well printed, carefully edited, and under 
the management of its present proprietor has lieen 
materially improved. The political banner under 
which it is issued is an inde])endcnt one, Mr. War- 
ner lii.Tiself being independent in his use of the 
elective franchise and belicing that as a neutral 
his paper will be more valuable and successful than 
otherwise. The editor is frank in his utterances 
regarding corrii|)tion or improper use of political 
power, and fearless in speaking of other matters in 
which the people are or should bo interested. 

Presiding over the pleasant home of our subject 
is the lady who became his wife September I, 1883. 
Prior to that date she was known as Miss Celia 
H. Burnett, being a daughter (if Alfred and Susan 
(Utier) Burnett, natives of New York and now 
residents of Gratiot Couiity, tiiis State. iMrs. War- 
ner was born in Hartland, Livingston County ; this 
State, recicved a good education and is an .agree- 
able and estimable lady. She and her husband be- 
long to the Christian Church. Mr. Warner has 
been Secretary' of the Odd Fellows Lodge for six 
years and is connected both with the Encanipmeiit 
an<l Rebecca degree. He w.as School Inspector of 
Lebanon Township one year and has acceptably 
filled the position of A'illage Clerk. 



4^^f^- 



\T8AAC F. CRESSMAN is an intelligent and 
|{ worthy farmer residing in Bingham Township, 
/ji near St. John's. He was liorii March 23, 1839 
and is a son of Abram J. Cressnian, a native of 
Pennsylvania who is still living in Xortliamp'on 
Count}-, that State, at the age of sevenl3'-six years. 
His forefathers settled in Pennsylvania in the j'ear 
16 12, coming from Bremen, (lermanj'. The grand- 
father of our subject. .lohn Cressnian, served in the 
War of 1812, and w.as the son of a Revolutionary 
hero. The father of our subject has held several 
township otficcs, and has for many years been a 



478 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



prominent member of the Lutlieran Church. His 
occupation is that of a millwright. His wife, Lydia 
Frulshey, a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1854 
leaving eight children. 

Isaac Cressman is the eldest of his father's chil- 
dren. His brother John is a graduate of Pennsyl- 
vania College at Gett^-sburg, and is a Lutheran 
minister at Kutztown In that State. Edmond is a 
graduate of the Kutztown Normal College, and 
also of the Philadelphia Seminar^', and Oberlin 
College. He is a Congregational minister at .Steel 
City, Neb. Pimauuel is a graduate of the High 
School at Easton, Pa., and also of the .Jefferson 
Medical College at Philadelphia. After complet- 
ing his course there he took a full course in the 
TlicologiCal department of tlie seminary at Phila- 
delphia and is in the Lutheran ministry in Erie 
Countj', Pa. Augustine graduated at Oberlin 
College and is a Congregational minister at Walioo, 
Neb. Martin was educated at the Easton High 
School and after teaching for several years became 
a merchant in Luzerne County, Pa. Melinda now 
Mrs. Knoll lives at Bethlehem, Pa. 

Our subject was brought u[) on the farm and 
when fourteen years old entered the boarding- 
school at Easton, Pa. After graduating there he 
attended three years at the AUentown Seminary. 
He there prepared to enter the Sophmore Class in 
the Pennsylvania College at Gett3'sburg, but owing 
to the breaking out of the war his plans were 
changed. He offered his services in the Union 
Army in 18C1, but was rejected on account of poor 
health. In the fall of 1801 he came West and 
located at Pontiac, Mich., and taught at Auburn 
for two years. In 1863 he came to St. .John's where 
he purchased land in Bengal Township which he 
sold two j'ears later and with the proceeds pur- 
chased the farm on which he now resides. He 
taught school also for some eight years. Not a 
stick of limber had been cut on his present farm 
when he bought it and he has cleared and improved 
it and put it in a fine condition. It contains three 
hundred and sixty acres. 

Mr. Cressman was married in 18G1 to Marj' E. 
Colby, a native of Pontiac, Oakland Count3', this 
Slate, who died in 1872 leaving three chil- 
dren, Isaac, Nellie and Frank. His second mar- 



riage took place in 1873 when he was united with 
Teressa Lanee, who was born in Wayne County, 
Ohio. Her seven children are named, John, Ed- 
ward, Emanuel, Melinda, Ralph. Ethel and Clyde. 
The gentleman of who we write is a .stanch Re- 
publican in his convictions although he does not 
take an active part in political movements. He is 
school inspector and has been a member of the 
Board of Review, serving also for two terms as 
Drainage Commissioner in which latter capacity he 
has laid a great many ditches and always did his 
own surve3ing. He is identified with a number 
of the social orders, belonging to the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, the Masons and the Knights 
Templar. He has taken the Ninety-fifth Degree 
of the Memphis Masonic Rite. He is Piesident of 
the Patrons of Industry of the Subordinate associa- 
tion since its organization, and also President of tlie 
count}' association, also Reijresentative of the Sixtii 
Congressional District of Michigan of the Patrons 
of Industry for North America. He has been con- 
nected with the Lutheran Church for many years 
and his wife is an earnest and conscientious member 
of the Presbyterian Church. He represented the 
Mutual Life Insurance Conipau_v of lioston for five 
years, from 1867 to 1873, having his headquarters 
at Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio. He began 
life with no means and has attained to a good degree 
of prosperity. 



-^m- 



1^, ANIEL Z. JONES, deceased. This former 
resident of Rush Township, Shiawassee 
Count}-, had his nativity in Steuben County, 
N. Y., in 1813. His lather, Andrew Jones, was a 
farmer and miller, born in New York about the 
year 1765. He owned considerable property in 
New Y'ork and operated a gristmill for several 
3'ears. He was a consistent Christian and a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church and died about the 
year 1856. His wife, Polly Blanchard, was a 
daughter of Mr. Blaneliard, n Cai)tain in the War 
of 1812. 

Andrew and Polly Jones had lourtecn children. 
Their household was equally divided between sous 
and daughters, and Daniel was the seventh son 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



479 



and thiiteenth child. He received an ordinary 
conimon-scltool education and when lie started out 
ill life for himself beiran wori<ing a rented farm, 
after winch he went to Wisconsin in 1 Sol, but four 
3ears later returned as far as Michigan and lo- 
cated in Hudson, where he was until 1870, then 
came to Hush Township, Shiawassee Count}-, and 
bought forty acres of land on section 9. Tliis tract 
was then all wild land and it had to be cleared up 
and improved, svliich was done by the brave pio- 
neer. He died here February' 22, 1889. His re- 
ligious belief was in accordance with the doctrines 
and worship of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
anil he was a Republican in politics. 

Daniel Jones was married, in 1844, to Caroline 
Dodge, a daughter of Simeon and Sarah (Parks) 
Dodge. Simeon Dodge was a carpenter, who came 
from Canada to Ohio, settling in I'ainesville in 
18.'?l, and remaining there some live or six years. 
Caroline was born on New Year's Day, 182C, and 
she w.as the second of their six children. 

To Daniel and Caroline Jones were born six 
children, namely: Mary, Henry, Gilbert, Ella, Ar- 
villa and Augusta. IMary is the wife of Americus 
Gowen, of Hudson, Mich., and has a f.nmily of 
three sons and three daughters; Henry is marrii'd 
and lives near his mother and works her farm, and 
has two sons and three daughters; (Gilbert died in 
18(il; Ella, now Mrs. Andrew Goodwin, of Rush 
Township, has one son and four daughters; Ar- 
vlUa, the wife of George Hale, of Rush Town- 
ship, has four sons and two (laughters; Augusta 
is Mrs. Sylvester Cook and has had 1 wo daugh- 
ters, one of whom passed awa}^ in 18'J0. 

Mrs. Jones is an earnest and devoted member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in Henderson, 
and has been a professing (Jliristian since 185."). 
She gave her departed husband eflicicnt aid mi 
building up the new home, and when he was clear- 
ing the land and burning the underbrush she was 
often at his side working as hard as he. When 
they first came here much of the land was cov- 
ered with water, but cultivation has established a 
good drainage and she now has forty acres of fine 
land in a good state of culture. 

Mr. Jones was an ardent supporter of the admin- 
istration during the Civil War and showed his 



faith by his works, enlisting in September, 1861, 
in Company I, Ninth Michigan Light Artillery. 
The regiment was sent to Detroit, and while there 
encamped he was thrt)wn from a horse and so 
badly injured as to be unfit for service and was 
sent home. When he was better he returned to 
Detroit, but was discharged as being unable to 
perform duty in active service. 

A substitute for his father in military service 
was provided in the person of Henry Jones, the 
second child of Daniel. This young man was born 
in Ohio, August 3, 1847, and in 18G4 he enlisted 
in Company B, Fourth Michigan Infantry. He 
was sent to Detroit to be mustered into service, 
and was at once ordered South. He went first to 
Bull's Gap, Tcnn., then to New Orleans, after that 
to Powder Horn, Green Lake, San Antonio and 
Galveston, Tex., and was mustered out in April, 
1865. This young man was not married until 
ten years after his reUirn from the war, when he 
took to wife Mary Haines, a daughter of Richard 
and Luc3' (lloyt) Haines, who was born in 1859. 
Henry and Mary have five children, namely: Fred, 
Carrie, Daniel, Violet and Anna. 



-i- 



^^- 



\i—^ ENRY MANKEY, one of fhe most pros- 
)|) perous (Jernian American citizens in North 
Rile}', has a farm in Bengal Township, 
Clinton Count}', where his elegant and 
commodious brick house and large red barns 
attract the attention of every [jasser-by and are 
the evidences among others of the liand of a skill- 
ful and prudent farmer. He wasliornin Germany 
M.aj' 18, 1840, and after taking the school advant- 
ages which arc given every German child, and 
being thoroughl}' instructed in agriculture, he 
remained at home and worked on the farm until he 
reached the age of eighteen years. 

Young Mankey decided to come to America in 
1850, and set sail for this country on a vessel 
which was six weeks and three daj's upon the 
■ocean. He landed in New York and made his w;iy 
directl}' to this State, settling at Fowler. Clinton 
County. Here he found work in various places 



480 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and in due time selected a farm for himself, pur- 
cliasing fortj' acres just one mile east of Fowler. 
Here he lived for several years and in 1880 came 
to Riley Township, where he has since made his 
home. 

Mr. Mankey in 1880 purchased a farm on sec- 
tion 33, Bengal Township, and there made his 
home. He had enlisted in the army in 1863 in 
the Tenth Michigan Cavalry, Company G, under 
Colonel Crobridge. He was a young man work- 
ing for an Ionia County farmer when the call was 
made for troops and he entered the army against 
the advice and protests of his employer. But he 
had an honest German notion of duty to country 
and a training for military life which he felt might 
be of use in this time of distress. He served until 
the close of the war and was in a number of battles, 
being taken prisoner at Thorn Hill, East Tennessee. 
He lay in Southern prisons at Danville, Richmond 
and other points for live months and all who saw 
him believed that he could never live to return 
home as he was so emaciated from starvation. 

The marriage of our subject look place in 18G8. 
He then took to wife Josephine Demisladt, of Ger- 
many. They were blessed with four children, 
Kred, Will, Frank and P]m ma. In 1880 our sub- 
ject came to Riley Township, this county, and 
m.ade his home where he now lives. He is a Dem- 
ocrat in his political views and a German Luth- 
eran in religion. He came to this county without 
a penny and now has four hundred acres of fine 
land in a splendid condition and u|)on this farm 
he raises all kinds of stock. 



-^^ 



E^^* 



||/_^ ENRY (). IIOVEY,a well known and highly 
respected farmer residing ou Section 14, 
■^ Vernon Township, Shiawassee County, was 
born October 25, 1832, in Manawaj' Town- 
siiip. Portage County, Ohio. Horace Hovey, his 
father, was a native of Massachusetts, and a farmer 
by occupation. He grew to mr.nhood in his native 
town and was married to Miss Betsey Caulkins, a 
native of the same State as himself. Immediately 
after marriage he moved to Ohio, and located in 




Portage County. There in Manaway Township he 
cleared away the forest and built a log house. 
After living in it for a number of j'ears he erected 
a two-story frame building, which stands there yet. 

Horace Hovey removed to Michigan about the 
year ] 842 and coming directly to Shiawassee County, 
located on section 20, of Vernon Township. 
Here he improved the farm and remained as long 
as he lived, dying at the age of eight3'-three. He 
had been bereaved of his wife some 3'ears previous 
to his own demise, when she had reached the age 
of seventh-two jears. Twelve children, nine daugh- 
ters and three sons made up their household. 

Our subject is the eighth child and second son 
and was about ten years olil when he came to Mich- 
igan. Here he began attending school and im- 
proved as well as possible, the scant opportunities 
for education which were his. He remained with 
his father until he reached the age of thirty-one 
years, assisting upon the farm. He was married 
December 4, 1804, to Henrietta, the daughter of 
Lewis and Electa (Rosraan) Lockwood, who was 
born in Shiawassee County, March 8, 1849. She had 
been orphaned by the death of her parents when 
she was only three years old and was brought up 
by the Rev. H. II. Carson, a Methodist Episcopal 
minister residing at Owosso. 

Immediately after marriage the 3'oung couple 
made their home upon the farm where he now re- 
sides. Very little had been done to subdue this 
land and prepare it for cultivation. It was all 
woods and the little log house was the only build- 
ing upon the place, while through the forest roamed 
deer and bears and all kinds of wild animals. 

Three children, two daughters and a son, have 
come to bless their home, namely, Cora BI., Eben 
and Chloe M. The two latter are at tiome and 
Cora is the wife of John Mikan, residing'at Durand. 
All the improvements upon the farm have been 
put in by Mr. Hovey, and he has one hundred 
acres in a fine state of cultivation. He has also 
eighty acres on section 20, of the sam.e town- 
ship. His beautiful house, a two story frame 
building was erected in 1884, at a cost of $1,500, 
and he has a new barn, built in 1890, which cost 
him 1500. His other barn was put up in 1870. 
Mr. Hovej' has always been a hard-working man, 








^<z^y 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



483 



and be has gained all that he has by hard work and 
persistent enterprise. He is doing a general farm- 
ing business and has cleared many acres of heavy 
timber. He indeed, dearly loves the woods and 
feels more at home in the forest than in any other 
place. He is a' true lover of nature, and rejoices 
in believing that the groves were "God's first 
temples." 

PRKDERICK ALCHIN. Sliiawassee County 
is noted for the richness of its soil, and for 
the many farms that are scarcely exceedecl 
in production an<l the value of their improvements 
by that of any other section of our fair land, and 
Mr. Alchin is represented in this volume as the 
fortunate owner of a large farm in Middlebury 
Township, that compares favorably with any in 
this localil}-. He is now living retired in Ovid, 
where he is surrounded by the comforts which he 
has accumulated through years of laborious and 
untiring efforts. His estate comprises one hundred 
aTid tliirty acres, pleasantly located on section 2;"), 
and is embellislied with first-class improvemenis, 
that have greatly increased its value. \ |)ortrail 
of Mr. Alchin is presented on the opposite page in 
connection with the following brief outline of liis 
life. 

In Kent County, England, for many years lived 
Richard and Ann M. (Cossom) Alchin, the former 
of whom was by occupation a manufacturer of 
shoes and boots. There in the little village of 
West Mailing, on July 20, 1836, Frederick Alchin 
was born. There also he passed his youth, glean- 
ing a good education in the common .schools of the 
vicinity. At the age of fourteen years he accom- 
panied his parents to America, locating in Pitts- 
fiehl, W.'islitenaw County, Mich., and there engag- 
ing in farming. Mis school studies were perma- 
nently interrupted by emigrating to America, as 
after that time he attended school only three 
months altogether. 

When our subject was seventeen years old, he 
left home and engaged in farm work until the 
breaking out of the Civil War. He then enlisted. 



September 20, 1861, in Company D, Fourth Michi- 
gan Infantry, under Col. Woodbury. With the 
other members of his com|)any he was sent to 
Virginia, where he participated in active service as 
a part of the Armj' of the Potomac under Mc 
Clellan. Prior to the battle of Harrison's land- 
ing he lost all be had, including his blanket, and 
during the fierce storm of several da3's' duration, 
he lay in the open field without anything to 
protect him from the elements. He was also un- 
able to secure suitable rations, and finally the con- 
stant exposure undermined his licalth. He was 
sent first to Craney Hospital in Virginia, whence 
after remaining about four months, he was trans- 
ferred to the general hospital in Hampton, ^'a. 
After prolonged treatment and much suffering he 
was transferred to the Invalid Corps. 

Upon recovering sufficiently our subject was 
appointed Wardmaster of Ward 3, in the above 
mentioned hospital, and was afterward put in the 
Veteran Reserve Corps, of which he was made 
Fifth .Sergeant, Company K, Fifteenth Regiment. 
On September 21, 1864, he was honorably dis- 
charged, and returning to New York, was there 
married on October 2, of the same 3'ear, to Miss 
Mary Z. VanAuker, of Steuben County. Mr. and 
INIrs. Alchin are the parents of three children, viz: 
Frank S., l)orn August 13, 1 865 ; Ernest C, March 
16, 1867, and Mary A., July 20, 1870. The old- 
est and youngest are married and reside in Shiaw- 
assee County. 

In the spring of 1867 Mr. Alchin came West to 
Shiawassee County, locating on section 2.'J, Middle- 
bury Township, and commencing at once to clear 
the farm. The surrounding country was covered 
with a forest growth and roads had not yet been 
opened. Undaunted by obstacles, he continued 
steadily at the work of improvement and finally 
made his farm one of the most desirable estates in 
tlie county, providing it with conveniently ar- 
ranged buililings and the best machinery for cariy- 
ing on agriculture. In the fall of 1880 he pur- 
chased a residence in Ovid, and in that hospitable 
home he and his estimable wife frequently enter- 
tain their many friends. 

Mr. Alchin takes a deep interest in politics, be- 
ing anxious that pro[)er men should he elected to 



484 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



office and voting the Republican ticket. He fias 
served his fellow-citizens acceijlabl^' as Drain Com- 
inissiuner and Justice of the Peace, and has always 
exerted a wholesome influence in this community 
with whose interests his own have been bound for 
a period of nearly a quarter of a century. He was 
at one time a member of the Ovid Agriculture 
Association, and as might be expected, is a pro- 
minent member of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public of which he is chaplain. He well deserves 
the success which has crowned his efforts. After 
long years spent in .agricultural pursuits he has re- 
tired from the more arduous labors of life and is 
passing his declining years in a peaceful enjoyment 
of the comfoi Is of life, surrounded b3' friends whom 
he has gained by his u|)riglit character, and blessed 
by the love of children whom he has reared to 
honorable manhood and womanhood. 



^^EORGE C. WILKINSON. Of the many 
ill ,_-, pioneers who have settled in this State and 
^^iJ! have changed the contour of the country 
from that of a wilderness to an agricultural land 
almost rivaling that of England, with its green 
meadows, verdant forests and fertile ground, is 
George C. Wilkinson who owns the farm upon 
which he resides on section 7, Venice Township, 
Shiawassee County. lie has passed through all the 
phases of pioneer life, knowing its hardships, its 
acl vantages and pleasures. 

His father, Charles W. Wilkinson, before being 
cast by the westward wave of emigration in this 
State, was a resident of Jefferson Count}-, N. Y., 
where he was born. He was a farmer in New York 
and his grandfather on the paternal side wtis Abra- 
ham Wilkinson, a native of New Jersc}-. Our sub- 
ject's mother is Eliza (Clark J Wilkinson, a native 
of Ovid, N. Y., and born in 1 81 4. Her father was 
Jesse Clark, a native of Cumberland, R. I., where 
he was born October 18, 1784. He was a volun- 
teer in the War of 1812, in which he did good 
service. He had the advantage of possessing a 
trade, which was that of a cabinet-maker, although 
later in life he became a farmer. His wife's maiden 



name was Lucinda Sayles, a native of Smith fleld. 
R. I., and born February 1, 1788. They met and 
were mairied in New York and resided at Romu- 
lus. Then in 1834 they removed to this State, 
settling in Commerce Township, Oakland County, 
where he purch.ased a farm and spent the remainder 
of his life in improving the same. Mr. Clark died 
in 18G.3and his v/ife in 1875. They were the pa- 
rents of eleven children, four of whom are now liv- 
ing. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson 
took pl.ace November 2, 1836, and the next Jan- 
uary the}' settled on the old farm in Commerce 
Township. The .young couple soon removed to 
Shiawassee Count}-, and settled in what is now 
Vernon Township. Their first home was a little 
log house in the midst of the woods and there were 
very few neighbors near. He cleared off a little 
space on this farm and sowed wheat. There he 
staid for two years and in 1840 removed to Venice 
Township settling on the farm where our subject 
now resides. At first there were no roads and no 
neighbors nearer than a quarter of a mile, but plenty 
of Indians and wild animals and their watchfulness 
to prevent the encroachments of these varied the 
monotony of their lives. 

There was but little money in circulation at that 
time among the pioneeers and they had to live on 
the products of their own farm. The first crop of 
wheat llial the father of our subject raised found no 
market and the nearest mill was at Pontine which 
was at such a distance as to m.nke it out of the ques- 
tion to be carried there. They finally traded off the 
wheat at the little village which was then called the 
New Corners, at fifty cents per bushel. They them- 
selves could not enjoy the luxury of living on 
bread made from white flour and their ordinary 
fooil was .lohnny-cakc. They traded with the In- 
dians for venison and so great were tlieir dealings 
with the iiriniilive owners of the land tiiat Mrs. 
Wilkinson became familiar with the Indian lan- 
guage. 

Our subject's parents first settled on eighty 
acres. Mr. Wilkinson was incapacitated for work 
twenty years previous to his death, being a great 
sufferer from asthma, which he had from nine years 
of age until his death. Physically, he was the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



485 



strongest man in the township anil so genial and 
open-hearted that he was popnlar with everyone in 
this section. 

In the spring of 1859 the fatlier of the original 
of our sketch went overland to California, the 
journey outward taking him six months. When 
be reached the Golden State he worked at teaming 
in Sacramento in which employment he continued 
for over four years. He returned by the way of 
the Isthmus of Panama. Some of his winters were 
spent in the pineries of Northern Jlichigan, hop- 
ing that the spicy atmosphere in the pine region 
would alleviate liis suffering. He died January 10, 
1883, at the age of sixlj'-nine 3'ears, nine months 
and nine days. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson were members of the 
Baptist Church. Vov many 3'ears he held the posi- 
tion of Justice of the Peace and in 1870 was ap- 
pointed Census Enumerator. He also held the of- 
fices of Supervisor and Treasurer, having the honor 
of being the Orst Supervisor of Venice Township. 

As ever^' man must to whom the welfare of the 
country is anything at all, Mr. Wilkinson took con- 
siderable interest in politics. Originally he was a 
Whig, but later cast his vote with the Republican 
party. lie w.is a well-read man, intelligent an<l al- 
w.aj's abreast with the times. They were the p.a- 
rents of four children, all living. The^' are Mary, 
George, Sarah and Elvira. Although Mrs. Wilkin- 
son has been a hard-worker all her life she still en- 
joys good health and her friends hope that she will 
be spared to them for many years. She resides on 
the old farm. Her son George was born June 13, 
1840, and was the first white male child born In 
Venice Township. During his childhood there 
were not many educational advantages in the 
township and he did not receive much schooling 
other than that acquired at home. At the age of 
twelve years, however, he could use the plow as 
well as a man and during the trip of his fatlier to 
California he took the entire charge of the farm, 
managing it with much judgment and discretion. 
He has added to the home place until it now num- 
bered one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred 
and thirty being under the plow. 

Our subject built the residence his mother now 
lives in and also bis own. Since the death of his 



father he has added many buildings to the place. 
He engages in mixed farming and is much inter- 
ested in stock-raising, owning some thorough-bred 
Percheron horses and some good Durham cows. 
His sheep have a local reputation for the fine wool 
that thc^- produce. 

In 1866 George 0. Wilkinson was married to 
Angeline Lewis, daughter of Henry and Annie 
(Miles) Lewis, who came to Michigan from Can- 
ada in 1860 and settled in Hazelton Township. 
Mr. Lewis cleared and improved a farm in that 
towiishi|). There his wife died and he was mar- 
ried a second time, still living on the old home- 
stead. By the first marriage he had five children, 
four now living. Mvs. Wilkinson was born April 
4, 1839, in Canada. She and her husband are the 
parents of two children — Ada, who is twentj'-threo 
years of age and Charles H., seventeen years old. 
They have received a good common school educa- 
tion. Mrs. Wilkinson is a member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. Mr. AVilkinson has ever 
taken an interest in local politics and is a Hepub- 
lican. He was candidate for Supervisor .■».t the last 
election but was defeated. Their daughter. Miss 
Ada, has much ability in a musical direction in 
which art siie gives instruction. 



E^^ 



AMES J. PEACOCK, United States Pension 
Attorne}', and a prominent citizen of Cor- 
unna, Shiawassee County, where he is Su- 
pervisor of the Third Ward, was born in 
Waj-ne County, N. Y., near West Walworth, Feb- 
ruary 26, 1844. His father, Horace, was a native 
of the same county- as hin)self, and his grancifather 
was from Yorkshire, England, where be was edu- 
cated, and whence he came to America and located 
on a farm in Walworth Township, ile died at the 
very advanced age of ninety-seven years at Canan- 
daigua, N. Y. having been a much loved and 
highly respected member of the Societj- of Friends. 
The father of our subject, who was a contractor 
and builder, came to ftlichigan in 1855 with his 
family, and making his home in Corunna, under- 
took building in connection with farming. Later 



486 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lie built an evaporator which the family still owns. 
lie flied suddenly of apoplexy in 1887, at the age 
of sixty-eight years, having been well-known as an 
earnest and efficient meuiber of the Baptist Church, 
lie was in the Alderinanie oftiee for nine years. 
His wife wiio bore the maiden name of Angeline 
Button, was born in Oswego County, X. Y., and 
and is now living in Corunna. Of her eight chil- 
dren, her Ave sons are living, and tlie three daugh- 
ters have been called away from earth. 

The subject of this sketch was eleven years old 
when he came to Jlichigan, and after attending the 
Union schools of Corunna, he learned (he trade of 
a carpenter, beginning it at twelve ^ears of age. 
When onl^' eighteen ^ears old he felt the call of 
duty to go to the defence of his Nation's flag, and 
enlisted August 9, 1862, in Companj' H, Twenty- 
third Michigan Infantrj'. lie was mustered in at 
Saginaw as a private soldier and took |)art in the 
engagements of Paris, K}'.; Huff's Ferr^-, Tenn.; 
Leonora; Campbell Station, Tenn.; siege of Knox- 
ville, and spent the winters of 1863 and 1864 in 
Eastern Tennessee. He joined Sherman's army at 
Red Clay, Ga., and went to Rockj' Faced Ridge; 
at Resaca he received a wound twice from balls 
in the calf of the left leg, and was placed in the 
field hospital. He was afterward transferred to 
Chattanooga, thence to Nashville, and thon to 
Hospital No. 7, at Louisville. This proved a very 
serious affair as gangrene set in and required heroic 
treatment for its removal. He w.as eleven weeks 
on his bed, and had thirty-six applications of 
bromine to remove the gangrene. After this he 
was transferred to St. Mary's hospital at Detroit, 
and was mustered out of service December 17, 
1864, as he was incapacitated for further service. 

In the spring of 1865 he engaged in work with 
his father, and remained with him for some years, 
and later took up the business of contracting and 
building wi>ich he carried on for some j'ears until 
the old trouble again laid him one side, and with 
broken health he felt it incumbent upon him to 
take up some lighter work. He became interested 
in the evaporating business, and built an evapora- 
tor in Corunna, which he managed for some ^ears. 

In 1888 Mr. Peacock became United States Pen- 
sion Attorne}', and the same year passed an ex- 



amination before the State Judge, and vvas admitted 
to the bar as a necessary preparation for the busi- 
ness of this office. lie is Supervisor of the Third 
Ward, and served as Alderman for two years. His 
marriage with Luc>- A. Mann took place in 1868, at 
Corunna. His wife was born in Jefferson, Greene 
County, Pa., and became the mother of three chil- 
dren: Horace F., who is a printer in the office of 
the Journal; Frank, wliodied in 1885; and Arthur, 
who is still at home with his parents. Mr. Pea- 
cock is a prominent member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, and Commander of the H. F. Wal- 
lace Post, No. 160. He is the first Colonel of 
Corunna Commandery No. 5, National Union Vet- 
erans Union, Department of Michigan. He was on 
the staff of Dillon, Commander in Chief of Ihiion 
Veteran Union, as Colonel in the National Encamp- 
ment of this order. As a Republican he is often 
seen as delegate at the county and State conven- 
tions, and is a member of both county- and cit3' 
committee. He was the census taker for Corunna 
in 1890. He finds his religious home in the Bap- 
tist Church, and is a Trustee of that organization 
in Corunna as well as the active and efficient Su- 
l)erintendeut of their 8unda3--school. 



EDWIN PENNELL, the Sheriff of Clinton 
County and a resident of St. John's, is as 
popular a man as there is in the county. He 
was born in Ridgeway, Orleans County, N. Y., 
April 25, 1853. His father, Orrln G. was born in 
Truxton, Cortland County-, N. Y., and removed to 
Orleans County when only four 3^ears of .age. The 
grandfather. Dr. Ezra Pennell. was a native of 
M.assachusetts and a practicing physician in Cort- 
land County and afterward in Ridge wa}'. Ho w.as 
well known through all that region and his saddle 
bags were a familiar sight on many a country* road. 
The great-grandfather, Capt. Abram, was a Rev- 
olutionary hero and his company was a notable one 
in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was a prominent 
man in every way. The family is of Scotch de- 
scent. 

The father of our subject was reared in Orleans 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



487 



County, from the time lie was four j^ears of age. 
lie was educated at Yates Aeadeiny, wliere he 
graduated and soon engaged in teaching, mingling 
this with liis vocation as a fnrnicr. Li 1H(!1 lie 
located in Superior 'rowiiship, Washtenaw County-, 
this .State and bitught a farm, purchasing at |i4.") 
:;nd selling Inter at ^75 per acre. This land was 
midway between Ann Arlior and Vpsilanti. lie 
parted with it in 18G9 and located in DcWitt, 
Clinton County, where he liouglit four hundred 
and thirty-five acres of land and engaged in general 
fanning upon au improved farm. He served for 
two years as Supervisor and in 1885 was made 
.State .Senator from Clinton and Ingham Counties 
on the Democratic ticket. He still resides in 
I)e^Vilt having reache<l the ago of sixty-nine years. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Lorana Davis. She was born in New York. The 
maternal grandfather, Levi Davis, was a soldier 
in the War of 1812. He afterward engaged in the 
nursery business in New York locating at Ridge- 
way, where he died. The mother of our subject 
died in January, 1888. She had three children, 
namely: (ialusha who was for four years the Sheriff 
of thi.s county and served as United Slates Mar- 
shal for Eastern Michigan for the same length of 
time. He was for eight years Cashier in St. John's 
National Bank and is now in (Jrcgon. The second 
son is our subject, and Mark remains on the old 
farm. 

Edwin Pennell w:\s reared in New York on the 
old llidge Uoad until he reached the age of eight 
years. He then came to Michigan anti attended 
district schools in Washtenaw County and took 
one year in the rnion School at Ann Arbor. He 
remained at home on the farm of which he took 
charge until his marriage, which occurred in 
DcWitt. The lady who became his wife bore the 
maiden name of Frances Averill and was a native 
of New York. The young man now took one-half 
of the old farm into his possession. He has one 
Imndred and sixtj'-seven acres of fine land all im- 
proved with good buildings, upon which he carries 
on general farming and raises Short-horn cattle and 
fine roadsters. He has been one of the judges of 
premiums at the State Fairs. 

January 1, 1891, he was elected Sheriff of Clinton 



County, and entered upon the discharge of the 
duties of his office, locating at St. John's. His 
second marriage took place November 28. 1889 
with Miss Lillian Kelsey, who was born in Ionia 
County, this Stale, and is a daughter of E. P. 
Kelsey, an early settler and prominent farmer, who 
has a fine farm of six hundred acres well stocked. 
One child, Nina, was the result of the first marriage. 
Our subject is identified with the Knights Templar 
and with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal 
Arth Masons and the Commander}-. He is often 
a delegate to county and State conventions of the 
Democratic iJarty, and has not only the confidence 
of his party but the good will of the community 
in general, being a man of genial nature and 
liberal views. His fine physique and pleasant face, 
alwaj-s attract attention and commands respect. 
His excellent and amiable wife is a devoted mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. He was five years 
Supervisor of De Wilt Township, prior to his 
election to his present oUicc of Sheriff'. 



^^ 



"^'AMES CORTRIGHT, a prominent farmer 
and a man of exceptional intelligence, re- 
siding upon a beautiful f.'irm in section 28. 
DeWill Township, was born in Ontario, 
County, N. Y., on New Year's Day, 1839. Ills fa- 
ther, Oliadiah, and his grandfather,. lames Cortright, 
were natives of New York and German}- respec 
lively. The grandfather came from the old coun- 
try to New York, where he remained until his death. 
Tlie father of our subject was reared upon a farm 
and at various limes undertook to buy a farm but 
on account of defects in title he each lime aban- 
doned the project. He came to Michigan in 1856 
and settled at Plymouth, Oakland County. After 
a year there he removed to Ingham County and 
bdught two hundred acres on contract, but failing 
to make payments lost this land. For a short time 
(irevious to his death he made his home with our 
subject and passed away at the age of seventy-two 
years. His political adiliations were with the 
Democratic party. 

The mother of our subject, Mary Slodilard,* na- 



488 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.' 



tive of Conuecticiit, reared to manhood and woman- 
hood seven of her nine children, namelj- ; Amanda, 
Mrs. Hadden; Lovina, Mrs. Carraer; Lovisa, Mrs. 
Croper; Cordelia, Mrs. McStay; Mary, Mrs. Curby ; 
Betsey, Mrs. Higdou; James and George. The lat- 
ter died in the service of his country during the 
war. Tiieir mother was a Methodist and brought 
them up to revere the principles of Christianity. 
She was of English descent and made her home in 
her later years with our subject, dying at the age 
of seventy-two. 

Young James Cortright was reared on a farm 
and educated in the district schools, beginning life 
for himself by working out for neighbors when he 
was twenty years old. Like many another }'oulli 
he felt the call for duty when his country's honor 
was in danger and enlisted September 28, 1861 
in Company F, First, Michigan Engineers and Me- 
chanics, being mustered in at Marshall Mich. 
He was sent to Louisville, Ky., thence to Lebanon 
and marching to Somerset on the Cumberland Ri- 
ver participated in the battle of Mill Spring. The 
chief work of hisregiment consisted of constructing 
bridges, stockades, lailroads and boats. He was in 
battle at Lavergne, Tenn., and at the siege of Cor- 
inth. He was also engaged in several skirmishes 
with bushwackers at Tillon, Ga., and other places. 
He had tj'phoid fever while at Somerset, Kj'., and 
was in the hospital nearly all the winter of 1 862. He 
was on a train at Tullahoma, Tenn., one night when 
the bushwackers had torn u|) tiie track ahead of 
them. He was on the tender when tiie engine Hew 
the track, striking the bank. The engineer and fire- 
man jumped and ran away leaving Mr. Cortright 
and his captain alone. Cortright found that his 
captain was badly injured, ns one leg was severely 
crushed, ))ut he removed the debris which was upon 
him and made him more comfortable. The rebels 
came within Iwent3' feet of them but f;\iled to dis- 
cover them. Oursubject received his final discharge 
in December 1864 and although he has done valu- 
able service for his coiintrj' he has never applied 
for a pension. 

I'pon returning home in the fall of* 1865 this 
young man bought ninety acres of the farm upon 
which he now lives, only five or six acres of which 
had been cleared, and there was no building upon 



it except a small barn. He at once set about pre- 
paring a home and the same season set up house- 
keeping, as he had been married on May 4 of that 
year to Nancy Livermore, who was born August 
10, 1836 in New York State. They never had any 
children but have brought up two and cared for 
them as their own. Mary M. they took at the age 
of twelve years and William J., the son of an uncle, 
they took when only one year and a half old. 

Upon his fine farm of one hundred and thirty 
acres Mr. Cortright carries on mixed farming. He 
built the pleasant home in which he resides, in 
1876, and his commodious barn in 1883. He is a 
Republican in his political affiliations and has 
served as Highway Commissioner. He is a member 
of the Masonic order at DeWitt and a member of 
the Grange, in which he served as Master one year. 
When in the army he was considered an unusually 
good drill sergeant and conducted most of the 
drilling in his own company. He was also detailed 
at Elk River, Tenn., to drill the first regiment of 
Tennessee colored troops. 




ICHARD C. HAMILTON, who resides on 
section 20, Shiawassee Township, was born 
.V in Oswego County, N. Y., June 3, 1847. 
His parents were James and Fanny (Miner) 
Hamilton, natives of New York. The father was 
of Scotch and the mother of Welsh descent. His 
father died when the son was but three years old 
and at the age of six his mother and six children 
came to Michigan, locating in Corunna in 1853. 
Until lie was eight years old he attended school, 
when his mother was married to Selden Phelp», 
who was a widower with six children. They re- 
moved to the present farm and there remained un- 
til our subject was sixteen j'ears of age. During 
this time he had but small educational advantages, 
his mother being able to spare him only two or 
three months during the winter from the work in- 
cident to a farm. 

In 1863 our subject enlisted in the Civil War, 
which was at that time desolating so many homes. 
August 27 he joined Company F, Tenth Michigan 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



489 



Cavalry, of which a Mr. Shcphetd was Captain. 
He was mustered in at Grand Rapids and immedi- 
ately sent to Camp Nelson. He soon afterward 
participated in the battle of Nashville, but was 
principally eng.aged in guerrilla warfare. He was 
at Lookout Mountain, detailed to do scouting and 
orderly duties. He was not attached to any staff 
but was intrusted with many important missions, 
such as carrying dispatches to the commanding 
Generals. He was wounded in one of the guerrilla 
fights in Kentuck}-, receiving a ball in his foot, also 
buckshot in his mouth, which knocked out two of 
his teeth and lodged in his lip. He hy in the hos- 
pital at Burnside Point, Kj'., where he was for 
some time in the convalescent camp. This wound 
so incapacitated him for action that he was not af- 
terward on duty. He was honorably discharged 
under general order in March, 1865, at Indianapolis, 
at which place he did prison guard duty for seven 
months. He was transferred to Com|)any I, Fifth 
Veteran Reserve Cori)S, in December, 1864. 

Mr. Hamilton reached home the latter part of 
November and he remained on the farm that win- 
ter, during which he attended school. The next 
year he entered a lumber camp and was foreman 
for two lumber cora|)anies for six years and in 1877 
engaged on his own account in lumbering, which 
he continued for several seasons. During the time 
that he was thus engaged he made his home at Sag- 
inaw. In 1877 he went to California, where he has 
resided until the beginning of 1891, but during 
that time he has returned lo the iiome place at five 
different times. While in California lie located in 
Colusa County, where he was engaged in farming, 
speculating soniewli.at in land. He bought his 
present farm of his stepfather six years ago, but 
has made his home upon it mily recently. His 
stepfather died in 1881; his mother still lives at 
Milwaukee, Wis., and has attained the age of 
eighty-two years. She lives with one of her 
daughters. 

Our subject was married in Colusa County, Cal., 
March 17, 1880, to a young lady whose maiden name 
was Susan A. Hcmstreet. She died March 20, 1887. 
On his secon<l marriage he was united, Ai)ril 18, 
1889, to Miss Maggie Downing, of Downville, Cal. 
He has never had any children. In politics Mr. 



Hamilton casts his vole with the Republican party. 
He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, being a member of the Princeton Lodge in 
Colusa County, Cal., in which he took an active 
part, having held all the chairs that it was in the 
power of the lodge to confer. He was a delegate 
to the Grand Lodge in 1889 and has been out 
with numerous encampments. He has taken an ac- 
tive part in politics and three times he has car- 
ried the strongest Democratic Precinct in Colusa 
County, which is the strongest Democratic county 
of the State. 

The gentleman of whom we write has acquired 
a comfortable fortune and has determined for the 
remainder of life to take it as it comes. He has 
traveled extensivel}', having visited every State in 
the Union, and is a ver}' delightful companion, 
being perfectly conversant with all the topics of 
the day and entirely devoid of local prejudice. 
His farm consists of eighty acres of finely improved 
land. Upon it is a corafurlable and attractive dwel- 
ling and good barns and outhouses in the best of 
condition. Mr. Hamilton, however, is too fond of 
traveling to tie himself down to one place and is 
very willing to dispose of his home. 

■^OHN U. MILLER, a raiser of small fruits 
and garden vegetables atOwosso, Shiawassee 
County, was born at Crawfordsville, Ind., 
January 20, 18 lit. He is a son of Ira and 
Hannah (lIutTuiau) Alillcr, who made their first 
home after marriage in Crawfordsville, and con- 
i tinned to reside •here until 185-1, when they re- 
moved to Ohio, where Ihey spent a year, then 
came to Ingham County, IMich., locating upon a 
farm and residing there for a number of years. 
In 1877 they removed to the city of Owosso 
where they now reside. 

.lohn U. Miller is second in a family of six 
children and his school days were passed in Ing- 
ham County. When fifteen years old he began an 
apprenticeship to the carpenter's and builder's 
trade. After learning the trade he started uiHin 
his own account, and followed this business up to 



490 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



1886. At that time he purchased seventeen acres 
of choice land in the northern part of the city and 
began raising small fruits of all kinds. He h.is 
very fine varieties of berries, both strawberries 
and raspberries, and lie finds a ready sale for his 
crop in the city. Besides berries and other small 
fruits he raises a considerable amount of garden 
vegetables, for which he also finds a ready market. 
He has a good substantial residence, an excellent 
barn and neat outbuildings, and his surroundings 
arc in every way desirable. 

The lady who, October 8, 1874, became the 
helpmate of Mr. Miller was Miss Clara, daugh- 
ter of Josei»h and Laura (Ormsb\') Manning, 
of Owosso. rier parents were natives of New 
Hampshire and ^■ermont respectively, and her 
widowed mother is still living. Three children 
have come to bless this happy home — Hugh, Edna 
and Flossie. Mr. Miller is a member of Owosso 
Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., and of Owosso Chap- 
ter, No. 89, R. A. M. Mr. Miller takes an active 
part in church and Sunda3'-school work, being a 
member of the Baptist Church, where he serves as 
Clerk, and having taught in the .Sunday-school a 
number of years. In all this work he has had the 
earnest sympathy and co-operation of his good 
wife. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. 



-E^ 




m 



WILLIAM WALLACE MOORE w.as born 
in Lewis County, N. Y., April 10, 1834. 
^^ For many years before his death, which 
occurred April 11, 1885, he operated his farm on 
section 10, Vernon Township. His parents were 
Samuel and Lucia (.Shaler) ^loore. He was reared 
on a farm until he reached his fourteenth year, when 
he was thrown on his own resources. He began 
his career by clerking in a store, where he re- 
mained one or two 3'cars. He then went to New 
York City, expecting to get a position, but failing 
in that he shipped as cabin boy on a sailing vessel 
and lived the life of a seafaring man for nine years. 
At first his work was before the mast but he finally 
became Steward, in which position he received fair 
remuneration — 175 and $100 per month. 



During Mr. Moore's life on the waters he visited 
a great many foreign lands, having been to Aus- 
tralia, China, Van Dieman's Land and having once 
circumnavigated the globe. During the period of 
nine years in which he was a sailor he kept up no 
correspondence with his family and naturally felt 
anxious to know of their welfare. He went home 
to see his mother and then came on to Michigan, 
where his brother, Oscar C, was living. On his 
brother's solicitation he remained here, locating on 
eighty acres belonging to his mother. In 1860 he 
began to clear and improve the farm, continuing 
the work for two 3'ears. Then feeling that his 
country needed him he returned to New Y'ork and 
again entered upon the life of a sailor, joining the 
the navj" at New York. His boat was detailed to 
dut^' on the Mississippi River. He served thus 
for two 3'ears, during which time he was sent to 
Mexico, where he had the yellow fever. Not full3- 
recovering from this illness, he was discharged and 
returned to Michignn. 

.Soon after coming back to this Stale Mr. Moore 
was united in marriage with Julia M. Lemon, the 
date being October 23, 1867. The lad3- was born in 
Tro3', Oakland Count3', August 22, 1842. Our 
subject lived on his farm until his death, which 
resulted from exposure while making maple sugar. 
In person Mr. Moore was small of stature, genial 
and open-hearted. He was well educated, having 
attended the Lawville Academ3' in New York, 
which school was presided over by I'rof. Mayhew. 
After settling in this State Mr. Moore was ever 
active in educational matters and also in politics. 
He was a Democrat but never aspired to office. 
He served as Justice of the Peace for about three 
years. At the time of his death he owned a fine 
farm of one hunred and sixt3' acres, one hundred 
and twent3'-five of which were cleared and well 
improved. 

Mr. and Mrs. Moore had several children whose 
names are as follows: Louis Wallace, twenty -two 
years of age; Lester, who died in his third 3'ear; 
Lucia, who died at thirteen months; Leou Law- 
rence, Darwin Clinton, Henry Bush and Frank 
Arthur. Louis is at present in charge of the farm. 
He has great musical abilit3-, performing well on 
I the violin, guitar and organ ; he has paid a great 




RESIDENCF. OF RALPH S WARTH OUT , SEC. I T. , 5Cl OTA TR, SHI A A'ASSEL CO.,.V, ICH . 




REoi.jLliLi .( 



i 



iS^.5- 



PORTRAIT AND BlOGllArHICAL ALIJUM. 



493 



deal of alleiition to liis imisical studies and lias 
been the leader of the orchestra at Vernon for 
some time. His love for music was inlieritcil from 
Ills father, who was a fine violinist. There was a 
break of three ^ears in the family life in this State 
which they spent in New York at the home of an 
uncle of Mr. Moore. This wms seven years pre- 
vious to Mr. Moore's death. Our subject was not 
connected with any church body. Mrs. Moore is 
a Methodist. The brother of Mr. RIoore who was 
the means of settling in this Slate is Oscar Carlos 
Moore, who has led a varied life, and finall}- set- 
tled on a farm in Shiawassee Count}'. He was 
married July G, 18.J2, at Martinsl)urg, N. V., to 
Mary A. Hills, wiio was born there November 20, 
1832. He has a fine family, wIkj arP all more or 
less musical. Tlie youngest daughter, Miuuie L., 
is a teacher in the high school at Coruiina, and siio 
and iier brollier iiave unusual talent in music. 

A view of the pleasant home occupieil by Mrs. 
Moore and her interesting family is presented on 
another i)age of this volume. 



-^*>- 



■^-^ih^^^^^^^^f^^--<-' 



IVALPH SWARTHOl'T, a resident farmer of 
Sciota Townsiiip, living on section 17, is an 
honored pioneer of Shiawassc Count}'. From 
an early day in its history he has been iden- 
tified with its upbuilding and devclo[)ment and es- 
pecially with its agricultural interests. Few have 
longer been residents of the community than he 
and for this reason if for no other would he be 
deserving of reiiresentation in this volume. 

Mr. Swarthout was born in Ovid, Seneca County, 
N. Y., February '.), 1825, and is a son of William 
and IJetsey (Willits) Sw.arthout. His father was a 
native of tlie Empire .State but his mother was 
born in Pennsylvania. They emigrated to Michi- 
gan in 1837. locating first in \'ictor, Clinton 
County, but after two years they removed to what 
is now Oviil Township, giving the name of Ovid 
to t'lie town and village. There William .Swarthout 
spent the remainder of his life engaged in farming, 
which occupation he h.ad also followed in the Fast. 
On his arrival in Michigan he entered large tracts 



of land from the Government and his first home 
in the West was a log cabin, the dimensions of 
which were 18x24 feet. This structure had a shake 
roof, a puncheon fioor, a firei)lace eight feet long 
ami the chimney was maile of day and slicks. He 
cleared between four and five hundred acres of 
land, transforming it from its |)rimitive state into 
rich and fertile fields. Hi' became quite wealthy 
and at one time owned a number of large and valu- 
able farms but these he divided among his seven 
sons, namely: Isaac, Layton. Ral|ili, Hugh, Lons- 
biirv. Anthony and William. One son died while 
j'oung. liis name was .lolin. In politics Mr. Sw;"rth- 
out was first a Wliig and afterwards a Republican 
but he never sought or desired [lublic office. He 
and his wife were members of the Methodist 
Cliuicli and were tyiilcal |)ionecis, hospitable, warm- 
hearted and true. 

Our subject w;is the third son of the family. The 
first twelve years of his lif(^ were si)eiit in his na- 
tive State and he then accoinp.'uiied liis |)arents to 
Michigan, since which tinic he has resided in this 
locality. He was reared amid the wibl scenes of 
frontier life and received only such educational 
advantages as the district schools afforded. He has 
aided in clearing many an acre of land and with 
the family shared in the usual experiences of the 
pitmeer. When the (ountry was new and unsettled 
wild game of all kinds was plentiful and at least 
five hundred deer have fell before Mr. Swarthout's 
unerring rifle. He has also killecl as many as 
twent3'-two bears as well as much smaller game. 

The Indians were still frequent visitors of the 
settlement and so limited was the work of cultiva- 
tion and imi)rovcinent at that day that a traveler 
now viewing the country would not recognize in 
Shiawassee County the same locality which he then 
visited. Forty-three years have come and gone 
since Mr. .Swarthout settled upon his present farm. 
He entered the land from the Oovernment and still 
has in his possession the deed signed by President 
.lames K. Polk. His farm now corai)rises ninety- 
three acres, he having given much of his land to 
his children, thus diminishing his own possessions. 
Fvery improvement placed upon it is the work of 
his own hands It is situated on the line between 
(!linton and Shiawassee Counties, only two miles 



494 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



north of Laingsbnrg and is one of the finest farms 
in this vicinity. A view of the residence and 
pleasant surroundings appears in connection with 
this biographical notice. 

Mrs. iSwartlioiit was in her maidenliood Miss 
Catiierine Tyler. She is a native of Connecticut 
and a daughter of David F. and Susan (Darrow) 
Tyler, who were also natives of that State. They 
came to Michigan about 1838, and for two or three 
years resided in Oaivland, after which they came to 
this county, locating in Owasso. Later they re- 
moved to Pei-ry Township, where the deatli of Mr. 
Tyler occurred. His wife still survives him and 
is now living in California. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Swarthout have been born six children and all are 
j'et jiving: George W., Bettie, Layton, Hattie, 
Thompson and Charles. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Swaithout are members of 
the Methodist Cliureh. They have been connected 
with that organization for more tlian thirty-five 
years, are lilieral contributors to its support and 
are active worker-s in its interests. In i)olitics he is 
a Republican witli prohibition sentiments and so- 
cially he is a member of tlie Farmers' Alliance. He 
deserves great credit for ills success in life, all of 
which is due to his own efforts. Mr. Swartliout 
has not only the honor of having witnessed the en- 
tire growth of the county but has been an active 
partictipant in the same. To the early settlers we 
owe a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid 
for lliey did for the county wiial no other could 
do — laid the foundation for its future prosperity 
and greatness. 



/p^OODLUPE CASTNEU. A worthy place 
jf I ,_-, among the farmers of Dallas Township, 
^^j) Clinton County, is held by the gentleman 
above named, whose pleasant home is on section 16. 
He occupies a well-developed farm of eighty acres, 
to wiiich ho fell heir on the decease of his father, 
and he also has a house and lot in the village of 
Fowler. He was reared amid the surroundings of 
farm life, and ea;ly learned to plow and sow, to 
reap and mow, and carry on the whole routine of 



agricultural work. His training has stood him in 
good stead, and he carries on his own farm with in- 
telligence, reaping satisfactory results. 

Both the father and grandfather of our subject 
bore the name of Andrew, and they were natives 
of German}'. The younger married Mary E. Cast- 
ner, and late in the '40s emigrated from his native 
land, and made his home in Canada. After living 
there some twelve years, he came to this State and 
located in Dallas Township on a farm of forty 
acres. He subsequently added eighty acres, and 
had a well regulated estate when he laid down the 
cares of life. He passed away January 14, 1888, 
some years after his wife liad entered into rest, her 
death Laving taken i>lace in 1854. The mother of 
Mr. Castner kept house for him mauv years after 
his wife died, and passed away in 1874. The re- 
ligious faith of both husband and wife was that 
expressed in the creed of tiie Lutheran Church. 
Their sous and daughters were Louisa, Dora, Good- 
loi)e, Joseph, Mary and Alexander; all boru in the 
Is'ew Worlil excei)t the eldest. 

Goodlope Castner was born September 4, 1849, 
in Canada, and was about six years old when be- 
reft of his mother's care, but so well was her [jlace 
supplied 1)3' his grandmother, that he felt her loss 
comparatively little. He studied and worked un- 
der his father's guidance, and in the district schools 
until he was of age, then married and set up a 
home of his own. His wife bore the maiden name 
of Barbara Martin, and is a daughter of Anthony 
Martin, who came from Germany to the United 
Stales, during the early development of this State, 
and settled in the township of Westphalia, Clinton 
County. He removed thence to Dallas Township, 
and now lives in Fowler, but still owns forty acres 
of land. Mr. and Mrs. Castner have had four chil- 
dren — Mary, Joseph, Florence and Alvera. Mary 
is now Mrs. Sutton, and her home is in Fowler; 
she has a daughter, Florence. Josepii died when 
about three months old; and Florence at the age 
of six months; Alvera is yet with her parents, and 
they are also cheered by tlie presence at their fire- 
side of an adopted son, Albert Ibeek, a lad now 
eleven 3cnrs old. 

Mr. Castner is not a i)olitician. but votes with 
the Democratic party, to the principles of which he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



195 



lias always given his adherence. He is a reliable 
citizen, a good neighbor, and an honest man, wliose 
friends arc many and sincere. Mrs. Castncr is a 
communicant of tiie Roman Catholic Church, and 
has as many friends as her husband wliercvcr slie 
is known. 



<^ AMES J. WARREN, one of tiie well-known 
citizens of Greenbusii Townsliip, Clinton 
County, residing on section 19, was born 
August 6, 1839, in Orleans County, N. Y. 
He is a son of Seth and Catlieriiie (.loiinston) War- 
ren, both natives of New York. His maternal 
grandfather was an F^nglishman, and butchering was 
his business, supplying meat to the American army 
during the Revolutionary War. Our subject re- 
mained in his native State until 185G, when he re- 
moved with ids parents to Michigan, and resided 
for several years in Shiawassee County. Both par- 
ents died in that county, his father spending his 
last days in Owosso. 

After attending the common school in his native 
State and taking practical training upon the farm, 
young Warren attended school one winter after 
coming to Michigan, but after that had to depend 
entirely upon his own ambition to obtain opi)or- 
tunities for improvement. His marriage which 
took place on New Year's Day, 1863, united him 
with a lady of English birth and parentage, Eliza- 
beth S. Warren, who was born in Surrey County', 
England, April 9, 1838. Her parents were Henry 
and Harriet (Ridzbridger) Warren. In 1819 she 
emigrated witii her parents to America, taking pass- 
age at Southampton in a sailing-vessel, and after a 
sea voyage of four weeks, landed In Quebec. This 
was said to be the shortest trip across the Atlantic 
ever made by a sailing-vessel. This family now 
decided to come to the States, and made their home 
in Rochester for a short time. There the father 
engaged in the nursery business and subsequently 
in farming. 

The parents of Mrs. Warren had eleven children, 
nine of whom are now living. They are by name: 
George R., living in Shiawassee County, this State; 



William H., in California; Eliza, wife of John 
Burger, of Monroe County, N. Y.; the wife of our 
subject; Tiiomas, in Barry Count^s this State; 
Henr^', in Newaygo Count}-; Alfred, in New York; 
Nancy, wife of W. Burr, living in Chicago, III. 

Our subject and his wife have one adopted daugh- 
ter, Lottie A., who is the wife of Walter H. Eaines. 
In December, 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Warren settled 
on their present farm In a log house about 18x24 
feet in size. The farm consisted of about fifteen 
acres which had been partially cleared, and the re- 
mainder being heavily timbered. He cleared It all 
off and cultivated the farm, putting it in the ex- 
cellent condition in which it appears to-day. 

In the spring of 1891 this gentleman was elected 
Justice of the Peace, and he is now serving on his 
tliird term of School Director for his district. Both 
he and his intelligent wife are elHcient members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he also 
serves as Steward. They are highl}' honored mem- 
bers of society, and are ranked among the repre- 
sentative pioneers of Greenbusii Township. He is 
identified with the Masonic order, and is a Repub- 
lican in politics. He had gradually added to his 
farm by purchase until he now has one hundred 
and forty acres, and the log house Is re|)laccd by a 
handsome and commodious residence. When he 
first made his home upon his [)resent farm, there 
were two miles of solid woods between his farm 
and St. John's, the latter being then a small vil- 
lage. 

HARLES HENNING. Upon a promi- 
nence overlooking the Looking (ilass River 
'/) one of the smoothest streams in Michigan 
stands a handsome and attractive brick residence. 
Between the house and barn is a fine spting of 
cold water, which is always flowing and furnishes 
water for both house and stock. Two large, rc<l 
barns and the usual outhouses to be found upon a 
well-conducted farm, stand farther back from the 
road all being locaterl upon one of the finest farms 
In Clinton County. In this house resides the family 
of Charles A. Henning, a hard-working, happy and 
ttontented old gentleman of German birth. The 




496 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



farm is one mile west of the village of DeWitt and 
is located in DeWilt Township. 

Mr. Ilenning was born in Prussia September "27, 
1843. His father, Ernest,'was a farmer who worked 
rented land in the old country' and came to Amer- 
ica in 1854. He was traveling from Ai)ril 22 until 
July 14, coming from Germany to .Sandusky, Ohio. 
He made his settlement in Erie County, Ohio, and 
owned eighteen acres there, remaining there for 
twelve years. He then bought one hundred and 
twenty-six acres in Sandusky County and settled 
on it in 1866. He was killed when sixty -two 
ye.nrs of age by a kick in the side from a spirited 
horse. He was a member of the Germau Method- 
ist Church, which he joined immediatel}' after 
coming to America, and in which he took a great 
interest. He had been a Lutheran in the old coun- 
try. He earnestly espoused the doctrines of the 
Republican party and cast his vote for its progess. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Charlotte Trune. She was born in I'russia, 
Germany and became the mother of two children 
— John, who died at forty-seven years of age, and 
our subject. She was a member of the German 
Metliodijit Church and died at sixty-eight years of 
age in San<lusky County, Ohio. 

Our subject was eleven 3'ears old when he came ' 
to this connt.y with his parents, and had attended 
the (ierman pulilic schools from the time he was 
six years old. For two years he went to school in 
Venice, Ohio, and then he and his brotlicr went to 
work with the father on a farm. There was a heavy 
debt to be pai<l on this lanil, wliieh the father 
could never have cancelled himself, but the boys 
loyallj' stood by him and gave him the bene- 
lil of their labors until the debt was cleared. The 
father had C)nly ^80 when he landed in Amer- 
ica and had no resources except those which lay in 
his strong right hand. In 1876 Charles Henning [ 
came to Michigan and bought a farm in DeWitt 
T<."nship. This tract of land was valued at ^iU,- 
0(10 .uid lie went in debt *7,000 for it. But again 
he w<iil;ed and cleared this debt of his own as he 
lia<l (bme for his father. 

In 1H76 Mr. Henning married Henrietta Molden- 
haur, who was born in German}', in 1852, and came 
to America when only two years old. She has had 



five children, namely: .lohn, Daniel, Rineheart, 
Franklin and George K.,vvhicli latter died at the age 
of eleven months. Both parents are devout members 
of the German Methodist Church and have been 
from very early life. He is a Republican in his 
political views and a man of intelligence and very 
|)opular in the neighborhood. 



If? OYAL W.HILL. The title of Honorable 
Jl (j^ was earned by this gentleman while acting 
J — ^ . .as a Representative in the session that began 
in 1886, but his friends consider that it belonged 
to him before that time by right of his conduct as 
a man and the labors he h.ad performed in his 
chosen profession, in departments of public trust 
and iu private life, lie is now a resident of the 
town of F^agle, Clinton Count}', where he has long 
been living, but whence he expects to move in a 
short time to take u|) his residence in the State of 
Washington. His intention is deeply regretted by 
his friends and neighbors, although they admit his 
right to take ail vantage of better prospects else- 
where. 

Mr. Hill is the son of Reuben and Martha (Mil- 
ler) Hill, natives of Essex Count}-, N. Y., where he 
also was born, the date of the event being July 9, 
1843. The parents came to Clinton Count}' In 
1854 and established their home in Eagle Town- 
ship. The father died A[)ril 21, 1889, at a vener- 
able age, his natal day having been March 19, 
1806. The mother, who was born August 11, 1811, 
is still living, her home being in the town of Eagle. 
The son had very meagre educational privileges 
and may be said to have begun his studies, outside 
the home, when twenty years old, at which time 
he entered the Portland Union School. Ho after- 
ward taught ciglit winters and i)uvsued the study 
of the law. entering the Legal Department of the 
University of Miciiigan in 1878. The ensuing 
year he was admitted to the Clinton County bar 
and in 1885 he was licensed to practice in the 
United Slates Courts. 

The official life of the Hon. Mr. Hill began in 
1869 when he was elected Township C'lerk. The 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



497 



next year he served as School Inspector and in 
1873 lie became Justice of the Peace. lie also filled 
the position of Supervisor of Easjh Townsliii) for 
sis years. In 1884 lie made a splendid run for the 
position of Prosecuting Attornej' and ran one 
hundred and sevenly-tliree votes ahead of the 
number received by Blaine. The opposing candi- 
date was John H. Fcdewa. probably the most prom- 
inent Democrat in the county. In 1880 Mr. Hill 
was elected to the Legislature (m the Republican 
ticket and in his new position he was as faithful to 
the interests of his consliluonts as he had been in 
minor ones, and as anxious to promote law and 
order as when acting on behalf of the State against 
criminals. 

June 15, 1870, J\Ir. IIIU was happily mairleil to 
Marj' A. Draveiistatt. The union has been blcssccl 
by the birth of one son, Irving K., whose natal d.ay 
was November 7, 1S71. Thic young man has at- 
tended the State Agricultural College oi>e year and 
has taught two terms. lie is now studying tt^leg- 
raphy. The family, parents and son, belong to the 
Methodist Episco|>al Cluireh and ail are higlily es- 
teemed by llieir neiglibois. Mr. Jlill is a member 
of I'ortland Lodge K. A A. M. and Clinton l^odge 
No. G5, I. O. O. F., and holds the ollice of I'ast 
Noble Grand in the latter. 



-S-^^•=^<^=#^-^— 



^^ IIAULKS 15. NKWSOM. Among the rincly- 
(|( improved farms of Clinton County is that 

^^y belonging to the gentleman above named, 
which consists of one hundred and forty-two acres 
on section 33, Kagle Township. In tiie life of the 
owner of this estate the spirit of enterprise and 
habits of indusVry and Ihiift have been manifested, 
resulting in the accumulation of a goodly share of 
worldly possessions, and the example set by Mr. 
Ncwsom may well be emulated l)y 3'ouths who are 
beginning their career. 

Mr. Newsom is a native of Yorkshire, Kngland, 
born March Ifi, 1841. When he was a lad of some 
four years his parents, Uol)ert and Hannah (Kirk) 
Newsom, emigrated and established their home in 
Livingston County, N. V. Tliere they resided 



until 1856, when they tame to Clinton County, 
Mich., and bought eighty acres of timber land on 
section 19, Eagle Tovviishi|). The}' had been there 
but a few months when in 1857, both died and the 
family was broken up. Charles was thrown on his 
own resources with but slight knowledge on which 
to build his hopes of the future. He had attended 
the district schools during the winter months only, 
but was determined to obtain a better education, 
and therefore, his first effort was to save money for 
that purpose. He hired out on a farm, hoarded 
liis resources carefully and in the winter of 1860-()1, 
attended school at Ypsilanti. The next fall he 
went to the Lake Superior copper region and re- 
mained there until August, 18G2, when he res- 
ponded to a call for volunteers ami went to the 
aid of his adoiiled counirj-. 

As a idivate in Company A. Twenty-seventh 
Michigan Infantry, Mr. Newsom went to the front. 
The regiment became a part of the Ninth Army 
Corps, under the conimaud of (ieii, Scholicld, and 
participated in all the battles of the Army of the 
Cumberland, until after the fall of Vicksburg. 
The regiment was then marched across Kentucky 
into Tennessee and took part in the siege (»f Knox- 
villo and the battles of Blue Springs, Sliausbuig, 
Blaine and various others under (icii. Burnsiile. 
Thcj' went into winter (juarters in 18()3-GI at 
Blaine Crossroads and wiieu the spring campaign 
began were attached to the Army of the I'otom.ac. 
The boys took part in tlie b;iities of the Wilderness 
and many other engagements up to the time of the 
surrender of Gen. Lee at .Appomattox. Mr. New- 
som was struck with a piece of shell in the right 
thigh and disabled from further service in the liehl 
and was taken to the hospital where he remained 
about a year, the wound having been received 
June 17, 18G4. He was then cllscharged on a cer- 
tificate of physical disability and h:is since been in 
receipt of a pension of JiI2 per month. 

After his discharge, My. Newsom returned to 
Clinton County and when he had sulliciently re- 
covered, hired out by tiie month anrl labored thus 
until 1871. By industry and economy he had 
saved money enough to buy a farm of one hundred 
and three acres. He made the last payment on 
this property before his marriage, which took place 



498 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



January 4, 1872. His bride was Elsie Doty, daugh- 
ter of the Hon. Philo Doty, a Clinton County 
pioneer, who is widel}' and favorably known for 
liis worli in developing the resources of the county 
and promoting the public welfare by his actions in 
the legislative halls. Mr. and Mrs. Newsom have 
one daughter, Fae H., born May 2, 1882. She is 
being carefully instructed by her mother in the 
courtesies of life, and domestic accomplishments, 
such as her age will allow, and is receiving a good 
education. Mr. Newsom is a member of Earl 
Halbert Post, No. 108, G. A. R., at Grand Lodge. 
He always votes the Republican ticket. He and his 
wife dispense the hospitality of their pleasant home 
in a cordial spirit and their friends are numerous. 

— > -^-^ ^— 



^\ ARTIN V. RUSSELL, a prominent farmer 
" iV residing in Durand, Shiawassee County, was 
w born in New York, December 26,1836. His 
father, Peter,was born in Rensselaer Coun- 
ty, N. Y., in 1806, and was a cooper in his younger 
days, removing from his native place to Ohio after 
he became a man. He remained In Ohio for three 
years and came toWichigan in 1840, making his home 
in T^'rone Township, Livingston County ,on a farm. 
Not a tree had been chopped, nor stick touched 
when he took possession of the land. He cut tim- 
ber enough to clear a spot for a home, and used 
the logs thus hewed for building his log house. He 
cleared the place and made it his permanent home, 
and now at the age of eighty-five he is still resid- 
ing there. He is a Democrat in politics and a pub- 
lic-spirited man, and has been placed by his fellow- 
citizens in offices of trust. He was for some time 
Justice of the Peace and also Treasurer of the 
township, and is indentified with the Masonic 
order. 

Elmira Rowlan, who became Mrs. Russell, and 
the mother of our subject, was born in New Y'ork 
in 1807, and Is still living. She brought lo her 
good husband six children, four of whom are now 
living, our subject being the fourth in order of 
birth. He was a little one, only three years old, 
when he journeyed with his parents to Michigan, 



and here has passed all of his life which is within 
the range of Itis memory. Here he had his first 
schooling, attending the log schoolhouse, and sit- 
ting on the slab seats which had uo back except as 
the children made out to lean against the wall. 
He remained with his father until he reached the 
age of twenty-six years. 

The marriage of Mr. Russell and Clarissa A. 
Griswold was solemnized February 15, 1863. This 
lady was born in Livingston County ,Mich., Novem- 
ber 16, 1840, and is the only daughter of Frederick 
and Hannah (Johnson) Griswold. Three years 
after their marriage the young couple left the home 
of Peter Russell and located In Shiawassee Count}'. 
They settled in Vernon Township, on section 15, 
March 26,1 867. He built the house that now stands 
upon the place in 1877 at a cost of *2,000. He 
lived there twenty-one years, and in March, 1888, 
removed to the village of Durand, where he has 
seventy-six acres inside the corporation, but he 
does not engage in active farming nor in business 
to any considerable extent. He is a Democrat in 
his political convictions and has served as Presi- 
dent of the village board since 1877. He is con- 
nected witii the Masonic order being a member of 
Blue Lodge, No. 161, at Durand, and also of the 
North Newburg Lodge. No children have come 
to bless this home. Mr. Durand is highly esteemed 
and his opinion has great weight with his fellow, 
citizens, who look to him for counsel in many mat- 
ters which i)ortain to the welfare and prosperity of 
both village and township, 



<#^- 



DELBERT TINKER, one of the most 
prominent residents of Hazelton Township, 
Shiawassee County, whose farm is located 
on section 17, was born In Ontario County, 
in 1850. His father, Dr. Malachi Tinker, 
was born In Henrietta, N. Y., in 1819, and received 
his education in the academy there and at Geneva 
College, where he graduated in 1840. After a 
practice of two or three years he located at I'ort 
Gibson, and was at the latter place for fifteen years 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



499 



before cominw to Michigan. He arrived at Ypsi- 
lanti in 1859, and in 1862 came to Hazcllon and 
procured one hundred and sixtj' acres on section 
17. Tills was liien an unlirolicn forest and lie had to 
cut Ills road into it from tlie West. lie carried on his 
professional worlc and hired men to clear the farm 
Dr. Tinlier liad been married in 1841, Ills wife 1)6- 
ing Harriet Culver, daughter of Cornelius Culver. 
The Culver family consisted of four sons and four 
daughters, of whom Harriet was the second child, 
being born in 1820. Dr. and Mrs. Tinker became 
tiie parents of one daughter and three sons, of 
whom Adelbert was the second born. Dr. Tinker 
was called from earth in October, 1887. He was 
a sturdy Whig and later in life a Republican, but 
for a number of years previous to his death lie was 
a Democrat. The grandfather of our subject, 
James Tinker, was a pioneer of New York State, 
having gone to Monroe County in 1812. He was 
a native of Connecticut, whence he emigrated, 
the journey being made in twenty days by driving 
a j'okc of oxen. He died in 1856 at the advanced 
age of cighty-fhree. 

Tlie subject of this sketch received the usual 
opportunities of a common-school education, and 
he improved them to such good advantage as to 
be able to teach while still quite young. He re- 
mained with his parents, but began for himself 
when eighteen years old. In 1876 he bought forty 
acres near the father on the same section, and be- 
gan to clear it, but sold it in 1888. He now has 
one hundred and sixtj- acres of arable and produc- 
tive land. His marriage, in 1874, was an event of 
great importance in the life of the young man, his 
bride l)eing Lorana, a daughter of Joseph II. Bush 
of Hazleton. He was a native of New York, and 
had three children, one son and two daughters, of 
whom Lorana is the second born, her natal day be- 
ing in 1853. To Mr.and Mrs. Tinker have been born 
one son, Malachi Joseph, born in 1881, and one 
daughter, Blanche Mabel, who died when two years 
and three months of age. 

Mr. Tinker is identified with the Ancient Free 
and Accepted Masons in which he has been Secre- 
tary and Junior Warden, and where he is now 
Master. His political views lead liini to alliliate 
with the Democratic party. His handsome brick 



residence, the first one built in Ilazelton Township, 
is attractive and commodious and is the center of 
a delightful social life. In addition to his general 
farming he has added the care of a dairy, in which 
he is successful. 



-^^-^^^i^SiJ^^t^^V*^ 



-V" 




KANK M. SPAlLDINf; is one of the most 
S) conspicuous figures among the younger 
business men of St. John's, Clinton Coun- 
ty. He is a member of the firm of Nixon & Co., 
which carries on the most extensive hardware trade 
in the city. He was born in this city November 4, 
18Gl,aud had the misfortune to lose his mother 
when he was scarcely old enough to recognize her 
care. His father going to the war, he was tender- 
ly cared for by his paternal grandparents until he 
was eight or nine years old, when he entered the 
St. John's High School. When eighteen years 
old he went to learn the hardware business at S.agi- 
naw, entering the establishment of ex-Governor 
Jerome, and working his way to marking clerk in 
six years. In 1885 he began business for himself 
in that city, as a partner in the firm of Stock, 
Spaulding & Stock. The connection lasted until 
1888, when our subject disposed of liis interest in 
the luisiness and returned to St. John's. 

Here Mr. Spaulding went to the Whipple Har- 
row Comiiany as secretar}- and treasurer, but after 
a year, sold his interest and bought into the firm 
of Nixon & Co., taking the place of F. A. Travis. 
He is also interested with his father in a farm of 
four hundred and eighty acres in Bingham Town- 
ship, of which he has the nianageuient. It is a 
well-improved tract of land on which fine crops 
are harvested and high grades of stock raise<l. Mr. 
S[)aiilding displays a creditable amount of energy 
in the prosecution of business affairs but does not 
give his mind entirely to the improvement of his 
finances. On the contrary he indulges to aconsid- 
erable extent, in social pleasures, and is one of the 
most prominent and active supporters of the Kpis- 
co\y.i\ Church. He is a vestryman, and brings to 
the consultations of the Board, a mind that is keen, 
a heart that is true and a hand that is liberal. He 



500 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



is connected with tiie Masonic order and is a Re- 
publican. 

At tlie bride's house, in Saginaw, in September, 
1889, Mr. Spiiiihlino: was mai'ried to Mis.s Eva 
Hogau, whose father, George Ho<(an, is a manufac- 
turer of mill saws. Mrs. Spaulding was born in 
Pittsburg, Pa., but finished her education in the 
Saginaw High School and was engaged in teaching 
there. She takes pride in continuing tiie culture 
of her mind, and in making herself useful in soci- 
ety, but her home is ber first care. She dispenses 
hospitality most graciously and supplements the 
genip.lit}' of her husband by her own interest in her 
companions and her sympathy in their projects. 
She belongs to the Episcopal Cliurch and is an act- 
ive member of the Ladies' Aid Society. Husband 
and wife are prominent and well respected, and by 
those to whom they are best known, they are re- 
garded with a deeper feelina:. 



FRANCIS MARION SHEPARD. The gen- 
tleman, whose biographical sketch it is our 
/li, pleasant privilege to give here, was born in 

Niagara County, N. Y., October 14, 1810. His 
father, Samuel Shepard, who was born in 1800, died 
February 24, 18GG. He was a native of Vei'monl, 
and at seven years of age with iiis parents removed 
to Monroe County, N. Y., sixteen miles west of 
Rociiestcr. This was in the year 1807. Our sub- 
ject's grandfather vvas Samuel Shepard. The fam- 
ily is probably- from Wales, having come to this 
country long before the Revolution. Samuel 
Shepaid was drafted in 1812. Our subject's uncle 
took his father's place in the army at the tender 
age of eighteen. The old gentleman lived until 
his ninety-first year, and frecpiently si)oke before 
his death of having passed the present site of Roch- 
ester, N. Y., before there was a house there, at the 
time frequently wondering if it would not be a good 
place to locate. 

Otu- subject's mother was Anna A. Park, born 
in what is now Chemung County, but at that time 
Tioga County, January 22, 1812. She was a 
daugliter of Robert and Sally Ann Paik, who were 



second cousins and both natives of New Jersey. 
His grandfather was born in Ireland, and the 
mother's side was from Wales. Samuel Shepard, 
the father of our subject, was one of seven chil- 
dren, only one of whom is now living — Mrs. Theri 
Guthrie, of Ashtabula County, Ohio. Samuel 
Shepard was united to Miss Hannah Park, a half- 
sister of Ann Park, when a j'oung man, and settled 
on a new farm in Monroe County, N. Y. Having 
lost his wife in a few years, he married the lad3' who 
is now his widow in 1839, in Niagara Count}-, N. Y., 
and in 1841 came to Michigan, where he lived one 
year. In the village of Owosso was the site they 
selected for their home, purchasing the farm upon 
which our subject now lives. 

The family of Shepards were among the very 
first settlers in the township, there being only the 
families of Ezra Mason, Apollos Dewey, Reuben 
Griggs and Abram Wilkinson. Three children 
survived to remind him of his union with his first 
wife. The first, Artemesia, who died in Owosso; 
Chauncey Franklin, father of Robert Shepard, of 
Owosso Township, died in 1890; an<l Charles Rob- 
ert, who left home before he was of age, going to 
California, where he died in 1859, at the age of 
twent3--one years. Only two children resulted 
from his second marriage — Francis M., and Han- 
nah, who is the wife of George T. Mason. 

At tiie age of seventy-nine our subject's mother, 
Mrs. .Shepard, is still blest with a good memory 
and a clear, strong brain. She still takes delight 
in recouiiting in touching and interesting stjle the 
hnrdships attending ujion frontier life, and trans- 
ports her listener back, as it were, almost into 
another age. She is quite hale and bears her 
nearly eiglitj' years of care and the burdens of life 
as though it were but half tliat length of time. 
For half a cenlur}' she has assisted in the develop- 
ment of Shiawassee County, and lime was when no 
one was more deservedly popular than she, and no 
hand more willing to aid the needy or comfort the 
sorrowing. The few years that inay3et be allotted 
her will be passed in peace, surrounded by the com- 
forts that are the result of lier own earl}' effort and 
struggle, and cheerfully attended by loving chil- 
dren and grandchildren. But a few years more 
and the few survivors of those early experiences 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



iod 



of frontier life will be called bouie to meet again 
ill tiiat beautiful land when the strugfi;les anil as- 
pirations of long years are past. 

Our subject, F. M. Sbepard, at the age of twenty- 
seven took unto himself as wife Miss Maria Adelia 
DeWitt, December 31, 1868. The lady is a native 
of New Jersej-, where she was born at Holt, War- 
ren Cwunty. February "22, 1851. She is a daugii- 
ter of Walter C. and Margaret (Middlesworth) l)e 
Witt. Her father is still living in Shiawassee 
Count}-, Middlebury Township. 

In 1805 Mr. Shepard attended one term of tiie 
Agricultural College at Lansing, where he brought 
away man}' ideas that have been to him of great 
intrinsic value. He now pays particular attention 
to the breeding of Gallowaj' cattle, having eight 
head of registered cattle and a number of grades. 
He is also breeding Shropshire sheep, roadster 
horses and the Napoleon branch of HAmbletouians- 
He is at present Supervisor, and has been Township 
Clerk for seven years, and has held every township 
office but that of treasurer. Naturally his interest 
is paramountly awakened by all agricultural mat- 
ters. Although his father was a Democrat, ho is a 
Republican, having cast his first vote for Lincoln. 
Mr. Shepar<l is not an adherent of any creed or 
sect, believing rather in the religion of humanity. 
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and has filled all the chairs therein. His 
home has been made cheer}- by the advent of five 
children. The eldest, Marcia A., is now Mrs. 
Bert Launslcin, of Owosso Township; Philip T., 
Bertha V., Marion and Margaret, who all live at 
home. 

.. : -j ^^^^^M^i : ■ 

AVIS DPTCHKR. Those who have re 
sided in Michigan for a half-century or 
more have witnessed many changes. Where 
once deep silence reigned on a spot so lone 
and wild, now fertile realms are tilled and populous 
towns have sprung into existence; where once the 
warrior lit the pile and bound the captive, now 
happy children play in fearless gayety. Mr. 
Dutcher, whose portrait is presented on the oppo- 
site page, is a native-born citizen of this great State 




and has for years been closely identified with the 
j)rogress of Shiawassee County. His pleasant home- 
stead is located on section 4, Henningloii Town- 
ship, adjoining the village of Bennington. He was 
born in Salem, AVaslitenaw County. Fcbruarj' 16, 
1831, and his earliest recollections are of primitive 
scenes and the iiardships of pioneer life. 

The parents of Mr. Dutcher were both natives 
of New York State; the father, who bore the name 
of John, was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego Count}-, 
December 1, 1797, and the mother, whose name in 
maidenhood was Philolhey Coif, was born in Gor- 
hani, Ontario County, September 26, 1805. The 
maternal gi-andfather of our subject, William Coif, 
settled in Bennington Township in 1838, and made 
his home during the last years of his life with Mr. 
Dutcher, but died at the home of Mrs. Sylvia 
Jubb,in Middiebuiy Townshij). in his eighty-second 
year. His sons Jeremiah and Hiram Coif still re- 
side in tiie township of Bennington. The ceremony 
wliich united in the holy bonds of wedlock John 
Dutcher and Philothey Coif was solemnized Au- 
gust 23, 1823, in Monroe County, N. Y., and seven 
years after this important event the young couple 
removed to Michigan in June, 1830. The father 
passed from earth March 26, 185'J, mourned by a 
large circle of friends. 

Our subject was one of live children, namely; 
Johiel wlio died in infancy; Mary, the widow of 
Henry Punches, who lives in Middlebury Town- 
ship; Davis of this sketch; Seth, who died of chronic 
(liarrh(ca during the war, and Sylvia now Mrs. Wil- 
liam J. Jubb living near Gaylord, Otsego County. 
For more than two years Setii was connected with 
Company G, Sixth Michigan Cavalry. He was 
brought home by Davis from Pi. Lookout, Md., and 
died November 7, 1864 at the age of twenty- eight 
years. 

In 1843 the father of our subject came to Shia- 
wassee County and settled in Bennington Town- 
ship on a farm of Hiram Coif's and two years later 
located near Bryoii ; in 1846 he removed to the 
farm which is now the property of the son. Here 
the father bought eighty acres on contract and it 
was paid for by Davis and his brother Seth, who 
also worked and paid for one hundred and twenty 
acres of land on section 36, in the township of 



504 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUiVI. 



Middlebury, Sliiawassee County. The mother is 
still living on adjoining propertj' and has now 
reached the extreme age of eighty-six years. Davis 
vv.-is married July 4, 1860, at Stockliridge. Mich., his 
bride being Miss Minerva Rathbun a daughter of 
Fernando C. and Eunice (Coif) Rathhun and Ksq. 
Joseph B. Wallace officiating at the ceremony. Mrs. 
Dutcher was making a Tisit to his uncle at Bunker 
Hill near Stockbridge, when she was married to our 
subject. Her mother who was at that time a widow, 
was a cousin of the family and her father died 
about the same time that Mr. Dutcher Sr. passed 
away. Her motlier married a second time becom- 
ing Mrs. McC'ormick, but being bereaved bj- the 
death of her husband a few years later,she returned 
and made her home with Mr. Dutcher. There she 
died in 1867 and was buried on December 28, 
the day that Harry was born. Her only son Oliver 
H., died in the army as the result of vaccination 
when about twentj'-six j'ears old. IMrs. Dutcher 
died on New Year's Day, 1888,of typhoid fever at 
the age of forty-eight years. 

The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Dutcher is as follows: Hiel 8., who is married 
to Miss Catherine Carriek and lives on a farm near 
his father; John died when one year and eight 
months old; Harry J. who is twenty-three years 
old, lives at home; Squire died wiien eighteen years 
old, on Christmas Day, 1890, as the result of a 
cold contracted a few years before. Dolly died at 
at the age of seventeen December 24, 1890. Both 
of these young people died of consumption and 
upon the same day were laid in the same grave. 
Lucj- now thirteen years old and Alice aged ten 
are in school; Ellen Ma3' died in the spring of 1888 
when an infant less than two j'ears old. Harry was 
for two years with a traveling circus and by care- 
ful economy made that business profitable. He is 
a musician and plays different instruments in the 
orchestra. All the members of the family are musi- 
cal and the two little girls are receiving culture in 
that line. Their mother who was a highly educated 
woman was an earnest and conscientious member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which her 
husband is an active worker and was a trustee at the 
time the churcli was built. 

Mr. Dutclier's farm consists of seventy-two acres 



of arable and finely' cultivated soil. He is quite a 
sportsman and makes frequent expeditions to the 
wilder parts of the State, going North nearly every 
year. He has a record of killing quite a number 
of deer as well as bears, wild cits, foxes and wild 
turkeys innumerable. Mr. Dutclier's mother re- 
sides In an adjoining house and is an invalid hav- 
ing been confined to her bed for a year. Her mind 
is still active and her memory excellent consider- 
ing her bodily infirmities. At the time our biogra- 
l)her called upon her she was receiving a visit from 
her daughter Sylvia v/ho lives in Otsego County. 



<if?OHN D. WILLIAMS. The name which heads 
this sketch is that of one of the prominent 
merchants of Byron, Shiawassee County, 
conducting the largest hardware house in 
the i>lace. He was born in Boston, Mass., June 29, 
1819, and was the son of John and Elizabeth 
(Martin) Williams, natives of Massachusetts, who 
were of Welch extraction. The family left Boston 
in 1838 and removed to Marshall, Oneida County, 
N. Y., where they lived for several years, and from 
there went to Waterville of the same county and 
State where the parents spent the remainder of 
their lives. 

Tlie paternal parent of our subject was a tanner 
by trade which business he followed the greater 
part of his life. He served in the War of 1812 as 
an officer in an artillery company. At one time of 
his life he was in ver}' good circumstances, as prop- 
erty was considered at that time, but the Bankrupt 
law of 1842 so crippled him that he never recov- 
ered his financial position. He and his wife were 
members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics 
he was an Independent and held some minor munic- 
ipal ofiices. 

The grandparents of the original of our sketch 
were John and Sarah (Wheeler) Williams, who were 
natives of Massachusetts. Joiin Williams was a 
Major in the Revolutionary War and his family 
have the proud honor of knowing that he was a 
participant in the battle of Bunker Hill, at which 
time he was wounded. He enjo^'ed a personal ac- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



505 



quaintnnce with Gcii. George Washington and 
served iu the hatlle of Hnniior Hill under Gen. 
Warren. The faniil}' trace their ancestry to one 
Robert Williams, who came to Anu'rica from Wales 
soon after the landing of the Ma^tlower. He was 
a baronet and his coat of arras is registered at the 
oflice of Heraldry in Lond(Mi. 

The maternal grandfather of our subject was a 
native of England, and took a conspicuous part in 
the tea riot in Boston. Our stibjecl's grandpar- 
ents on both sides died in Massachusetts and were 
interred in the Dorchester Cemetery near Boston. 
The gentleman of whom wc write is the tliird in a 
family of six children whose names are as follows: 
Elizabeth A., Sarah M., John D., Thomas J., Caro- 
line C. and JIary C. The two youngest are de- 
ceased. Mr. Williams was raised and educated in 
Boston and in early life worked with his father at 
the tanner's trade. He remained there until 1838 
when he came to Marshal, Oneida County, N. Y., 
where he was engaged in the lumber business and 
worked in his father's shoe factory as a cutter until 
1848 when he came to Byron and started a shoe 
factory which then gave employment to nineteen 
men. 

Our subject continued the shoe business until 
1851, when he caught the California gold fever 
and look his way westward by way of the water, 
sailing from New Orleans and passing the Isthmus, 
lie crossed the Andes on foot for a distance of 
twentj'-eight miles in comitany with Grave Dennis 
and N. G. Phillii>s. He remained in California 
until the fall of 1853 when the gold fever was begin- 
ning to subside. On his outward trip he had a most 
eventful voyage. The ship on which he sailed took 
fire Maj' 4, 1851, the sails were all burned and the 
vessel drifted for eight days, the passengers being 
reduced to quarter rations. The vessel finally 
made port at Mazatlan, Mexico. T.ie fire on the 
vessel was caused by the melting of the arches in 
the boilers. 

While in California Mr. Williams met with an 
ordinary degree of success, part of the time mining 
for gold dust and the remainder of his staj- engaged 
in trading. In 1853 he returned to Michigan and 
w('nt on a farm in Argentine Township, Genesee 
County, about three miles from Byron, where he 



remained until September 10, 18fi2, when he re- 
moved his family to B_\ ron village, rented his farm 
and joined the army as Second Lieutenant in Com- 
pany 11, Ninth Michigan Infantry. Ho joined the 
regiment at Bowling Green, Ky., Novembers, 18G2, 
when he marched with the regiment to Nashville, 
Tcnn., and advanced day by day from December 
25, to the 31st, when the two armies became en- 
gaged in battle at Murfreesboro, Tenn., he being an 
enthusiastic participant in tiie five days' fight. He 
remained with his regiment until June 17, 18G3, 
when by order of Gen. Rosecrans, then Deputy 
Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, the 
regiment reported to Gen. St. Clair Morton at Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn., and from him received orders to 
build Redoubt Brannon, which was done and was 
received by an inspecting officer from the War De- 
partment. 

After accomplishing the work spoken of above, 
Mr. Williams received a promotion couched in the 
following terms: 

"Headquarters of tiie Army of the Cumberland, 

Chattanooga. Tenn., 
Approved. 

"In accordance with recommendation from Capt. 
Rlerrill, Brig.-Gen. Van Cleve commanding Fort- 
ress Rosecrans, will place Lieut. J. D. Williams of 
the Ninth Michigan Infantry in charge of all the 
works at Fortress Rosecrans, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 
as engineer, for his skill, zeal and efficiency in build- 
ing redoubt BraTinon. 

By coniMiand of Maj. -Gen. 

(ieorge H. Thomas." 

Our subject was in command here until Dcccm- 
lier 7, 1864, when he was relieved of duty, l)ut 
owing to his perfect acquaintance with the sur- 
roundings, it was deemed best that he should com- 
mand the fort the following day, the 8th of 
December, on which the battle occurred, which he 
did. 

After this battle Mr. Williams was returned to 
Van Cleve's Staff and served in that capacity until 
September 25, 1865. when he was mustered out at 
Nashville, Tenn., and received his final discharge 
at Jackson, Mich., October 3, 1865. His health 
suffered so greatly from the hardships endured 



506 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



while in service that he has never entirely re- 
covered. 

On returning from the war he again went on his 
farm in Argentine Township, Genesee Count}', 
where he remained until the spring of 1875 when 
he sold his farm and moved back to Byron. Here 
he engaged in bu^'ing wool and produce, following 
that business until April, 1883, when he purchased 
H. L. Cook's hardware business, to which he has 
ever since devoted himself. 

Mr. Williams owns some laud in Gratiot County 
and timbered land on section 30, Arcadia Town- 
ship. What he possesses he has acquired by his 
own efforts and though he has met with several 
heavy losses he has always regained his financial 
standing. In politics he is an independent and has 
held several minor offices in the township. He is 
a member of the Union Veterans, of which organi- 
zation he is Colonel commanding, and also belongs 
to the Odd Fellows. 

Our subject was married November 9, 1848, to 
Miss Mary K. Dennis, of Byron, Mich., who was 
born in Concord, ]\Iass., in 1863. She was the 
daughter of Bowman and Elizabeth (Bellows) 
Dennis, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts. 
They came to Michigan in 1844 and settled in 
Byron where Mr. Dennis died. His wife died in 
Washington, D. C. Mr. Williams and lady liave 
been blest with four children: John 1)., Frederick 
W., Bowman S., and Mary E. The latter died in 
infancy. John D. is engaged in business at Grand 
Rapids; Frederick AV. resides at Pine Village, Ind.; 
Bowman S. remains at home and is in business with 
his father. 



^^NDKEW M. VAN DERHOFF, a prosper- 
(M0| ous farmer and stock raiser of Lebanon 
I il Township, Clinton County, is a son of 
^jjj John Van Derhoff, whose father John was a 

native of Germany. John. Van Derhoff, Jr., was 
born in New York and there lived and died. He 
was married to Orvilla Collins, a native of New 
York. To Mr. and Mrs. \'an Derhoff were born 
the following children : Amos. Isaac, Cynthia and 
Andrew M. After the death of tlie father of these 



children their mother was married a second time to 
Isaac Hubble and had one sou, Collins by name. 

Andrew M. Van Derhoff was born March 6, 1845, 
In Pitlsford, N. Y., and being early bereft of his 
father, he started in life for himself at the age of 
thirteen years, making his home with Deacon Os- 
born and remaining with him one and a half years. 
He then worked by the month for several years 
and took his schooling in the common schools and 
taught for one term. In 1867 he came to Michi- 
gan, making his home in Ionia County, where he 
was engaged in mercantile pursuits for one year. 
He then worked on the railway for a year and re- 
turning to Ionia County rented a farm. 

About 1872 Mr. Van Derhoff was married to 
Mary, a daughter of Moses Watle, a New Yorker, 
who came to Michigan at an early daj' and settled 
on the farm now owned by our subject. He sold 
out this land and went into the North Woods, but 
flnding bears much too numerous there, he decided 
to return to Lebanon Township, where he made his 
Iinal home. Two children, Belle and Frederick, 
have been granted to our subject and his wife. 

Eighty acres of flue land in Lebanon Township 
were purchased by Mr. Van Derhoff soon after liis 
marriage and here he lived for a year, but having 
an opportunity to sell, he disposed of the property, 
making $1 ,500 by the operation. He started empt^-- 
handed in life and at this time was now v.'orth about 
$3,000. After spending some time in New York, 
he returned to Ionia Count}' and soon made his 
home in Hubbardslon, that county, where lie bought 
and sold slock until his removal, in 18SG, to his 
present location, lie and his wife now own one 
hundred and seventy-two acres and good buildings. 
He takes great interest in Percheron horses and has 
two fine animals, namely: "Nigger Boy" and "Grey 
Dan." He also makes a specialty of raising sheep 
and at limes has owned as many as seven hundred 
ewes. He is an active member of the Ancient Or- 
der of United Workmen and is and always has been 
an ardent Republican in politics. Some years ago 
our subject lost his wife and was married again in 
1885 to Mrs. Adell Tyler, a daughter of Abial 
and Amanda Gardner, who were natives of New 
York. The father was a carpenter and farmer and 
both are now deceased. They lived near Balavia 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



507 



and liad accumulated consitlerablc property. Mrs. 
Van Derlioff was married to Winfleld Tyler iu 187:5, 
in Genesee County, N. Y.; lie was the son of War- 
ren and Carsander Tyler, natives of New York. 
Mrs. Van Derlioff was the mother of two children, 
Lester and Charles, by her previous marriajje. No 
children have been granted to our subject and his 
wife. 



«-_(§_ 



-m 



J'HOHN M. FITCII, representing Thomas VV^ood 
& Co., of Boston, Mass., wholesale dealers 
in coffee, tea and spice, is the veteran trav- 
' eling groceryman in Michigan, having been 
on the road more years consecutively, than any 
traveling groceryman in the State. He was born 
in Salem, Wa.shtcnaw County, this Slate, October 
6, 1832. His father, Elijah Fitch, was a native of 
Genesee County, N. Y., and his grandfather and 
great-grandfather, who both bore the name of Eli- 
jah were born in Connecticut. The latter was a 
Revolutionarj- soldier under Gen. Washington, and 
our subject has in his possession ¥00 in Continen- 
tal currency, which was paid to this ancestor (ur 
services iu the array. NVitli tliis is also a tw(Mity- 
live cent piece of Continental money. In his latter 
life the grandfather emigrated to Genesee County, 
N. Y.. from Connecticut, and died there. He had 
Ijeen a soldier in the War of 1812. The Eitch 
family in America is traced back to three brothers, 
who came from the Isle of Man to Connecticut 
about lG;j;J. 

The father of our subject followed farming. He 
was married in I'ultney ville, N. Y., and came to 
Michigan in 1830, locating in Salem. He began in 
true pioneer style, cutting roads to his new home 
and building a double log house. Here our sub- 
ject was born. In 1838 Elijah Filch had his farm 
in a fine condition and sold it, purchasing in Brigh- 
ton, Livingston County, where he cleared another 
large farm of two hundred and forty acres. He 
afterward removed to Novi, Oakland County, 
where he kept a hotel, and in 18I'J located on a 
farm of one hundred an<l si.xt}' acres in Ovid, Clin- 
ton County. He then entered another one hundred 
and sixty by land warrant, and later added to it 



until he had four hundred and eighty acres in one 
boil}'. He had about one hundred acres of this 
improved at the time of his death in 18G5. He was 
Supervisor of Ovid at a time when there were 
but twenty-two voters in that township, and was Jus- 
tice of the Peace in Salem. W.ashtenaw County, 
afterward in Livingston County. He received his 
ai)|)ointment from Gen. Lewis Cass while Governor 
of the Territory. For six years while he held this 
oflice there was not a law suit tried in Salem. He 
was a Democrat in his political views, and in early 
life w.as connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and was a man who was straightforward 
and upright in his life. 

The mother of our subject, Hannah Hathawa}' 
by name, was a native of Pultneyville, Genesee 
County, N. Y., and died in 1865, in forty-eight 
hours after the death of her husband. Her father, 
Joseph Hathaway, lost a linger in the War of 1812. 
He came to Michigan in 1830, and took a farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Salem, but spent 
his last days in Ovid. Of the seven children of 
Elijah and Hannah Fitch six grew to maturity. 
Our subject spent his childhood on the farm and 
was early set to work driving oxen and doing other 
heavy farm work and was quite an expert in hand- 
ling six and seven yoke of oxen, and from the 
lime he was quite 3'oung had no schooling except 
in the wmler for some time. While in Novi he 
attended the district school for three years, and 
then took two years in the Cochran Academy at 
Nortliville. He was a fine penman and taught 
writing school as well as day school in the winters. 

In the summer of 18.)3, John M. Fitch and his 
brother Malcomb cleared twent}- acres of land in 
.Middlebury Township, Shiawassee County. In the 
fall of 1853 he went to DeWitt in the employ of 
1). and J. Sturgis & Co., who are in the general 
mcichandise business. After spending a year with 
them and a year in the store of John Hicks, he went 
with that gentleman in 1855 to St. .lohn's. After 
being with him a year he took a stock of goods 
from him on commission and went to Ovid to es- 
tablish a general nu'rchandise business. This w.is 
one of the pioneer stores there, and was carried on 
from 1856 to 1862. In 1858 he had straightened 
up his accounts with Mr. Hicks and run the busi- 



508 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ness alone until 1862. In 1858 be went to Detroit 
with oul}' 5!80 in money to purchase $1,500 worth 
of goods, which he accomplished, as his manner of 
doing business and his local reputation, gave the 
merchants confidence in his ability and integrity. 
For one year he carried on a stave and heading 
business. In 1863 he went to Detroit with the firm 
of Robeson & Brook, and afterward with Johnson 
& Wheeler, as shipping clerk. 

In 1865 Mr. Fitch took up the grip sack in the 
service of Johnson & Wheeler, wholesale grocers, 
and was with them for twenty-two years, traveling 
in Michigan, most of the time in the northern part 
of the State. He was then for one^-ear with Burdan 
& Co , and now represents a Boston house. In bis 
line he has received tiie highest salary offered, with 
tlie exception that one man a Mr. Fletcher, work- 
ing for the same house received the same salary. 
He made his residence in Detroit until 1869, when 
be came here and was in the drug business for one 
year. lu 1874 he returned to Detroit but in May, 
1886, he again made his home in Corunna. He is 
interested in land in Ludington, Mason County, 
this State, and owns real-estate in Corunna. No 
man in Michigan knows more prominent men and 
business men than lie, and for twelve years while 
he was traveling, he acted as reporter for the De- 
troit Free Pregs signing his initials reversed F. 
M. J. 

The first marriage of our subject took place in 
Caledonia in 1852. His wife was Susan, daughter 
of the Rev. William Cochran an early settler of 
Washtenaw County, a stone mason by trade and a 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This 
lady was born in Buffalo, N. Y., and died in De- 
troit, Januaiy 6, 1885. She left two children, 
Chester M., who resides in Memphis, Tenn., and 
carries on business in furnishing goods. Ida C, 
now Mrs. C. S. Howard, whose husband is con- 
nected with the American Exchange National Bank 
of Detroit. The second marriage of Mr. Filch 
took place December 24, 1885, in Grand Rapids, 
being then united to Miss Anna Hilborn. This 
lady was born near Goodrich, (ienesee County, 
Mich., and was reared in the state of New York. 
Mr. Fitch was Township Clerk in Ovid and Super- 
visor of the Second Ward foi' one year in Corunna. 



He is connected with the Masonic Lodge and is now 
bekmging to Detroit C'ommandery No. 1, K. T., 
and Blue Lodge and Ro^al Arch Chapter at Cor- 
unna. He is a member of the Independent Order 
of Good Templars, being District Worthy Chief 
and at one time District Deputy, and is Grand 
Worthy Chief Templar of AVestern Michigan. He 
also belongs to the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen at Detroit, and is a demitted member of 
Odd Fellows; and a member of the Knight of the 
Grip. His wife is also an earnest Temperance 
worker being a member of the Independent Order 
of Good Templars and the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union as well as the Ladies .Societ}-. Mr. 
Fitch is an active worker in the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and is an exhorter,and for many years 
Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He was a 
Democrat until 188.J when he became a Prohibi- 
tionist. As a delegate at County and State Con- 
ventions he has served on committees for drafting 
resolutions and has been a member of the Prohibi- 
tion County Convention Committee. He is also 
acting agent in Michigan of the Pure Petroleum 
Product Company. 



^ 



^^^ 




ICHARD MOORE, a prominent old settler 
and ex-Treasurer of Clinton County, has a 
i4k\\\ nice property which is mostly within the 
corporate limits of St. John's. He w.as born 
May 2, 1828, in Hindal Veston, Norfolk, England. 
His father, John 1$. was an English farmer, being 
a proprietor of a small jiroperty. When young he 
was a business man and was in the mercantile line. 
The mother, PerccUa Fox, was also of English birth 
and lived to be over eighty' j'ears old, as did also 
her husband. Her mother completed a century of 
existence. They were connected with the Church 
of England. 

The subject of this sketch is the youngest of 
eighteen children of his parents. He went to school 
until he reached the age of ten years, after which 
he clerked in a store, until he wag fifteen. He then 
came to America in the spring of 1843, leaving 
Liverpool on the sailing-vessel "Monument." They 



I'OKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



509 



had a stormy voyage and were out of sight of land 
forty-five days, making port finally in New York. 
The first stopping place of the young man was in 
Medina County. Ohio. Here he staid for about 
six months and then came to Lenawee Count}', 
Mich., and worked for different farmers. Later he 
removed to Albion, in Calhoun County, tiiis State. 
He attended Albion College for about two years 
and also taught in that count}', working on the 
farm when not engaged in professional duties. 

A little later Mr. Moore went to Iowa, traveling 
with his own team and wagon. He tried to cross 
the Missouri River between Clinton and St. Joseph 
but the Indians drove them back and they h.id to 
cross at another point. He went to Council Itluffs 
and from there to Missouri. He returned to Mich- 
igan, stopping in Calhoun and Lenr.wee Counties. 
In 1855 he came to St. John's by team, and the 
following spring ))ouglit land and made his home 
on it. He built a log house on iiis forty acres and 
erected and operated the first ashery which had 
ever been put up here. He brought black salt 
down from Gratiot County. He manufactured 
pearlash, shipping by car-load for several years. 
He finally sohl the ashery and paid more attention 
to farming, clearing tiie land and purch.asing more, 
until he now has one hundred and forty acres. He 
had at one time two hundred and twenty acres here 
beside land in Gratiot County. He has it now all 
in a fine condition and a pleasant and commodious 
home is iiis. He was at one time a member of the 
Agricultural Society of CMinton County. 

The marriage of Richard Moore with Mary J. 
Ousted, took place in Hillsdale in 1855. This l.idy 
is a daughter of Peter Onsted, of New Jerse}', and 
a granddaughter of John Ousted who came from 
that State to Michigan in 18.'J4, when he purchased 
a farm in Cambridge, Lenawee County. The fatlici 
also came to this State from New York and im- 
proved a large farm of four hunilred acres. The 
mother, Elizabeth Conklin, was a native of New 
Jersey, her father, Isj'ac Coiikliii, being a farmer 
and an early settler in Michigan. Mr. Onsted died 
in Adrian and Mrs. Ousted in Cambridge. 

Mrs. Moore was one of a family of ten children 
in ber parental home. Her birthplace was in Yates 
County, N. Y., August 29, 1832, and she came to 



Michigan when a little child with her parents. She 
supplemented her log-schoolhouse education by 
attendance at Leoni Seminary. This amiable and 
intelligent lady is the mother of two children. Her 
eldest, Alice, was one of the flrst graduates of St. 
John's High School, and is now the wife of Krnest 
Schemer and resides at Fowler; the second child, 
Richard Bell, attended Goldsmith's Commercial 
College at Detroit. He married Miss Sylvia Max- 
well, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Aten) 
Maxwell; he assists his father on the homestead. 

Mr. Moore was for three terms Village Trustee' 
and for many years was School Director and prom- 
inent as a member of the building committee. He 
is a Democrat in his political views, believing 
firmly in the doctrine of free trade and is often 
made a delegate to county and Slate conventions. 
In 1871 he was elected County Treasurer on tho 
Democratic ticket, filling the office for two years. 
He has been an active member of the Grange since 
1873, tilling the position of Master and being made 
a member of the Slate Grange. He is identified 
with the Patrons of Industry at Bingham. 



^^ORXELllS (J. BARNES. Among those 
who are securing a maintenance as tillers of 
L^ the soil in Clinton County is Mr. Barnes, 
whose home is on section 23, Bingham Township. 
\N'lien he came here in 18(57 he bought a tract on 
which a log house had just been built and a small 
clearing made. The rest of the eighty acres were 
covered with a wild growth, but the land gave 
promise of fertility when once it was placed in 
condition for working. Mr. Barnes was a skillful 
carpenter, and for some time he worked al his 
trade, hiring men to place his farm i.i condition, 
as be could thus get along better than if he were 
to give his own time and strength to labor with 
wliich he was unacquainted. He now has a well- 
improved farm, the newest structures on which are 
a large farm-house and barn that were recently 
built. 

Mr. Barnes was born in Medina County, Ohio, 
February 7, 1832, and is a son of (liles and Eliza 



510 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(Northrop) Barnes. His mother was born near 

Hartford, Conn., and died during the 'GO.s. She 
was an earnest and humble Christian and held 
membership in the Congregational Church. She 
had nine childien, four of whom are now living. 
The fatiier w.is a shoemaker by trade, but going to 
Ohio during its early historj' he cleared a farm 
and devoted liimself to agriculture. He was for 
many years a Deacon in the Congregational 
Church and ever took deep interest in religious 
work and the affairs of the church. His death 
took place in 1881,whe:i he hail reached an ad- 
vance<l age. Grandfather Barnes was a commis- 
sioned officer in the Colonial Army at the time of 
the Revolution. He was of Welsh extraction. 

The subject of this biograpliical notice was 
reared on a farm and enjoyed the educational 
privileges of the district school. AVhen twenty 
years old he began learning the carpenter's trade 
and was working witli the saw and plane when the 
Civil War began. Like many others, he thought 
the stiuggle would be short, but as hostilities con- 
tinued he threw aside his tools and enlisted August 
12, 1862. lie became a member of Company I, 
One Hundi'cd and Third Ohio Infantry, Col. .lack 
Casement in command. After six montlis' service 
he was jtromoted to be Commissar3' .Sergeant of 
the regiment and in that capacity- acted until com- 
pelled to relinquish his duties on account of sickness. 
He did not sever connection with llie army until the 
close of tlie war and was mustered out in June, 
1865. During his army life Mr. Barnes took part 
in the siege of Knoxville, was under Slieiman's 
command in various eng.agements near Atlanta, and 
made one of the force which followed Gen. 
Thomas in the pursuit of Hood. 

Tlie marriage of Mr. Barnes and Miss Helen 
Bradley was solemnized in 1858. Mrs. Barnes is 
a native of the Green Mountain State and is char- 
acterized by the tlirift and neatness which have be- 
come typical traits in New England women. Slie 
has ever been devoted to her home and its inter- 
ests, j'et ready at all times to extend her kindness 
to neighbors and acquaintances. Tlie eliildren of 
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are three in n\iraber, named 
resppctivel3-, Eugene W., May C. and John. Mr. 
Barnes belougs to the Grand Arm_y of the Repub- 



lic and has been a Mason nearly twenty years. In 
politics he is a Republican. He has served two 
terms as Highwaj- Commissioner and two as Town- 
ship Treasurer, and his official record is good, and 
he is now filling the office of Justice of the Peace 
to the satisfaction of the people. 



^^ 



\i^i\ICIIOLAS SIEB, an honored veteran of the 
I jjj late war, is the owner of one of the fine 
/1\,Z^ farms of Sciota Township, Shiawassee 
County. He has one hunilred and sixty acres on 
section 9, the greater part of which is under a high 
state of cultivation and well improved. His fine 
two-story frame residence, a view of which on 
another page invites the reader's attention, is sur- 
rounded by a nice lawn and beautiful shade trees, 
while in the rear are good barns and other outbuild- 
ings which are found on a model farm. The stock 
which he raises is of the best grades and the place 
presents a neat appearance indicative of the thrift 
and enterprise of tlie owner. 

The life record of Mr. Sieb is as follows: he w.is 
born on tlie 15th of April, 1839, in Baden Baden. 
Germany, and his parents, Damian and Caroline 
Seib, were also natives of the same country. The 
mother died in that land but the f.ather came to 
America during tlie late war and died in Hamburg, 
Erie Count}', N. Y. Our subject was one of a 
large family, but now has only two sisters living — 
Caroline, wife of Isadore Bond of Abbott's Corners, 
Erie County, N. Y. ; and Catherine, wife of Peter 
Wagenplott of Buffalo, N. Y. 

Nicholas Sieb, whose name heads this sketch, maj' 
truly be called a self-made man and his example 
in many resjiects is well worthy of emulation. He 
began life for himself at the early age of fourteen 
years. Leaving home, he first went to Holland, 
then across the North Sea to England, and from 
Liverpool sailed to New York, upon an English 
sailing vessel, reaching his destination after forty- 
two days spent upon the broad Atlantic. After a 
short stay in the eastern metropolis he went to 
Buffalo, N. Y., where he had an uncle living. That 
gentleman apprenticed him for a three years' term 



'l 




IT - ■ ',^'.-^x*:" nr.y 





^i^iiM://. 



'I 

I 

i 
I 






TT ,- — WYrL.- 



PORTRAIT AND RIOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 



513 



of service to the wagon-maker's trade and when 
that period ha(J expired he still continued with his 
employer for fourteen months longer. In 1817 we 
find him en route for Rochester, where he worked 
at his trade for about three years. During that 
time he also belonged to the State militia. From 
Rochester he went to Geneseo, N. Y., wheie he 
secured employment and there remained until 18G1. 

In that year when his adopted country was en- 
gaged in civil war he determined to show his loy- 
alty to the Union by enlisting. He joined the 
army in 18G1, as a recruiting oflicer first and 
helped to raise the iSixlh New York Cavalry, which 
he joined as a private of Company C. lie served 
for more than three years and participated in 
nearly all liie engagements of the Army of the 
I'olomac, including the seven days' battle of the 
Wilderness, Antietam, the movements in front of 
Petersburg, the battles of Spottsylvania Court 
House, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
villeand the raid around Richmond. He had two 
horses shot from under him and was once thrown 
from a horse and very seriously injured, but as 
soon as possible lie rejoined his regiment and 
again partici[)atcd in active service. He was 
always at the front and his bravery was displayed 
by many heroic deeds. On the morning of the 
battle of Antietam he was frying his meal for 
breakfast when the first cannon ball fired struck his 
frying pan. His term of service having at length 
expired he was honorably discharged and returned 
to his home in Geneseo, N. Y. 

Shortly after he had again reached that city in 
October, 1864, Mr. Sieb was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Mary Schley of Geneseo. The lady was 
a native of Waj'land, Steuben County, born in 
1844, and a daughter of Is'ichoUis and Catherine 
Schley, who were natives of I'russia, (Jeruiany. 
Their union has been blessed with six children, as 
follows: Ilatlic, who died in infancy; Lia, the wife 
of Lewis Willelt, a farmer of Sciota Townshii); 
Matie, Edward, Charlie and Finma. 

Mr. Sieb continued to work at his trade in 
Geneseo, N. Y., until IBOT, when he removed to 
VVayland, and was there employeil in the same 
occupation until 1878. In that year he emigrated 
Westward to Michigan and bought the line farm of 



which we have before spoken. Mr. Sieb's success 
in life is due entirely to his own efforts. He came 
to America a poor boy unable to speak a word of 
Flnglisli, but possessed a young man's bright hope 
of the future and a determination to succeed ; bj- 
working untiringly and diligently he accumulated a 
handsome competency which supplies him with the 
comforts and many of the luxuries of life. 

In politics, Mr. Sieb is a stalwart Republican and 
in all possible wa^s aids in the success and growth 
of his party. In its principles he is a firm believer 
and while residing in New York he was always a 
delegate to his town and county conventions and 
w.as a member of the Republican District Committee 
for ten years. However, he has never sought pub- 
lic preferment having steadily refused to hold all 
oHice except that of School Director, in which he 
served five years. Socially, he is a member of 
Henry Demming Post, No. 192, G. A. R., of Laings- 
liiirg. His war record is one of which he may well 
be proud, and no American-born citizen was truer 
to hi.s country or more faithful to his duty than 
ISlr. Sieb. Respected and honored liy all who know 
him he well deserves a representation in his county's 
history. 



^ €-*H^ ^ 



EV. CHARLES SMITH. This volume 
would be incomplete were it to omit or fail 
.'Ai \V to give an inii)()rl:inl place to the biography 
\^ of the Rev. Charles Siuiih, of Essex Town- 
ship, Clinton Count}-. There h.as recently been 
erected at Lowe's Corners a Methodist Episco|)al 
Church, a view of which is represented in connec- 
tion with this sketch. With the erection of this 
handsome edifice Mr. Smith was closely identilied, 
and served as Treasurer of the Building Committee. 
Ever an earnest worker in the Lord's vineyard his 
itillucnce is wide and his standing high. His char- 
acter as a true-hearted gentleman and a devout 
Christian gives him that influence over those wlio 
know him which is essential to success in Christian 
work. In the church he served as Class-leader, 
Steward and Trustee, and is also prominent as a 
local preacher. 



514 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mr. Smith is of EnglisLi birth and parentage, and 
ivas born in Messingham, Lincolnshire, March 4, 
1822. His i)arents, Edward and Jane Smith, liad a 
family of three children, of vthom he is the j'oung- 
cst. He received but a limited education, for the 
necessary demands of the family upon his efforts 
forbade his attending school after he reached the 
age of nine years. In consequence of this disad- 
vantage he has had to rely largely upon a life-long 
habit of reading to supplement his early studies 
and is therefore alomst entirely self-educated. Until 
he reached the years of his majority he remained 
upon the home farm and in 1843 emigrated to 
America, taking passage at Hull on a sailing vessel. 
After an ocean voyage of six weeks he landed in 
Quebec, Canada, with only a few dollar* in his pos- 
session and he remained in that city for a few 
months before coming to the Stales. 

The first home of Mr. Smith in the United States 
was in Edwards County, 111., where he resided for 
a time and then came to Lenawee Count}', Mich- 
In 1862 he removed thence to Clinton Count}', and 
settled on the farm in Essex Townshii) whicli is 
now ills home. He is a pr.actical farmer, has clear- 
ed and cultivated his land and emix'llished it with 
substantial buildings. He now owns one hundred 
and sixty acres of finely improved land and ranks 
among the most prosperous farmers of the com- 
munity. His beautiful home contains the evid- 
ence of culture and good taste in an unusual degree 
and is kept in the most perfect order by a refined 
and sympathetic wife. In addition to the one 
hundred and sixty acres, Mr. Smith with the assist- 
ance of his two sons bought and cleared a tr.act of 
one hundred acres, which was afterward deeded to 
the eldest son. 

The first marriage of Mr. Smith united him with 
Jane Burnette, a native of Yorkshire, England ; of 
their seven children, four survive, namely: Sarah, 
(Mrs. Riley Ferguson,) Isaac, Edward and Cora, 
now Mrs. William Anderson. Mr. Smith chose 
for his second wife Mrs. Harriet Ward, widow of 
tlie late John Ward of Clinton County. Mrs. 
Smith is a native of Northlew, Devonshire, Eng- 
land, and came to the United Stales in 18,52. In 
politics Mr. Smith is independent with I'rohibition 
proclivities. He has served as School Director of 



his district, Treasurer of the township and has 
always faithfully performed the duties of citizen- 
ship. 

In presenting the claims of the Gospel Mr. Smith 
is clear and logical, pleasing and persuasive. He 
receives the respect of all who know him and is 
best beloved by those who enjoy a close association 
with him and best understand his nature. During 
the first ten years of his residence in this county 
he traveled from ten to twenty miles every other 
Sabbath and preached the Gospel of Christ, while 
during the week he was often called upon to attend 
funeral services and in otiier ways minister to the 
spiritual needs of the peo|)le. At times it seemed 
as if his crops would suffer from neglect while he 
was aw.ay, but a merciful and loving Providence 
kept watch over him and his, and in the end every- 
thing came out all right. The people appreciated 
his sincere efforts in their behalf and aided him in 
every way possible, so that what he gave returned 
to him in "full measure, pressed down and run- 
ing over." At one time when he had a twent}-- 
acre field cleared ready for logging, and was anx- 
ious to get the ground prepared for wheat, his 
neighbors came to his assistance in old-fashioned 
frontier style and soon had ten acres logged. By 
such tender chords of friendship were those early 
settlers bound together. 

^i^^m^^ — 

ICHAEL S. DOYLE. The gentleman of 
whom we write has been identified with the 
most vital interests of the village of Elsie, 
Clinton County, from its early beginnings. 
He has taken a lively interest in Its future and was 
active in securing the right of way for the railroad 
which is so etlicient a factor In its prosperity. His 
manufacturing interests, which he located in that 
village, have also been potent in establishing the 
industries which arc necessary to the healthy 
growiii of a young town. He was born in New 
Brunswick, Parish of Chipman, Queen's County, 
February 18, 1842. His parents, Michael and 
Sarah (Tuffts) Doyle, were both natives of Nova 
Scotia, and his father is by occupation a minister 




POUTRAIT AND BlOGRAl'llJCAL ALliUU. 



515 



of the Oospol. who is still living in Saginaw 
County ami has reached the ripe old age of ninety- 
two years, having devoted fifty years of his life to 
the ministry of the Baptist Church. 

The suliject of this sketcli resided at luinie until 
he reached his majority'. J lis educational advan- 
tages were limited, as he had only the common 
subscription schools of those days to attend. He 
left New Brunswick wiien he was seventeen years 
old and located in O.xford Count}', Canada, where 
he remained for al)out twelve j'cars. After he be- 
came of ags he engaged in handling staves and also 
carried on agriculture. 

Having established himself well in business, Mr. 
Doyle looked about him for a companion with 
whom to share the joys and sorrows of life, and 
soon won the hand of Sarah Withrow, of Oxford 
County. Canadn, the daughter of John Withrow, a 
farmer in that county. The}' were hai)|)ily wedded 
on January 25, 1808, and became the parents of 
two bright and promising children. Maud L. was 
born .Inly 16, IStiO, in Oxford County, Canada; 
Boyd W.,was born in Klsie, December 2, 1884. Both 
children are at home, and his daughter is by occu- 
|)ation a teacher. She has pursued the profession 
for four years anil is now a successful teacher in 
the high school at St. .Jcjlin's, Mich. 

Mr. Doyle decided to remove to the States, and 
in November, 180'.), became to IMichigan and lo- 
cated at Klsie, in Dn[)laln Township. Here he en- 
gaged in the stave business for a firm in Detroit 
and representeil their company' for four years. He 
then bought, out a cheese factory which had been 
running on a small scale for some time in Elsie, 
and established himself in business, giving his con- 
cern the name of the Elsie Cheese Factory. By 
strict attention to business and the manufacture of 
a superior article, his factory li.as become widely 
and favorably known, all over the State. Six j'c.ars 
ago he established a factory of like character at St. 
John's, and he puts out as much as eight hundred 
pounds of cheese daily and 3'et he has not capacity 
to supply the demand for his product. From 1 880 to 
1 886 he conducted a general store and he also erected 
the first brick building that ever went up in the 
town of Elsie. He assisted in getting the right of 
way for the Ann Arbor Railroad and furnished 



all the tics that were used for that road in Clinton 
County and a portion of those that were used in 
Gratiot County. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has 
a farm of eighty acres on section IT), Du[)lain 
'J'ownship, where he makes his home, and he also 
has a place of forty acres on section 25, Oratiot 
County. He is prominent in all public movements 
and is a Republican in his political convictions. 
He was the first I'reslilent of the village of Elsie, 
but other than this lie has never sought office of 
.any kind. lUi is an intelligent breeder of line 
stock and has some seven or eight llambletouian 
horses and raises some Holstein cattle and Suffolk 
hogs. He is an earnest promoter of all progressive 
educational niovemeiits, in which he is seconded by 
the intelligence and activity of his wife. That lady 
was born in t^ueen's County, New Brunswick, but 
from her earh' childhood till her marriage maile her 
home in Oxford County, Canada. 'I'his couple form 
a fine example of the good stock which has come 
to our Northern States from the a'ijacent districts 
of Canada. 

'im^- 



EWIS BENTLEY. In traversing Clinton 
^ County, a stranger will find many beautiful 
■i^^', farms, but few, if any, more attractive than 
that owned by Mr. Bentley. This property lies on 
secti<ni 20, Essex Townshi|), and consists of one 
liundved acres of choice land, upon which good 
farm buildings have been erected and every suit- 
able adornment made. The dwelling is a hand- 
some frame house, of home-like appearance and 
evidently regulated by one who understands how 
to secure comfort and order at the same time. On 
this tract Mr. Bentley has liveil since 1856, at 
which time it was a wild and somewhat desolate 
expanse, quite thickly populated by deer and bears, 
that sometimes passed through his door yard. 
Those who are familiar, by experience or hears.-iy, 
with pioneer work and its accompanying self- 
denials and privations, know through what scenes 
Mr. Bentley must have passed ere his land became 
the beautiful farm of to-day. 

The Bentleys came from England to America In 



516 



rORTKAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



early Colonial daj's, and the great-grandfather of 
our subject fought in the French and Indian War. 
The next in the direct line, George Bentley, of 
Saratoga, N. Y., served six years and seven 
months in the Revolutionary army under Gen. 
Wasliington. He died in 1838, leaving several 
children, one of whom was Isaac, the father of our 
subject. That gentleman was born in New York 
in 1788, and in 1809 was married to Hannah De 
Bois, who was a native of New York also, and was 
of French Huguenot descent. Isaac Bentley 
fought in the War of 1812. His occupation was 
farming, and he was a modest, highly respected 
man who was always found on the side of right. 
lie died in Richmond, Ontario County, N. Y., in 
1863. Mrs. Bentley breathed her last April 12, 
1855, leaving twelve sons and daugliters, nine of 
whom are still living. 

In Ontario Countj', N. Y., June 5. 1817, the son 
of whom we write was born. He was reared on a 
farm and received a common-school education in 
the district in wliich Ins liome was. He early be- 
came acquainted with the details of farm work and 
learned how to conduct an agricultural enterprise 
when quite young. After lie attained to his ma- 
jority he worked out bj' the month three years, and 
in 1842 he bought sixty acres of land adjoining 
the village of Richmond, and there began tilling 
the soil for his own advantage. April 4, 1855. he 
left his Eastern home for the West, and coming to 
this State, he was soon settled on the land he still 
calls home. While looking out for his personal 
interests and the good of his family, he has not 
been unmindful of the rights of otliers, and he has 
thus gained the good will and respect of his asso- 
ciates at the same time that he has improved his 
worldly condition. 

The wedding day of Mr. Bentley and Miss Jean- 
nette Baker was December 2, 1841, and the bride 
was then almost twenty-one years old, having been 
bor'i January 29, 1821. Slie was a native of the 
village of Richmond, and was a schoolmate of Mr. 
Bontk'v, who found liisboj'ish liking for her grow- 
ing with his growth into the warm affection that 
made him desire her companionship in a closer 
relation. The h;ii>P}' union lias been blessed by the 
birth of three children, and the parents have been 



saddened by the death of two of their loved ones. 
Marcus, their first-born, enlisted in Company G, 
Fifth Michigan Cavalry, in 1862, and served until 
he was discharged on account of ill health ; he died 
soon after his return to the Nortli, all the love .-iiid 
care of his friends being powerless to stay the dis- 
ease that had fastened upon him. Alma died in 
1866. Emma D., the survivor, was born in Essex 
Township, and is now the wife of C. F. Roberts, who 
is farming the Bentley place. 

Mr. Bentley was reared to believe in the prin- 
ciples of the Whig party and held his place in its 
ranks until the disintegration, when lie joined the 
new organization — tlie Republican party. In 1885 
he threw his intliience into tlie Prohibition ranks, 
being convinced thai tlie liquor question was the 
one most needing settlement. He has been identi- 
fied with the Clinton County Agricultural Society 
in the capacity of Director thirteen years. For 
seventeen years lie has been Director in the Clinton 
and Gratiot Counties Mutual Insurance Company. 
Mr. Bentley was tiie prime mover for the erection 
of a monument in honor of the deceased soldiers 
of Essex Township, and the handsome stone now 
adorning Plains Cemetery is due to his efforts in 
rousing public opinion. 

In every good cause he is an active worker, 
and to all he contributes generously. Mr. Bent- 
ley possesses mental ability of a pronounced 
character, and has published a History of Essex 
Township, and for years has been a contributor to 
the local papers. 



-^^^- 




^y?^ EWELL A. DRYER, M. D.,a prominent phy- 
sician practicing at Bath, Clinton County, 
was born in AVhiie Oak Township, Ingham 
County, Mich., November 2, 1838. His father, 
William A., was horn in New York, in 1813, and 
his grandfather and great-grandrather both of 
whom liore the Christian name of Allen, were na- 
tives of Massachusetts, being born in 1772 and 
1745, respectivelj'. The latter was the sod of Wil- 
liam Drj'cr, a native of Massachusetts and the 
grandson of John VanDrier, who was born in Hoi- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



517 



Ifind in 1677 and was tlie son of a Holland weaver. 
He settled in London, England and married an 
Irish woman. He was impressed into the English 
army and brought to Boston on a British Mati-of 
War. He tliere deserte<l and settled atUehoboth, 
Mass., where he changed his name from VanDrier 
to Dryer, which form the name lias since retained. 
He married Judith I\a>mond, and their issue was 
two sons, John and William. John had six sons 
and five daughters, whose decendenls now live in 
Ohio, Indiana and Hlinois. William, in whose line 
our subject comes, had six sons, four of whom sac- 
rificed their lives for freedom in the Revolutionary 
War. The two who survived are Allen and Wil- 
liam. Of the latter's posterity nothing is known. 
Allen had the following sons: Aaron, Jonathan, 
Simeon, Rufus, Wheeler, Jame?, Allen and Edward. 

Allen Dryer, the second, who was the grand- 
father of our subject marrieil Esther Bullock and 
had six sons and six daughters. He kept a hotel 
and was a tax collector, being kept most of the 
time in this otBce on account of being a cripi)le 
and having to go on crutches. William A. Dryer, 
the father of our subject, was the j'oungest son in 
a family of twelve chddrcn. He was reared at 
C'azenovia, Madison Count}', N. Y., and early 
learned the wagon-maker's trade, which together 
with farming he followed all his life. He made his 
journey West by Erie Canal and across the lake to 
Detroit and there bought a yoke of oxen and came 
to White Oak Township, Ingham County, in the 
fall of 1836. The wagon which he used he had 
made before leaving home and brought with him, 
He had been out the year before anil located the 
land. He and his brave family saw some hard times 
and during one period of privation they lived for 
three weeks on potatoes and salt. 

There were only seven men in the township when 
William Dryer first made his home there. He 
took from the Government eighty acres of land 
which he cleared and developed. In 1815 he moved 
to I'inkney, Livingston County, and in 1848 
moved to Lansing and in both places worked at 
his trade. After three years at Lansing, he clerked 
in a store for three years, and then l)egan the mer- 
cantile business for liimself. When he went out 
of business he bought a one hundred and sixty- 



acre farm within a mile of Lansing, and n'sided 
upon it until about a year ago, when lie again 
removed to. the city whore he now lives, having 
retired from active work. He is a Methodist in 
his religious viewsas is also his worth}- wife, whose 
maiden name was Betsey Newell. She was boru in 
Eaton, Madison County, N. Y., May 27, 1815. 
Seven of her ten children arrived at years of ma- 
turity. They were named: William (deceased), 
Mary E., Mrs. J. E. Warner; Xenell A.; Elbridge 
A.; Esther, Mrs. Christopher, Sarah A., James 
William, and Helen A., deceased; William F., and 
Betsey, Mrs. Edward M. .lohnson. Their mother 
died in 1861. 

The first school which our subject attended was 
in a log schoolhousc. Then at seven years of age 
he went to Pinkney to school and afterward was 
in the Lansing public schools and at Taylor's Acad- 
emj'. His earliest pla3'mates were Indian children 
and he was familiar with wild animals. He reincm- 
hered seeing twenty-five deer in one drove within 
the limits of what is now the city of Lansing and 
also saw four bears within the same bounds. Some- 
what later he attended Rogers College at Lansing, 
and later began the study of medicine under H. 
B. Shank and I. H. Bartholemcw. 'I'hey were his 
preceptors until he graduated in 1864 at the Buf- 
falo I'niversity. He also spent two years in the 
Tni versify at Ann Arbor and one year at Buffalo. 

The young Doctor's first place of practice was 
at LeRoy, Ingham Count}', Mich., but he did not 
tarry there long, for after eight months in that 
place he enlisted, March 14, 1865, in Company E. 
Seventeenth Michigan Infantry. He was commis- 
sioned Assistant Surgeon of the Seventh Michigan 
Veteran Volunteers upon April 11, 1865. This 
regiment was in the Ninetli Army C6rps, Second 
Division. He joined his regiment at Petersburg 
and went as far as Biirksville Junction, Va. He 
was discharged finally from I'nited States service 
July 5, 1865, at Evansville, Iiid. and from theState 
service at Jackson, Mich. 

I'pon November 20, 1865, the young Doctor 
located for practice at Bath and has made that his 
home for twenty-six years. His marriage with 
Calista E. Ware, took place October 3, 1865. i'liis 
lady was born in Ohio, April 29, 1844, and lias be- 



518 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



come the mother of three children. The two eld- 
est Geary aud Zora have died and the 011I3' survi- 
ving child, Mar}' B.. married John M. Feier and 
lives near her parents. Her husband is a station 
agent at Bath. Dr. Dryer lias two hundred acres 
of land in this county, the farming of wliich he 
superintends personally and raises both grain and 
stock. He is a Republican in his politice and in 
religion is a spiritualist, being a member of the 
Haslett Park Association of Pine Lake, Bingham 
Count}-, Mich. He is a member of the Bath Hunt- 
ing Club and takes a month each j'ear to go hunt- 
ing in the North Woods. 



Sn^ RS. JULIA TAYLOR COLE. The busi- 
I \\\ ness establishment of J. T. Cole & Co., is 
I l^ one of the conspicuous business houses of 
* St. John's and one to which many ladies 

resort for first-class millinery and dress-making. It 
is one of the finest locations in the city, on the 
corner of Clinton Ave. and Highara Street, and oc- 
cu[)ies two floors of a large building. The first 
floor is devoted to the millinery department and 
the second to dress-making; artists and competent 
help arc employed in both. The displav of goods 
is large and attractive and both wholesale and 
retail trade is carried on. No town in Central 
Michigan has a more tasteful millinery store, and 
none equals it in the extent of the work done. 

Klisha Taylor, father of Mr«. Cole, was born in 
one of the New England States and was young 
when his parents removed to New York and settled 
near Auburn. Early in the '20s be came to 
this State and was one of the first to make a home 
in Avon Township, Oakland County. He entered 
a large tract of land on Stony Creek and built a 
mill, being a miller by trade. His wife was Mary 
Miner, a native of Rhode Island, whose father was 
I'ere/, Miner, an Eastern man who died in New 
York. Mrs. Taylor was left a widow, in 1835, with 
a family of seven children, all still living but one. 
She sold the mill but remained on the farm, im- 
proving the place and eventually dying tiiere in 
18C5. Besides Mrs. Cole, her living children are; 



Miner, a prominent resident of Broken Bow, Neb.; 
Lemuel, a farmer in Wisconsin; Mrs. Mary Cope- 
land, a florist in Monroe, AVis. ; Mrs. Sarah Xan 
Hoosen, on the old homestead in Avon Township, 
Oakland County; and Mrs. Janetta Stewart of 
Shelley, Iowa. The deceased is Mrs. Electa Mat- 
teson who died in Romeo, this State. 

Mrs. Cole was born in Oakland County and her 
home was on a farm until she became a young lady. 
She pursued her studies in tiie district school until 
nineteen jears old wlien she began teaching. The 
next year she attended the academy in Rochester. 
After teaching two years she next spent some time 
as a student in the State Normal School in Ypsi- 
lanti. She paid hei- own expenses while pursuing 
her advanced studies, and resuming her profession, 
laugiit for some ten years. Her labors were mostly 
performed in Oakland County and she was the 
principal teacher at Vassar for some time. She was 
married in Avon, Oakland County, October 8, 
18G4, to Mr. Ela Cole, who lived but a few months 
after their marriage. He was born in New Y'ork, 
was orphaned when quite young and came to Mt. 
Vernon, Macomb County, in his youth. He w.is 
in the employ of the Peninsular Iron Company of 
Detroit and the trusted employe of .Tohn and Hiram 
Burt until his decease. He was called hence Sept- 
tember 20, 1.SG5. 

When left a widov.-, Mrs. Cole returned to her 
old home and resumed the professional work she 
had laid aside after her marriage. During the years 
of 1867 and 1808 she was located in Flint as resi- 
dent agent for the G rover & Baker Sewing Machine 
Company. In 18G9 she came to St. John's and in 
partnership with Miss Holcomb opened up milli- 
nery under the firm name of Cole it Holcomb. After 
ten years of uninterrupted business, the firm sold 
their stock to .1. Hicks it Co., Mrs. Cole taking the 
entire charge of this department for twelve years. 
Her healtli being affected b.y close application in 
business, she spent a few months in travel for 
rest and recuperation, after which she returned and 
took charge of the millinerj- department in the es- 
tablishment of Hicks & Kniffin, which position she 
occupied for four years. She again opened busi- 
ness for herself in the si)ring of 1881 and in the 
fall of the same j'ear. Miss Clara IvroU became her 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



519 



partner. In June, 1885, the parlnersliii) was dis- 
solved by tiic death of Miss Kroll and again Airs. 
Cole carried on the business alone. In 1890 the 
present firm was established, U. M. Steel entering 
into liie business. 

Mrs. Cole has shown herself to be possessed of 
energy and business ability, and tlie refined tastes 
that are so necessary in carrying on an establisl)- 
ment which turns out work'caiculated to enhance the 
comeliness of its jiatrons. As a teaeiier she had an 
excellent reputation, and in her connection with 
the social interests of St John's, she is advancing 
the welfare of others. Personally- she is cultured 
and affable, with manners that are pleasing to all 
with whom she comes in contact, and a character 
that makes her a choice friend. She is a member 
of the Woman's Uelief Corps, is Past Counselor of 
the Chosen Friends, and holds office in the P'rater- 
nal (Guardians. Were she to vote she would use a 
Republican ballot, as she is well grounded in In Ucf 
in the justice of the principles of that party. 




I^RANCIS E. PIUIDV. The energetic gen- 
tleman who is proprietor of the cream- 
ery and also general merchant in Morrico 
and who has attained such prominence in the com- 
munity and has been so successful in his business, 
was born June 1;), 1841, in the place where lie now 
resides. His father was Josiah Purd3% a farmer 
in New York, who came here during the '30s with 
only his strength of determination and a fine con- 
stitution with which to conquer the many difficul- 
ties that were in the way of a pioneer settler. 

Coming to this State in the '30s, he entered 
some land from the Government, upon which the 
town of Morrice now stands. He made the journey 
thither from his native State before the days of 
railroads through the woods with a team. Clear- 
ing a small space in the mid.stof his clain), he built 
himself a log cabin. The trail ran just in front of 
his little log house so that his most frequent guests 
were the Indians, who, though generally friendly, 
had to be kept at arm's length, because of tbeir 
native treachery and begging proclivities. Those 



were the days in which the deer were perfectly at 
home in the forest. Bears also -A-ere to be had for 
the killing and many are the interesting and thrill- 
ing stories in which the father of our subject re- 
counts his experiences wiih the larger beasts of 
prey. The bears especially caused him much trouble 
by killing his pigs and they had to be bunted 
most assiduously. 

For a short time Josiah Purdy resided at Pon- 
tiac. Returning to Morrice he cleared a farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres where he died at the 
age of seventy-two years. As a boy he helped to 
lay out some of the roads in the township. He 
married Diantha Hartwell, a native of New York. 
With her he reared seven children — Horace, Lav- 
inia, Francis E., Lucretia, Preston, Loran and Ar- 
mina. Mr. Purdy was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, while his wife was an adherent of 
the Baptist persuasion. They both took active 
parts in their respective churches. The mother of 
the family died at the age of sixty-five. 

As a child, our subject attended the pioneer 
schools, which meant that he went two and a half 
miles to learn the three /'s in a little log house 
where a private school was kept by a Mrs. Allen. 
The little log house was also Mrs. Allen's residence 
and after the breakfast of bacon and bear's meat 
with such vegetables :is would support hearty pion- 
eer men, the little house was swept and garnished 
and the slab benches with short i)egs so that the 
smaller pupils' feet coulil touch the earthen tloor, 
were ranged against the wall. These were the 
days of the birch rod, though deponent sayelh not 
whether Mrs. Allen was a severe mistress, but each 
little pupil w.as before her ej'c and if the quill pens 
scratched or made blots she knew the reason why. 
After getting such an education as could be ac- 
quired here the original of our sketch began life 
for himself at the age of twenty-one. 

The war coming on soon after our subject 
reached his majority, he declared himself for ab- 
olition and the (iovernment by enlisting, August 
9, 1862, in Company H, I'wenty-third Michigan 
Infantry, where he served three years. All the 
horrors of war were cxi)erienced during those four 
terrible years. He was a participator in the battle 
of Campbell Station where the point of his nose 



520 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was shot off, a piece of shell passing into his mouth ; 
so seriously injured was he that he was laid up in 
the hospital at Knosville for some time. After 
recovering sufBciently he joined his regiment at 
.Strawberry Plains, after which he w.is in llie battle 
at Resaea, Atlanta and in Sherman's campaign. 
Wliile there he was under Gen. Thomas' command. 
He was also in the battle at Johnsboro, Ga.. Frank- 
lin, Tenn., Nashville, and w.is mustered out in the 
month of Jul}-, 1865. He now rceives a pension 
of $12 per month. After Mr. Purdy left the arm^- 
he returned to Morrice and farmed for five years. 

About this time stock-raising was a business 
which offered great inducemeDts, and the plains of 
Nebraska with their waving acres of the best native 
grass afforded amjile pasturage for any amount of 
stock. Here Mr. Purdy cast his lines for the next 
eleven years, going to North Piatt. Tlie Indians 
were just beginning to be hostile, made so by tlie 
encroachments of the whites, who they began to fear 
were depriving them of their natural inlieritance. 
Mr. Purdy built a fort and on iiis farm the neigh- 
bors in the vicinity used to gather when the In- 
dians were tlireatening. It was not an unusual 
occurrence to see a vast herd of buffalo passing 
over the rolling plains to the salt licks, and our 
subject found exciting diversion in hunting the 
noble animal that has now become almost extinct. 
Our subject returned from North Piatt to Morrice 
in the year 1882, and purchased a farm of forty 
acres, one-half mile east of town, making his resi- 
dence on the farm. 

The creamery which is conducted by ihe gentle- 
man whose name heads our sketch was established 
by iiira in company with Mr. Goss in 1888, but 
our subject now runs it alone having bought out 
Mr. Goss. The number of pounds of butter made 
per day in the creamery has been as high as one 
thousand and of so delicious a quality is it 
tliat it finds a ready market at home as well as 
abro.id. Mr. Purd3' is the owner of a fine store. 
It is a large frame building in whicii general mer- 
chandise is sold. 

In 1860 our subject took the important step of 
uniting himself for better or worse to Miss Mary 
E. Davis. She was born in 1841. By her he be- 
came the father of one child, who reached the age 



of four months. His first wife dying in 1874, Mr. 
Purdy married Miss Mary E. Lake, who was born 
in New York State. By her he has two children, 
named respectively, Egbert L. and Lulu D. They 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and Mr. Purdy is a Republican in politics. The 
communit}' has conferred upon our subject tlie 
greatest honors that are within its power to give. 
He has most acceptably- filled the position of Treas- 
urer in the village and has also been Councilman. 
He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. 
It is not sur|)rising to learn of the success of so 
energetic a man as is our subject. A careful, 
prudent, far-seeing man and endowed by nature 
with all tlic qualities that insure success, his intel- 
ligence and sense of high principles have adiled to 
his pecuniar}' success the gratifying assurance of 
tiie esteem of his fellow-townsmen. 

(??^% IDNEY D. PARKS owns and occupies a 
well-developed farm on section 23, Dallas 
Township, and has from his early life been 
identified with the interests of Clinton 
County. The icader is referred to the biographical 
sketch of Samuel H. Parks for information legard- 
ing his parents and the surroundings amid whicli 
he grew to maturity. He was born in Oakland 
County, in 1841) and was twoyears of age when his 
parents came to Clinton County. He pursued his 
studies in the common-school, working with and 
for his father during his youth, and growing to a 
sturdy and vigorous manhood. February 15, 1864, 
he entered the service as a member of Company- A, 
Twenty-third Michigan Infantry' and during the 
ensuing year and a half took part in man}' skirmishes 
and fought at the battles of Franklin, Nashville 
Town Creek. Altoona and Rome. He was honor- 
ablj' discharged August 7, 1865, and returned to 
the duties of civil life witii renewed ardor. 

Mr. Parks returned to the old home and remained 
there until his niarri.age, December 24. 1868, when 
he established himself on forty acres of land he had 
bought. To this property he subsequently added 
sixty acres, and he placed the whole in good con- 




^^aadSSg^g^^ 




IJ-Uj^GA c/ /^ixOiMv^r-y^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



523 



dition by means of hard work and good manage- 
ment, lie cleared and broke much of the acreage 
anil [nil up all the buildings that now stand upon 
the estate. The i)art of his farm _on which lie re- 
sides has been occupied by him since 187.1. Mr. 
Parks has never aspired to public office but has 
often been oflfered positions of trust. He votes tiie 
Republican ticket. He is a member of tiie United 
Friends, No. 19, at Fowler. 

The lad}- who presides over tlie domestic affairs 
at the home of Mr. Parks was known in licr maiden- 
hood as Miss Elizabeth Van Gieson, daughter of 
Marcelius Van Gieson, and llitir marriage was 
solemnized in Clinton County at the liome of 
our subject's brother. Mrs. Parks is a well-in- 
formed, pleasant lady, who is an excellent neigh- 
bor and faithful frieuil. .She is the mother of two 
daughters. Letlie, the first-born, died when ten 
years and eleven months old ; Augusta is now a 
young lady seventeen years of age. 



i^=-— 



S^" 



^j^ KORGE P. MATTOON. Tliis gentleman is 
ill g=j identified with the vast army of farmers 
^^J! who are doing so much to enhance the pros- 
peiity of the State of Michigan and whose homes 
attest to their enjoj'ment of the material comforts 
which they gain and the advantages afforded by 
modern civilization. He has also a close sym- 
pathy with and for soldiers, having himself endured 
hardsliip and braved danger on Southern battle- 
fields during the late Civil War. His military 
record can be pointed to with pride by his poster- 
ity and his character is one worthy to be iiehl up 
as a model to those who succeed him. His home is 
on section .30, Greenbush Township, and his farm 
of sixty acres is as carefully and intelligenily tilled 
as any in Clinton County. 

Gershom and Nancy L. (Woodruff) Mattoon, 
the parents of our subject, were born respectively 
in New York and New Jersey. They made their 
home in the Empire State for some years, but in 
184G emigrated to Michigan and establisiied them- 
selves in Shiawassee County. Several years later 
they removed to Clinton County and the father 



died here on Christmas Day, 1886. The widowed 
mother is now past four-score years of age and 
resides in St. John's. 

Our subject is the eldesi of the surviving chil- 
dren in the parental family, the others being Sarah 
C, wife of Edmund Reynolds, living in Shiawas- 
see Count}-; Nancy M., who married John Hall and 
lives in St. John's; Gershom, whose home is in 
Shiawassee County: and Vincent S. and Erastus J., 
wlio live in St. Jolin's; George P. was born in 
Morris County, N. J., July 8, 18.32, and was four- 
teen years old when with the other members of the 
family he carae to this State. From his boyhood 
he has spent his time chiefly in farming, but has 
done carpenter work at odd spells. Being the eld- 
est son of a poor man, he was obliged to assist his 
father in laboring for the support of tiie family and 
his educational advantages were therefore limited. 
He attended scliool but little after he came to this 
State. 

It was in December, 1863, that Mr. Mattoon en- 
tered the Union arm}- as a private in Company I, 
Twenty-seventh Micliigan Infantry. He was first 
sent to join the Western army, but later became an 
integral ])art of the Army of the Potomac. It was 
his fortune to take part in several hard-fought con- 
tests as well as in the usual line of skirmishes and 
the dangerous duties of a picket. Mr. Mattoon 
participated in the terrible battles in the Wilder- 
ness and the list of heavy engagements in which he 
took part also includes Spotlsylvania Court House, 
Cold Harbor, Belhesda Church and Petersburg, 
During the siege of the last-named place he was se- 
verely wounded and for six months he w;is ( (Mifiiud 
to the hospital. After passint; through nmny d; n- 
gerous scenes, he was honorably di.-ir'jwirged. .Inly 
26, 1865, and laying aside his arms, took np once 
more the implements of his iieaci'ful wm-fare 
against unproductive vegetation. 

The lady who presides over the domeslifi jiflfairs 
in the home of Mr. Mattoon became his wife .Sep. 
tember 16, 1866. She was born in Wayne Counlv, 
tills State, April 9, l.SJl, and bore the maiden name 
of Ilannali M. Armstrong. Her parents. Harvey 
and .Susan B. (Norris) Armstrong, were natives of 
the Empire State. Aliont 1857 they came from 
Wayne to Clinton County, locating in Biiigliaui 



524 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Township, where tbey were early settlers. They 
had a large family, those who arc now living being 
Sarah C, wife of S. R. Burbauk, of Olive Township; 
Eliza, wife of Amos Armstrong, living in Bing- 
ham Townsliip; Elmira, who married R. Ely and 
lives in Livingston County; Ilonry, whose home is 
in Gratiot County ; Amy A., wife of J. Marshall, of 
Newaygo County; and Mrs. Mattoon. To our sub- 
ject and bis wife there have been born two daugh- 
ters, who are named respectively Clara L. and Lizzie 
J. Husband and wife are held in esteem by their 
acquaintances, and with their chihlren take an ac- 
tive part in the social movemrnts of the neighbor- 
hood. Politically Mr. Mattoon is a Republican. 
On account of disability incurred wliile in ilie ser- 
vice of his country, he is receiving a pension of 
$12 per month. He and his wife belong to *he 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Mattoon will be 
found on the opposite page. 



•^^ 



IP\)YRON 8. KNAPP, M. D. Among the 
1^^! leading physicians who are prosecuting pro- 
I^EM) I ^'Pssional labors in Owosso may well be 
^^=1^ mentioned Dr. Knapp, who has a fine city 
practice and a country ride that consumes much 
lime. He gives his preference to homeopathy, 
believing it the most philosophical school of medi- 
cine and the manner in which he carries out its 
principles commends it to others. He is a close 
student of human nature in every particular which 
bears upon disease and its cure, diagnoses acuratel^' 
and is skillful in his treatment. 

The paternal ancestors of Dr. Knapp were from 
Holland and during the past few generations lived 
in the East. His grandfather, Ebcnezer Knapp, 
was born in the Empire Stale and so too was his 
father, Harry Knapp. The latter was born in 
Greenbush, Rensselaer Count}-, April 12, 1808, and 
went to Ontario County when sixteen years old. 
There he grew to manhood and married MissLillcss 
Simmons, a native of New York, whose father, 
Ephraim Simmons, was born in Massacliusetts. 
The maiden name of her mother was Bowcn. The 



Simmons family is of English stock. Mr. Knapp 
was a cooper and followed his trade in his native 
State until October, !8;55, when he removed to 
Michigan, settling in Washtenaw County. He then 
gave his attention largely to general farming, occu- 
P3'ing rural property until his disease, which 
occurred in 1860. A widow and seven children 
survived him and six of tlie latter are still living. 

Dr. Knapp was born on the farm in Washtenaw 
County, not far from Ann Arbor, February 10, 
1845. He passed his boyhood in his native county, 
attending the district school and bearing such part 
as was suitable in the home work. He continued 
his studies in the I'nion School in Ann Arbor and 
after completing the course there entered the Stale 
University and for two j'cars was a diligent worker 
in the medical department. He next entered the 
Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from 
which he was graduated .Tune 25, 1874. Coming 
at once to Shiawassee Count}' he opened an office at 
Byron where he carried on his work until August, 
1882. He then removed to Owosso where he soon 
had a good practice, which has increased from year 
to year and now occupies his time quite fully. 

Dr. Knapp was first married to Miss Martha 
Webster of Washtenaw County, who died childless. 
October 27, 1878, he brought to his home a second 
wife, formerly Miss Nellie J. Hadsall of Byron, 
Shiawassee County, but who was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, whence her parents. Perry and Kmma 
(Bailey) Hadsall, had come. This union lias been 
blest by the birth of two children, a bright boy and 
girl bearing the respective names of Carl .1. and 
Hazel. The powers of their minds are being de- 
veloped and their parents take great interest in 
their growth in learning and in their increasing 
courtesy and strength of character. 

Politically, Dr. Kn.ipp is strongly in sj'mpathy 
with the Prohibition movement. The only social 
order with which he is connected is Masonry, but 
he belongs to several lodges — Owosso, No. 81, b\ 
& A. M., Owosso Chapter, No. 89, R. A. M., and 
Fenton Commandery, No. 14, K. T. He belongs 
to the Saginaw Valle}' Medical Society and the 
State Homeopathic Medical Society, and through 
their means and by a constant use of medical 
journals keeps himself abreast of the limes in pro- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



525 



fessional knowledge and interest. He and bis wife 
are members in good standipo; of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church anil he is a-nienibeiof tlie Board 
of Stewards and Secretary of the Board of Trustees. 



rtl Ifc D. UNDP^RWOOD. The owner of the 
\/\//l ^^^^^ located on section 13, New Haven 
VSy Township. Shiawassee County, was born in 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, March 24, 1841. His fa- 
ther was Edmunii Underwood, a farmer and shoe- 
maker by trade, and a native of Massachusetts in 
whicli State lie w.as born in 1803. He had the ad- 
vantages of a common-sciiool education and after 
leaving school learned the shoemaker's trade. In 
1824, he married Maria Arnold, who was horn in 
Connecticut about April, 1803. Not long after 
their marriage the young couple went to Ohio about 
the jear 1833, where they purchased twenty acres 
of land in Cuyahoga County. They remained in 
Ohio for thirty-six years, when they sold their farm 
and came to this State, locating in New Haven 
Township where they purchased forty acres on 
section 13. 

Edmund Underwood had six children — three 
daughters and three sons, of whom our subject is 
the j'oungest. The parents of this famil}' were 
Wesleyan Methodists, of which body the father 
was Steward. In politics he was a Republican. 
Our subject's mother died in 1879, and the father 
in 1886. They were both interred at West Haven. 
He of whom we write received a common-school 
education. When about seventeen years of age he 
learned the carpenter's trade at which he worked 
tor nine years in Ohio. 

Mr. Underwood came to Michigan and located 
on the farm that he had purchased two years 
previously while on a hunting trip. This pur- 
chase comprised eighty acres of whicli he sold 
forty and then bought forty acres on section 14, 
but in turn sold this and again purchased on sec- 
lion 13, where he at present resides. In 1860 he 
was united in marriage to Abby Morse, a daughter 
of Charles and Sarah (Payne) Morse, natives of 
Maine. The family was composed of two sous and 



five daughters, of whom Abby is the third child 
and third daughter. She was born December 3, 
1842. 

Mr. and Mrs. LTndcrwood have liad six children, 
whose names are, Adell R., Charles E., Everett C, 
Lucian O., Herbert P. and Blanche M. Charles E. 
is married and lives in Owosso, his home being 
gladdened by the advent of one little daugh- 
ter; Everett is married and lives in New Haven; 
Lucian is married and lives in Ovvosso. Mrs. 
Underwood is a communicant in the AVesleyan 
Methodist Church. Our subject is a Patron of In- 
dustry and is a member of A'ernon Tent, No. 337, 
K. O. T. M. 

In politics Mr. Underwood was a Republican 
until 1884. He served for several terms as High- 
way Commissioner and was elected Township 
Treasurer, in which capacity he served for two 
terms. He has now given his allegiance to the 
Prohibition party and has been elected on that 
ticket .Justice of the Peace, which ofHce he is now 
(1891) tilling. He is greatly interested in the 
work of his party and goes as delegate to all the 
conventions. In regard to his fanning our subject 
pays most attention to the breeding of stock, 
p.articularly favoring Short-horn cattle, of which 
he now has eight head, all registered oi eligible to 
be registered. In 1886 he began to breed Berk- 
shire swine and in 1888 he introduced Shropshire 
sheei), of which he has seventeen head, all regis- 
tered or eligible to registiy. 




RED. F. MURDOCK, proprietor of the 
Murdock Granite & Marble Works at St. 
John's, is as prosperous a vdung busi- 
ness man as the county seat boasts. He carries a 
complete sto(^k of marble, with fine varieties of 
granite, and keeps a force of from five to ten meji 
employed in the shop, and two on the road. He 
sends out fine work, which is produced from the 
material in the rough, as he understands marble- 
working from that point. He is himself a fine 
workman and for some time devoted his ntlriilion 
entirely to fancy carving. He was born at Dexter, 



526 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Washtenaw County, September 26, 1856, and is, as 
his name denotes, of Scotch descent. His grand- 
parents came from Scotland to M.':ssachusctts ai:d 
later removed to this State, being among the 
earliest settlers in Ypsilanti. Grandfatiier Mur- 
dock was a man of cultured mind and even when 
he had passed the age of ciglity years was able to 
write a good hand and deliver an interesting ser- 
mon. He had the trade of a miller, but had taken 
up work as a city missionary of the Presbyterian 
faith. He labored in Louisville, Ky., for years 
and died there when eighty-two years old. 

Samuel W. Murdock, father of Fred. F., was 
born in Massachusetts and was quite young when 
brought to Ypsilanti. He learned the jeweler's trade 
in Rochester, N. Y., when all kinds of jewelery 
were made by hand, and for upwards of forty 
years was enagaged in tiie jewelry business in Dex- 
ter, this State. He was an expert mechanic in both 
gold and silver, and a prominent member of tlie 
community. In politics he was a Republican and 
his religious home was in the Congregational 
Church. He died in the fall of 1882; his widow is 
still living in Dexter. She bore the maiden name 
of Mary McCagg, was born in Lockport, N. Y., 
and is a daughter of John McCagg, a native of the 
Empire State, whose last years were spent in In- 
diana. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Murdoek was 
quite a large one and six of their sons and daugh- 
ters lived to maturity. Fred is the youngest son, 
but has two sisters younger than liimself. 

He of whom we write remained in his native 
place until he was eighteen years of age and dur- 
ing tiie time attended the lower and higli schools 
and also did much work in the business establish- 
ment of his father. At the age noted he began 
an apprenticeship at marble cutting in Ypsilanti 
and after three and a half years there went to 
Albion to become foreman and manager of Ira W. 
Reed's Marble Works, ile was in charge of the 
jards three and a half years then spent some time 
in Marshall, where he confined himself entirely to 
the finer kinds of cutting. In 1879 he engaged in 
business in St. Louis, Oratiot County, as a member 
of tlie firm <>f .Murdoek & Martin. This company 
started the pioneer marblu works in tiial place, but 
after a time the business changed hands and until 



1885 was carried on by Murdoek Bros. That year 
the partnershij) was dissolved and the assets divid- 
ed, and while the Itrother kept on there our sub- 
ject brought a part of the stock to St. John's. He 
is doing a Que business and deriving a ver}' satis- 
factory income from the work which he carries on 
with so much enterprise and good judgment. 

At the head of the household aflfairs in the happy 
home of Mr. Jlurdock is the lady who became his 
wife January 1, 1883. The ceremony was per- 
formed in St. Louis, near which place the bride was 
born. She bore the maiden name of Ida Baker 
and is a daughter of M. H. Baker, an early settler 
in Gratiot County. Mr. and Mrs. Murdoek have 
one child, a son, Eugene. Mr. Murdoek is a Knight 
of the Maccabees and his religious home is in the 
Congregational Church. He is a member of the 
State Marl>leand Granite Dealers' Association. In 
politics he is a Republican and he has represented 
the local part}' as a delegate to county conventions. 
He possesses personal traits that render him very 
popular and as a citizen he is public-spirited and 
alwa^'s to be relied upon. 



-^ 



ft-^ KIRK WHITE. The newspaper field 
I affords an opportunity for the display of 
y^^ talent and the exercise of the powers of the 
i^j mind, that is scarcely known in any other 
line of life. He who succeeds in this line must 
have business tact of a high order, and if his in- 
fluence is to be wide and deep, he must possess 
qualities of character that are sterling and true. 
It is therefore high praise to speak of a man as a 
successful editor. Without flattcrj* this can l)e said 
of the subject of this sketch, who is eilitor and 
proprietor of the Owosso Press in which he suc- 
ceeded J. H. Champion & Co., who had carried on 
the paper twenty- four years. The Press is an eight- 
page paper, 15x22 inches, and is the oldest journal 
in the county. It is the oidy sheet pasted and 
trimmed in the county, and the oul_v Democratic 
organ and its utterances on politics are fearless and 
frank. It is neatly and well printed, the press and 
olBce occupying two floors and the rooms being 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



527 



tlic best equippt'ii in the county. Tlin prinliriE; is 
done on a Taylor cylinder press and a .Sluneniilz 
folder trims, pastes and folds the paper. Included 
in the plf ntare two job presses and a gas engine. 

Mr. White was born in Owosso June 21, 18C3, 
and is the onl}- son of Krastus and Anna A. 
(Mallier") White. His mother was born in ^'ernl()nt 
August 3, 1830, and was the daughter of Rufus 
Mather of the same State. She traced her descent 
in a straight line from Cotton Mather, the noted 
minister of Colonial limes. The father of our sub- 
ject was born in Massachusetts March 30, 1828, 
and was a son of Adriel White. For a time he 
carried on a retail furniture business in IJrattie- 
boro. Vt., where he was raarrieil April 13, 1853. In 
1856 he came to Owosso and started a plauing-niill 
in company with his brolliers Wellington and 
Pliiletus I)., under the stj le of White Bros. Tlie 
firm ofierated foi- a number of 3'ears, then sold out 
to Woodard Bros., and Erastus White finally went 
to Manhattan, Kan., where he is making his homo 
with a daughter and living a somewhat retired life. 

The subject of this si<fttcli attended the public 
schools in Owosso and was gracluated in the High 
School class of '83, receiving two (liplomas one 
in Latin and one in the scientific course. The next 
year he entered the State I'niversily from which he 
was graduated in the class of '88 wiih the degree 
of Bachelor of Philosophy. While in school he 
was managing editor of the I'nivcrsit}' Chronicli' 
and after comi)leting his classical course he became 
Superintendent of the schools in Fenton. He . re- 
tained the position two ye.irs, then ahanduned the 
pedagogical field for that of journalism, ;iiid in 
September, 1800, purchasc<l the Owosso J'ress. 'I'liis 
sheet is issued on Wednesday' of each wceU an<l in 
its management Mr. White is finding sutlicient use 
for his talents and occupation for his time. 

Mr. White was married .June 27. 1889 to Miss 
Ida Belle Durkoe. She is a native of this State, 
and having lived in Owosso for some years is well 
known in the best society here. She and her l.'us- 
band belong to the F'irst Baptist Church and Mr. 
White is Treasurer of the society. A stanch Dem- 
ocrat, he is Chairman of the Cil}' Democratic 
Committee and is one of the most efficient workers 
in the local ranks. He was elected by the Board of 




Supervisors June, 1801, County School Kxaminer 
fur the term of two 3'cars. Mv. and Mrs. White 
occupy a pleasant residence where the housewifely 
skill and refined tastes of Mrs. White are manifest, 
and to which the intelligence and social (jualitiesof 
the wife attract an interesting circle. 

,ii. li.^ W. WARNER, one of the early settlers 
of Hazelton Townsfiip, Shiawassee County, 
and a son of William H. Warner, a native 
of Farminglon, Conn., resides on section 27, where 
he has a highly cultivated farm. His father is of 
English descent, and was born July 5,- 1792. He 
was a cooper by trade and later in life pursued the 
calling of a farmer. He married Polly Oill, a 
native of I'reble. Cortland County, N. Y., who was 
born May 10, 1797. The paternal grandfather of 
our subject was a hero in the Revolutionary War 
and freely gave his services for the defence of In- 
dependence. 

After their marriage in Nevv York State, the 
parents of our subject resided there for a number 
of years and in 1825 lemoved to Pennsylvania 
where they settled in Potter County on a farm 
which was all wild land. They improved the farm 
and put it in a good state of cultivation. Three 
children were granted to them two of whom are 
now living. The father took an interest in politics 
and belonged to the Democratic party. He held 
the ollice of Justice of the Peace and all other 
township offices, was a prominent man in his neigh- 
liorlLood and became County Commissioner, lie 
was a member of the rnivcrsali^t Church. His 
death occurred Novenilicr 1,1.S() f , ami his wife <lied 
.January 10, 1877. 

Our subject was the second cliilil in this family 
and was born August 11, 1824 in Preble, Cortland 
County. N Y. He received a common-school 
education and remained at home until he reached 
llie age of Iwentv-onc years, learning the trade of 
a carpenter and joiner, in addition to the usual 
duties of a farm boy. He was united in marriage 
with Susan Latta, January 14, 1 S50. 

This lady is a daughter of William .1. and Sarah 



528 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(White) Latta, natives of New York and Pennsylv- 
ania respectively. The paternal grandfather .James 
Latta, a native of Ireland, came to America when 
a h(>y with his parents and married Sarali Jacivson, 
a native of the Eimpiie State. He was a soldier in 
the AVar of 1812, and the maternal grandfather 
John White, a Pennsylvanian, fought in the Revolu- 
tionary War. The parents of Mrs. Warner were 
married in New York and moved to Penns^ivania 
in 1836, settling in Potter County on a farm ad- 
joining Mr. Warner's. Thus their young people 
grew up together and their long acquaintance fitted 
them for a harmonious companionship. Mrs. Latta 
was a member of the Methodist P^piscopal Church. 
She was born March 5, 1796 and died August 15, 
1869. Mr. Latta was in his political preferences a 
Democrat. He was born August 28, 1792 and died 
March 5, 1881. Tliey were the parents of nine 
children, two of whom are still living. 

Mrs. Warner had iier Dativit3', December 21, 
1821 in Steuben County, N. Y., and there received 
a district school education. After her marriage to 
Mr. Warner, they remained in Pennsylvania and 
he worked for some time at iiis trade. In the fall 
of 1852 they started West, going to Detroit and 
from there to Pontiae by railroad, reaching Flint 
by stage and then by ox-team traveling to Shiaw- 
assee County, they settled in Hazelton Township, 
on section 34. There were then but eight men in 
this township and only one of those is now living. 
The new farm was entirely unbroken and Indians 
and wild game abounded. They had a capital of 
^600 when they started fiom Pennsylvania and 
with that they had to buy everything they liad to 
cat, wear and use for some time. At that tfTne he 
could not get an opportunity for a d.iy's work. 
Corunna was the nearest town and it was twelve 
miles away. 

Mr. Warner built a board shanty and housed his 
family and then began clearing the land with 
which he progressed slowlj'. He bongiit eighty 
acres of hind and dug the first well in tlie township. 
Bolli he and his wife suffered from ague. After 
clearing off seventy acres of land he built the 
house and barn which now appears upon the farm. 
Two children blessed this pioneer home, William 
L. born August 10, 1854, who married Lena 



Largen and lives at Monette, Mo.; they have three 
children. George W. born February 9, 1859, 
mairied Emma Fuller and has two children; they 
live on the homestead. Our subject is connected 
with the Masonic order and takes an interest in 
politics being a Democrat in his views. He has 
been the Township Treasurer and for many j'ears 
Justice of the Peace, and has filled the offices of 
Supervisor and Township Clerk. Mr. and Mrs. 
Warner have now retired from active work and 
for several years she has been an invalid. They 
have lived here now for thirtj'-nine 3'ears and have 
seen this country grow from its rough condition 
when wild cats abounded, venison was the princi- 
pal meat and ox-teams the only means of convey- 
ance, to its present prosperous and populous condi- 
tion, having every facility for railroad travel and 
connection b^- the great lines of the Lelegraph with 
every part of the world. 



W 



iMLLIAM D. and ARTHUR GARRISON, 
who constitute the firm of Garrison Bros., 
*J^ are among the most prominent business 
men of Shiawassee County, and probably control a 
larger amount of the business of Vernon than any 
other two residents of that place. Their extensive 
interests have made them widely known and their 
sketch will therefore be received with interest by 
many of our readers. 

William Garrison, tlie father of the brothers, 
was born in New Jersej', in 1803, and when a 
young man went to New York, settling in Seneca 
County, where he met and married JMiss Mary 
Pinne3', a native of the Empire State, born in 1 806. 
After three years, .accompanied by his wife, he emi- 
grated Westward, locating in Oakland County, in 
1836. A year later he took up his residence on 
section 7, Vernon Township, Shiawassee County, 
in a little log cabin situated in the midst of eighty 
acres of unimproved land. He at once began 
clearing and developing a farm and there made a 
good home which continued to be his place of resi- 
dence until his death, which occurred in 1858. 
His wife died four years previous. They were 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



529 



leading citizens of tiic cuminunily, respected hy all 
wlio knew llieiu, and took an active part in public 
aflfairs. They were one of three families who or- 
>;anized the first Congregational Cliurcii in ^\■rnon. 
For many 3'ears Mr. Garrison served as .lustice of 
the Pe.ace, and was Treasurer of the Township. 
( )ne of nature's noblemen, he iiad man}- friends, 
but few, if aii3', enemies. All who knew him re- 
spected and honored him. 

In the Garrison famil)- were six children, two 
of whom died in infancy, W. D., the senior mem- 
ber of the firm of Garrison Bros., is third in order 
of birth and the eldest child now living. He was 
born in Seneca County N. Y., August 9, 183.5, and 
was about two j'ears old when his parents came 
with their family to Michigan. His education was 
acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood 
and in Vernon. When a young man he learned 
the carpenter's trade, which ho followed for four 
years, but during the greater part of his life he has 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. In March, 1857, 
he formed a partnership with Milo Harrington, and 
the firm establsihcd a general merchandise store in 
a small building near the Detroit, Grand Haven 
and Milwaukee depot, buiafter about eight months 
Mr. Garrison sold out to his partner, who continued 
the business. Arthur (iarrison is a native of this 
Stale, his birth having occurred in Oakland Coun- 
ty on the 2Cth of .September, 1837. His liter- 
ary education was also acquired in the public 
schools and under the parental roof he was reared 
to manhood. On the first of March, 1859, a part- 
nership was formed between tl'.e two brothers under 
the firm name of W. 1). iV- A. Garrison. Their 
stock of general merchandise was displa^'ed for 
sale in a one-story wooden building, which occu- 
pied the present site of .M. D. Rhodes' hardware 
store. .Some time later Arthur sold out to his 
brother and engaged in other business. Subse- 
quently, however, he returned to ^'erno!l and built 
and occupied a store on the site of their presiMil 
building. There were then two Garrison stores in 
the place, hut eventually a second partnership was 
formed and \V. I), moved his goods into Arthur's 
store. In the month of April, 1872, a disastrous 
fire occurred in Vernon, nearly the whole of the 
business portion of the town being destroyed. The 



(Jarrison Bros, store and much of the stock of 
goods was burned to ashes, but with characteristic 
energy these gentlemen secured a room and on the 
ne.\t day were .again selling goods. They soon had 
a temporary store erected, and almost immediately 
work was commenced on the front part of their 
present building, which was ready for occupancy 
the same fall. The store was of brick, 3Gx 70 feet, 
and three stories high with abasement, but so rap- 
idly did the business increase that their quarters 
were found insuflicient. and in 1880, the rear end of 
the building was taken out and the store tnade 30 
feet longer. At present its dimensions are 3GxlOO 
feet, and the firm occupies the entire three stories 
which tivv filled with a complete line of dry goods, 
groceries, carpets, cnjckeiy, boots and shoes, etc. 
The building is warmed b3' steam and lighted with 
gas, has every modern convenience anil is so com- 
plete in its appointments that it would grace many 
a city much larger than Vernon. 

In 1858, W. D. Garrison was united in maiiiago 
with Miss J;inct Paine, who was born in Orleans 
County, N. Y. in 1836, and is the ehlest daughter 
of J. W. and Eliza (Hill) Paine. I'nto them have 
been born five children, four sons and a daughter, 
of whom two are living. William is blind. He 
graduated from a blind institute, of Boston, Mass., 
and is now married and has one child, Glenn. 
Charles B. graduated from Ann Arbor Univer- 
sity in 1890. Krankie, Claude and Maud died 
when young. Mr. Garrison, the father, is a Knight 
Templar Mnson, belonging to Vernon Lodge, No. 
21, A. V. & A. M. 

We have before stated that the firm of Garrison 
Bros, is the leading business firm (jf N'ernon. In 
addition to their mercantile interests they own and 
operate a grain elevator, a roller process flouring 
mill and a creamery, and in connection with the latter 
is a commodious refrigerator which gives them 
extra facilities for preserving butter, eggs and 
poultry'. In 1888, the business done by the firm 
anounled to upwards of *I90,()()0. They paid out 
during the year, over %4,300, for freight bills; they 
bought 5,700 bushels of wheat for which they 
paid ii!5 1,000; bought 30,000 bushels of oats, pay- 
ing for the same, <(7,800; 1.475 bushels of clover 
seed, paying ^7, 78G; they bought and made 152. MIO 



530 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM- 



pounds of butter, valued at 130,200; bought 38,000 
pounds of poultry, at $3,250; bought 80,250 dozen 
eggs, at a cost of $14,000; the sales of the store 
amounted to 157,256; and the estimated mill sales 
were |! 15,400. After giving the above figures, it 
seems superfluous to mention anything about the 
business ability of tlie Garrison Bros. It takes 
enterprise, industry, perseverance and good man- 
agement to build up such a business as they now 
control. In every branch of industry which they 
have undertaken they liave met with success and 
their prosperity is justly deserved. Their dealings 
with their fellow-men have ever been marked witli 
courteous treatment and the strictest integrity. 
Tliey iiave the confidence and good will of all with 
whom they have come in contact, are widely known 
in business circles throughout the State and have a 
reputation for fairness which has won them the 
respect wiiich is justly their due. In addition to 
his other interests, W. D. Garrison is connected 
with tlie First National Bank of Corunna, Mich, 
as its President and Director. 

-^ -•#-£# "— 




BENJAMIN B. HARDY. The name of this 
gentleman is well known in Shiawassee 
County and the surrounding country, as 
tliat of a man much interested in the breed- 
ing of fine stock, particularly of the noted Holstein 
cattle. He is located sis miles south of Owosso in 
Bennington Township, on a farm consisting of two 
hundred and sixty acres, upon which many im- 
provements have been made and convenient ar- 
rangements for the carrying on of tiie work to whicli 
the owner gives his attention. Conspicuous among 
the farm buildings is a barn 50x75 feet, placed 
with tlie side to the road with a wing forty-five 
feet square. Mr. Hardy breeds Clydesdale horses, 
Poland-China hogs and tlioroughbred sheep, but 
his chief dependence is upon cattle, whicli he began 
breeding nine years ago, and which he has exhib- 
ited at local fairs, and always with excellent re- 
sults. 

The patronymic of the family was originally Mc- 
Hardy, but the prefix was droi)ped during the early 



life of our subject's father. That gentleman, John 
Hardy, was left an orphan when about seven years 
old, and lived with a family named Kellogg, and 
was reared under their care in Ohio. He married 
Esther Chapin, a native of Massachusetts, but at the 
time of their marriage a resident of Ohio. They 
reared eleven children, seven of whom are now liv- 
ing, but Benjamin is the only one in this State. He 
was was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Novem- 
ber 7, 1836, and remained at home until he was al- 
most of age, assisting his father in dairy work, and 
working out by the month, his time being given 
him. He spent a year thus engaged in Wisconsin, 
then returned to his native State and carried on a 
farm until 1866, when lie removed to this State and 
settled on his present farm Januarj' 22. At that 
time there were but forty acres cleared, and the 
only building on the tract was a small log house. 
Mr. Hardy bought this propert_y in 1864, i)aying 
120 per acre, those being days of high prices when 
wheat comrnautled $2.60 per bushel. 

Mr. Hardy has a sugar- bush of one thousand 
trees, from which he manufactures nearly one thou- 
sand pounds of choice sugar each season. He has 
a sugar-house especially prepared for this work. 
He has a herd of twenty-three thoroughbred Hol- 
stein cattle, the chief being "Winona Jumbo," No. 
1 581 1 . It is a fine animal that was bred by W. K. 
Sexton, of Holly. Mr. Hardy is also the owner of 
the noted "Shiawassee," which was bred by Forbes, 
of Slockbridge, and which weighed twenty-three 
hundred iwunds when three years old, and took two 
premiums. In the herd there are also the four- 
year-olil cow, '-Anna," which gives forty quarts of 
milk daily, and the three-year-old heifer "Deraxa," 
that weighed fourteen hundred pounds when two 
years old. Mr. Hardy keeps animals of the Neth- 
crland and Alexander families, that are noted for 
their fine looks and their excellent milking and 
beef qualities, as well as for the ease of their keep- 
ing. 

December 21, 1865, the interesting ceremony 
was performed that made Miss Eleanor Marshall 
Mrs. 15. B. Hardy. The bride was born in Ashta- 
bula County, Ohio, September 12, 1842, where her 
marriage took place. Her parents were Willard 
and Mary (Cheney) Marshall. To her judicious 





\ 



"¥^ 



■<i 






,-,>^ 

'm^-^ 







^^ 



^i- 






■ ^ ; f 



X 

a: 



o 

-7 







5.. 



Ll. 

O 

LJ 

c 

UJ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



533 



manngeinent of Iiousehold oxpenditurcs and lier 
synipath}- and counsel, .Mr. Hard}' owes a measure 
of his success in life, as when they began working 
together they liad no capital except what was needed 
to p.iy for their farm and start thera at housekeep- 
ing with a limited amount of household goods. 
Their famil}' consists of one son, Hurrill, wiio was 
born August 2, 1867. He has always remained on 
the farm, and is now working in connection with 
his father. He was married February' 19, 1.S90, to 
Miss Cora Payne, daughter of William and Ros 
anna (London) Payne, wiio was born July 8, 1871. 

Mr. Hardy is a methodical and regular worker, 
and without neglecting his aflfairs finds lime to take 
an active part in all movements tending to advance 
the interests of tlie agri(nillural class. He also fills 
some loc:il oltice, and at present is serving his sec- 
ond year as Justice of the Peace. Politicall3^ he is 
a Republican. He has a good library^ containing 
man}- standard works, and he makes use of the 
Statutes of Michigan in regulating his decisions as 
a .Justice. Personally he is whole-souled, jovial, 
and fond of what he considers innocent amuse- 
ments, which include (lancing and the use of cards 
in his home. 

A view of the residence in which Mr. Hardy and 
bis family are pleasantly domiciled, is shown else- 
where in this volume. It is the abode of hospital- 
ity, and the frequent resort of their many friends. 

^ILLIAM W. .TONES. The population of 
our country is of so coni|)Osilive a nature 
that whether a man is from England, China, 
or Timbuctoo, causes very little comment, but the 
nationalitj' certaini}' has much to do with the char- 
acteristics of the man and the degree of success 
that he acquires. Our subject is of Welsh extrac- 
tion, and his whole life h.as been characterized by 
the vigor and energy and stick-to-itiveness for 
which his people are known. He owns a line farm 
on section 35, Venice Township, Shiawassee County, 
and has made of his purchase a very desirable dwel- 
ling place. 

The father of our subject was Henry .Tones, a 




native of Wales, wlience he came to America at 
the age of seventeen ^ears, first locating in Canada. 
He was an iron manufacturer, which trade he ac- 
qui.ied in his native land, later he became a farmer. 
I'ersonally Henry Jones was a quiet, un|irelentious 
man, a careful student and ever watchful to turn 
every opiJortunit}' to his own advantage. While 
in Canada he met our subject's mother, whose 
mai<len name was Mary (Cane) Jones, a native of 
Pennsylvania. They continued to reside in Can- 
ada until death claimed him for his own. They 
were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 
in wiiicli body the father w.as a Class-Le.ader and 
also Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He dieil 
in 1880; the mother still survives, aged seventy- 
two years. Thej- were the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, ten of whom are now living. 

Our subject is the fifth child born to his parents 
anil made his advent into the worhl October 22, 
1844. His early childhood was passed in his na- 
tive place, where he remained until liianhood. From 
his father he learned the business of roller and pol- 
isher of iron, and after finishing school, worked at 
this trade until he was of age. He received a good 
district school education, and was fitted on leaving 
home to successfully meet and cope with the ditti-' 
culties of life. He first went to Oswego, N. Y., 
and from there came to Micin'gan in 1865. 

On coming into the State, Mr. Jones first settled 
in Bennington Township, where he emploj'ed him- 
self in getting out logs. This occupation, how- 
ever, lasted but a short time, and lie went to 
Saginaw County, where he spent a winter in the 
pineries. After the year of hard work spent in 
felling and preparing logs for market, he can)e to 
\'enice Township and took a job with two other 
men of clearing Bfty-one acres of land. The con- 
tract was let by (Jeorge Martin, and he completed 
it and ten acres besides, the sames|)ring. The next 
fall he succeeded in finishing ten acres more, and 
the same winter pursued the same course of ener- 
getic work and cleared five acres for a man bj' the 
name of Len Johnson, besides chopping one hun- 
dred and two cords of wood. 

Jn 1866 the gentleman of whom we write set up 
a home, inviting Hannah Sophia Cronkhite, daugh- 
ter of Sheldon and Hannah (.lones) Cronkhite, to 



534 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



preside over tlie domestic realm. Mrs. -Jones was 
born October 22, 1847, in this township. Her par- 
ents are still living. In girlhood she received a 
district-school education, and even then was noted 
for being a most capable housewife. After their 
marriage they made their home witli Mrs. Jones' 
father, working the farm for him the space of one 
and one-half years. 

The original of our sketch, feeling that he must 
acquire a home for himself, purchased thirty-three 
acres on section 22. It was somewhat improved. 
It proved to be a speculation, for he sold it a short 
lime after, and with the proceeds purchased forty 
acres on section 23, ^"enice Townshii). It was a 
dense woods, and our subject at once set about 
choi)ping and clearing ten acres of the land. He 
again sold and then purchased forty acres on sec- 
tion 26; this also was new land, and to it he soon 
added forty more, and after putting some improve- 
ments upon it again sold when he rented a farm of 
Mr. Savage, where he remained for two years, then 
purchasing eighty acres of land whereon he now 
lives. 

Mr. .lones' new home seemed not very prepos- 
sessing, for what was not dense woods, was a dis- 
mal swamp, and the work of clearing and draining 
seemed a Herculean task. He built a log cabin, 
chopped logs and cleared the land and ditched the 
swamp in order to drain it. It proved to be his 
|)crnianont home, and the improvements that he 
has put upon it have changed the aspect of the 
place altogether. Besides this farm he owns eighty 
acres in Tuscola County. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are 
childless. Tliey are not unbelievers in religion, 
although not members of any religious body. He 
takes an interest in politics, casting his vote with 
Democratic party, but tlie man is more to him than 
the party. 

Our subject has a large practice in his township 
as a f.arrier, employing the allopathic system in his 
treatment. He has given more or less attention to 
lliis profession all his life, and has been very suc- 
cessful. His farm is well-improved, he having put 
sixty-live acres under cultivation. He devotes 
himself to general farming, perhaps favoring the 
raising oi slock. He has a full-blooded Jersey cow 
and also many others that are ihree-quarter blooded. 



He is also the owner of a very fine four-year-old 
roadster, sired by Joe Gaven. Our subject was ab- 
solutely' empty-handed when he began life, and he 
has acquired what he has by the hardest labor. 



flj SAAC O. YOUNG, a prominent young farmer 
I and stock-raiser, residing on section 24, Kssex 
/£ Township, Clinton Countj', is a native of West- 
ern New York, and was born July 28, 1853. His 
father, who has now passed away was William 
Young, and his motlier bore the maiden name of 
Mary A. Van Dome. She is a native of New Jer- 
sey, and his fatlier he believes to have been born in 
New York. He was onl^' an infant of some six 
months when his parents brought him to Michigan, 
making tlioir first Western home on the farm where 
he now resides. 

William Young was a representative pioneer, 
making his home in the woods, enduring hardships 
and laboring hard to reduce the wilderness to a 
state of civilization. Of his children six survive, 
namely: James, William, Lyman, Catherine, (Mrs. 
J. J. Bishop,) Alice, (Mrs. Luther Cleland,) and 
Isaac. He was a Democrat in his political views, 
and a man of public spirit, and in his death the 
county lost one of her best men. His widow re- 
sides in Greenbush Townslii[), this county, with 
her eldest daughter, and is now in her seventy- 
eighth year. 

Isaac Young has seen this county grow from its 
primitive condition to its present state of culture 
and prosperity, and has been a life-long agricul- 
turist. His schooling was taken in the lug school- 
houses of the early day, and he there received an 
impetus, which has resulted in making him a self- 
educated man. He was married July 3, 1874, to 
Anne Schlarf, who was born in AV^heeling, W. \a., 
September 13, 1858, and came to Michigan in 1866, 
a daughter of Henry Schlarf. By their union there 
have been born five children, of whom the follow- 
ing are living: Lizzie, liorn May 25, 1875; Vora, 
August 12, 1881 ; AVillie, May 1"J, 1883, and Leys 
C. May 15, 18'J1. 

Mr. Young owns two hundred acres of land 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



535 




which ho has thoroughly im|)rovcd and placed in a 
good state of cultivation, and lie has l)y his own 
efforts attained to the prosperity whicli is now his. 
lie is public spirited and enterprising, one of the 
most progressive of the agriculturists of Essex 
Township, and is meeting willi success. 

.AVID O. STEKL, a brother of Robert M. 
Steel, who is engaged with liim in the fur- 
niture and undertaking business, is one of 
the prominent young business men of St 
John's. He was born in Craflsbur}-, Orleans 
County, Yt., November 3, 1853. The parents 
were of Scotch birth, both being liorn in Gl.asgow, 
and the family is an old Scotcii family. The 
father was a carpenter and when a young man 
came to this country and made his home in Ver- 
mont for a few years. He afterward went back to 
Glasgow and brought his bride to America, making 
his home in Craftsbury and engaging in building 
and contracting. He put up many public buihl- 
ings as well as residences and built up a fine busi- 
ness. His wife's maiden name was Margaret 
Moody. .She was a daughter of William Moody, 
a merchant, who also came to this country and en- 
gaged in business in Craftsbury. He was very 
successful in the mercantile line and bought large 
tracts of land which he cultivated and on which 
he carried on a dairy business. He had at one 
time one thousand' acres, and lived to the extreme 
age of ninety seven years. The father of our sub- 
ject was a Republican in his political views and an 
Elder in the Presb3terian Church. His wife came 
West after his death and made iier home with her 
son, Robert M., at whose home she died. 

Of the thirteen children of Mr. and Mrs. Steel 
ten grew to maturity and seven arc now living. 
Of these the youngest is our subject. He had ad- 
vantages of excellent district schools in Craftsl)ury, 
and remained there until 1870, when he came to 
St. .John's. Here he attended Union Schools for 
three years and then went to Illinois with his 
brother Robert as foreman of a company of men, 
as he had contracted to build the railroad between 



Vincennes, Ind., and Cairo, 111. He was with his 
brother for seven months and tlien returned to St. 
John's, after which lie went to the North Woods, 
at Hamilton, Gratiot County, as clerk for his 
brother in a store. After staying with him a year 
he took a clerkship in a retail furniture store at St. 
John's, wliich was connected with the St. John's 
Manufacturing Companj-. 

In 1887 the brothers undertook the present 
business, which they established in partnership. 
They carry both furniture and an undertaker's 
slock, filling two floors in a large double store. 
No establishment in Central Michigan can excel 
them in a fine and large displa}- of furniture. An 
event of great importance in the life of this young 
man took place in St. John's in 1883. It was his 
marriage lo Miss Nellie Wood, a native of Ionia 
County and a daughter of Joseph Wood. This 
lady was brought up and received her education 
in this cit3- and has a large circle of friends with 
whom she is a great favorite. Mr. Steel is an ar- 
dent Republican, but a man who has little to do 
with politics except to embody his own opinions in 
his vote. 

•- '^m ' 



/^^ IIARLES DAY, one of the most [jromiuent 
(ll n *^''''^*^"* of DeWitl Township, and a man 
^^/ worthy of note, morally, socially and intel- 
lectually, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., 
August 6, 1832. His father, Elijah, was born in 
Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1802, and his grand- 
father, Pelatiah, was born at Salem, Mass., abt)ut 
1776. The great-grandfather, Abner Day, was a 
native of England who emigrated to America in 
the seventeenth centur}-, an<I made his home at Sa- 
lem, Mass. There he engaged in farming, and died 
at a ripe old age. 

The grandfather of our subject, Pelatiah D.ay. 
W.1S both a farmer and a millwright. He was also 
a shoemaker and tailor and carpenter and joiner 
and a preacher. He built a great many mills and 
dams, and was a prosperous man for those days, 
being worth at his death about ^3,000. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Rosotta Barker, reared six 
children, namely, Elijah, James, Sylvester, Sallie, 



536 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Charles P. and Roxina. He settlefl in Genesee 
County, N. Y., in the town of B.itavia, and lived 
tliere. He was a preacher in the Free Will Baptist 
Church and served as an itinerant minister. He 
was a man of learning and well-versed in Grecl< 
and Latin, and was a Whig in politics. 

Elijah Day, the father of our subject, owned 
one hundred and sixty acres of land in Genesee 
County, N. Y., where he was a large stock-raiser. 
He was a very active member of tlie Free Will 
Baptist Church, and kept a regular hotel for 
preachers. He was a Whig and a strong Aboli- 
tionist, and later attached liimself to the Kepubli 
can party. He died in 1884, ami at liis death was 
wortli some $12,000. Mis wife, Minerva Harden, 
a native of Lima, Monroe County, N. Y., was bora 
in 1805 and brougiil up on a farm. Of her six 
children live grew to maturity, namely, Jerome, 
Charles, AIniira (Mrs. Case), Elijah Jr., Emory L., 
and Albert died in infancy. The mother was 
a member of the Baptist Church, but much in- 
clined to Spiritualism. She died at the age of 
sixty-nine 3'ears. Her father, Isaac Barden, was 
born uear Albany, N. Y., and was an extensive 
farmer, having about four liundred acres. lie was 
a member of the Wesleyan Metijodist Ciiurch and 
an ardent Republican and Abolitionist. 

Charles Day lived in Genesee County, N. Y., 
until he reached the age of twentj'-three years. 
There he attended the Car^'ville Collegiate Semi- 
nary at Oaklield. spending three jears in that In- 
stitution. He traveled for twelve years for the 
Mt. Hope Nursery of Rochester, N. Y., and was 
sent to Michigan in 1855. He traveled extens- 
ively in this State, and when his brother, Jerome 
Day, who had located here, died, Charles took liis 
farm in 1856, and ran it and the fruit tree business 
together. 

At that lime the counlr3' was still new, and tlie 
farm was mainl}' timber, six acres of which has 
hrcu girdled and the rest was uncleared. Indians, 
wild deer and turkeys abounded and our subject 
was on very fricndl}' terms with the red men. lie 
now lias .nbout sixty-five acres of this land in excel- 
lent condition. 

Upon March 31, 185C, Mr. D.iy took to wife 
Nancy Bnugliton, who was born in Balavia, N. Y., 



March 4, 1832. No children have been granted to 
them. The home farm contains eighty acres, and 
Mr. Day owns one hundred and thirty acres in 
Genesee County, N. Y. He built his large frame 
barn in 1864, and liis attractive and commodious 
home was erected in 1874. lie has hired most of 
Ills farming done, as he has largely- devoted him- 
self to the stud}' and relief of physical suffering. 
In 1875 he began the study of the diseases of the 
human body, and since then has made a specialty 
of doctoring. He is a man of wonderful niag- 
netic power and uses no medicines, but simply 
rubs tlie patient and draws the disease from him. 
He claims to cure t3plKiid fever in twenty-four 
hours, and has all the practice that he can attend 
to, and goes hundreds of miles to treat cases. He 
is a .Spiritualist in liis religious views. 

Our subject was for many years a Democrat in 
his political views, but now adheres to the Union 
Labor party. He has held ever}' township ofHce 
here, except that of coustalile. He goes East every 
year to look after his farm in New York. He 
bears a strong resemblance to James G. Blaine and 
ex-Governor Luce, and is often mistaken for the 
latter. He never charges for services to the poor, 
and has no doubt a remarkable power, as he has 
cured hundreds. 



1 AMES GOODSELL is a farmer and resides 
on section 12, Watertown Township, Clin- 
ton County, where he owns one hundred 
and sixty acres of rich land, well improved 
with a fine dwelling and large barns. Mr. (Jood- 
sell bought this farm about seventeen \ears ago. 
paying cash down for it, all of which he had 
earned by his own labor as he has never inherited 
a dollar. He is the son of Daniel and Alice 
(Williams) Goodsell, natives of the Stale of New 
York, where this son was also born April 26, 
1829. He was thrown u[ion his own resources at 
the age of nine years and worked for his board 
until he was twelve years old. He then met Mr. 
A. C. Otis, of Wayne County, Mich., and con- 
tracted to work for him until he was twenly-one 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAFHlCAL AJiBUM. 



537 



years of age. He was to receive his board and 
c'lfitlics and when twenty-one lie was to have three 
suits and $100 in cash. All of this Mr. Otis per- 
formed to liie letter when the young man arrived 
at his majority. 

Mr. Otis now hired him, paj'ing him |14 per 
month liic year tliroiigli, although wages at that 
lime and tliere were about ^10 a month, or iji 120 
as'ear, foi general laborers. At the age of twenl^'- 
three this young man was joined in marriage with 
his first wife, who was Miss Lucy Otis. He then 
rented the large farm of his wife's uncle, consist- 
ing of five hundred acres, and managed it on 
shares. Tliis marriage tool< place in April, 185'2. 
His wife died in 1856, leaviug two children. Tiie 
eldest, Dillie, married James Ford and resides in 
Wayne County, this State. Alice, the second 
daugiiter, died when two ^-ears old. 

After remaining a widower for over two 3-ears 
Mr. Goodsell was happily married in Marcli, 1858, 
to Mrs. Delia Harris, a daughter of Mr. Wilmarlh, 
also a native of the Empire Slate. This union 
has been blessed with five children, whose names 
are: llatlie, Mrs. llurd; Alice, Mrs. Forward; Ed- 
ward, who is married to Clara Gross, and resides on 
the farm with his father; Ida, Mrs. Alfred Ide; 
and Heulah, who is single and lives with her 
father. Mrs. Goodsell departed this life in 18'.I0. 
Mr. (Joodsell's political lielief is in accord with 
the principles of the Democratic pari}-. He has 
been a Mason for about thirt\-live years and be- 
longs to Lodge No. '21'2, A. V. A A. M., at De- 
Witt. 



WILSON LEE owns and occupies one of the 
well-improved farms, so many of which 
are to be found in Clinton County. His 
property consists of seventy-four acres on section 
13, Eagle Township, and is not only well culti- 
vated but has been improved with good buildings, 
sullicienlly numerous and ample to answer every 
need. The parents were Wilson and Mary (Le- 
rcw) Lee, who were of Irish descent but lived in 
the State of New York. There the son was born 
January 30, 182'J, and reared on a farm. He at- 



tended the district schools and in the intervals of 
study worked on the home farm and did not leave 
his parents until he was of age. During the Civil 
War Mr. Lee had the care of the family and did 
not entered the service until the fall of 18G4. He 
enlisted September 1 in Company E, Eighteenth 
IMichigaii Infantry, was attached to the Arniy of 
the t'limherland and took part in all the engage- 
ments of Sherman's march to the sea. He was not 
wounded, but in the winter while cutting limlier to 
put up winter quarters a log rolled over on him 
and injund his spine so that he was unable to do 
an}' work for some time. 

When Mr. Lee entered the arinj' he left a wife 
and three children, the youngest but two months 
old. When he was discharged ho returned to his 
home and tried to carry on a farm, but found him- 
self so illy adapted f(ir farm work on account of 
the injury he had received that he gave it up 
after a year. He then turned his attention to 
hotel-keeping in Carson City, Jlontcalm County, 
but after living in town four years returned to 
the country. In 1887 he bought the land on 
which he now lives, but it is carried on by his son. 
Mr. Lee is drawing a small |)ension, but as he h.as 
been seriously disabled he is deserving of a larger 
sum than ^S per month. 

The marri.age of Mr. Lee and Helen T. Charles 
was solemnized November 2G, 1851. Mrs. Lee 
was born November 26, 1828, in Genesee County, 
N. Y., whence her parents, Mrs. Bliss Charles, 
came to Jackson County, this State, in 1836. Of 
the children born of the liappy union we note the 
following: Octavia L., born August 21, 1857, has 
been twice married; her first husband was Herman 
A. Lyon, and three children were born of this 
marriage. Her present husband is Horace llulse 
and her home in Eaton County. A'iola E. was 
boin December 19, 18C0, married Eddy Doty, has 
two children and lives in Eagle Township; Lunctla 
Z. was born July 20, 1862, and died in infancy'. 
William 1$. was born July 7, 1864, anil lives on 
the home farm; he was married to Avilla Hart- 
ford November 26, 1800. 

The fitness of Mr. Lee for work in which he 
woultl advance the interests of the community has 
been recognized by his election to the positions of 



538 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Highway Commissioner, Justice of the Peace aud 
a member of the School Board. As Justice he 
lias seived three j'ears. He is a member of Joseph 
Mason Post, No. 248, G. A. R., and Mrs. Lee is 
an active member of the Ladies' Relief Corps, No. 
182. Mr. Lee is also a Master Mason, belonging 
to Lodge No. 354, in Wacousta. Politicallj he 
is a Republican. He and his wife are held in 
esteem b}' their acquaintances far and near. 



ylLLARD KING is a prosperous farmer 
who resides on section 22, of VVatertown 
Township, where iie h.as one hundred acres 
of as finely improved land as there is in Clinton 
County. His beautiful home is surrounded by 
handsome grounds and his excellent barns and 
out buildings are suflicicnt to establish a reputa- 
tion as a first-class farmer, both thorough and sys- 
tematic. 

Our subject is a son of David and Electa (McKee) 
King, natives of Massachusetts, who were early 
settlers of New York, as they went from the Bay 
State to Monroe County many years ago. Tliere 
their son Willard was born, January 8, 1821, and 
there his early life was spent. He received farm 
training and a district-school education and worked 
for and with his father until he reached the age 
of twenty-one. 

Mr. King came to ftlichigan in 1840 and made 
his first home in Eagle Township, Clinton County, 
where he bought the beautiful farm upon which 
he now resides. This was then all unbroken for- 
est and he did genuine pioneer work in subduing 
the wilderness. He made a clearing, planted a 
home and brought his family to this Western wild. 
Besides cutting the trees it was necessary for him 
to remove an immense amount of stumps and stones, 
but this was accomplished through the persever- 
cncc, energy and industry of our subject and it 
is now all in a high state of cultivation and so 
smooth that a binder can be run over every rod 
of the land. 

The marriage of our subject had taken place 



about three 5'ears before he came West. He was 
wedded in October, 1848, to Edna Lowell. 'a daugh- 
ter of Josiah Lowell, who came to Michigan in 
1839, from F^ssex County, N. Y., where she was 
born March 2, 1821. For a further account of 
the famil}' from which Mrs. King sprang please 
see the sketch of Mr. Othman W. Lowell. 

This union has been blessed by the birth of 
three interesting children, who have all grown to 
maturity and have taken their places in the world, 
where they are an honor to the parents and a bless- 
ing to the community. Benjamin F. was born 
April 20, 1845. He is married to Sarah Hamill, a 
daughter of B. F. Hamill, of Riley Township, Clin- 
ton County, and resides on section 23, of Water- 
town Township, the same county, where he has 
sixty acres of fine land; Frances, born Februarj' 
26, 1851, is the wife of R. Noble Lee and resides 
in Watertown Township; II. Melva was born Oc- 
tober 6, 1857. While not engaged in her profes- 
sional duties as a teacher she makes her home with 
her parents. To her as to all their children Mr. and 
Mrs. King have given the advantages of a first- 
class education. 

Mr. King is a man of high intelligence and keenly 
alive to all matters of public interest. In politics 
he is a stalwart Republican but cares little for of- 
fice. He has been Highway Commissioner and 
built the first iron bridge in the township, which he 
put across the Looking Glass River. Our subject 
has been Deputy Sheriff, for four years, of this 
county. 



-J^SSS- 



ellARLES S. R 
this Album wc 
of Ovid, Clint 



HARLES S. reeves. The publishers of 
would doijijustice to the village 
iton County, were they to omit 
from this volume a record of the life of the gen- 
tleman above named, who is proprietor of a well- 
known paper. This sheet is the '■'Jiegisler Union," 
an independent weekly, with a subscription list of 
fifteen hundred. It is a bright, newsy sheet, in the 
columns of which are to be found interesting local 
items, the important facts of general news, and 
terse, clear-cut editorials on varied topics. The 
circulation of the paper has been brought up from 



POKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



539 



three hundred and the business is in a promising 
state. Mr. Reeves is a quick-wilted, observant 
man, on the alert to glean information that would 
be of value in his work, and eager to make of iiis 
publication a force even greater than present cir- 
cumstances will admit. Knowing that, every enter- 
prise that reaches a good height must have a grad- 
ual growth, he is well satisfied witli his progress 
so far. 

Mr. Reeves belongs to an excellent family, his 
father being a minister of the Episcopal Church, 
and his mother a woman of pronounced character. 
The names of his parents were Abram and Anna 
M. (Young) Reeves, and tlie}' were horn respect- 
ively in Warren, Ohio, and Mayvillc, N. Y. The 
son was born in Rushville, Ind., December 5, 1853, 
and spent his life to the age of eighteen years witli 
hi.", parents. IIis educational privileges were con- 
fined to the common scliools of the various villa- 
ges in which his parents lived, and he did not 
advance beyond the common branches. At the 
.age of sixteen years he began to learn the printer's 
trade in Kentland, Ind., from which place he went 
to Cannelton, where he remained about two years 
and a half. By this time he had a good knowledge 
of the newspaper business and the ''art preservative 
of all arts." 

Our subject then came to this State, and for six 
months was located at Mendon, St. Joseph County. 
Thence he came to Ovid early in August, 1873, 
and he and A. D. Carrier purchased the Ovid 
'•Register". The partnership continued six years 
when Mr. Reeves sold his interest to Irving Car- 
rier, son of his former partner, and entered upon 
the sale of books and stationery. In November, 
1885, Mr. Reeves and George P. Allen bought the 
Register and continued the publication jointly 
until the decease of Mr. Allen, which occurred in 
the fall of 1 887. A year prior to this date the 
partners had bought the Union and had begun 
the publication of the Register Union in which 
it was their object to combine the excellencies of 
the two publications that had formerly been issued. 

Since the death of his partner Mr. Reeves has 
become the sole proprietor of the plant and is car- 
rying on the work alone. Having a thorough 
knowledge of the business, he is able to systema- 



tize it and to make choice of efflcient help in the 
mechanical departments. 

Mr. Reeves h.as a pleasant home, brighienod by 
the presence of two sons. The wife to wliom he 
was married Maj' 25, 1875, was known in her 
maidenhood as Miss Augusta .loines, and was at 
that time living in Ovid, where she has many 
friends. The children whose presence adds to the 
attractiveness of the home are Homer E., who was 
born April 15, 1881, and Lawrence A., March 4, 
1888. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves have lost one son, 
their first-born, Freddie, who was born March 25, 
1876, and lived to be l)ut eleven months old. 

In his political sympathy Mr. Reeves is a Repub- 
lican, lie h.as held the office of Township ("lerk 
seven years, and h.as been a member of the Village 
Board, and is now its Secretary. For four years 
he has been a member of the Seh()f)l Board. He 
takes a warm interest in the progress of education 
and in other public enterprises that are of an elevat- 
ing nature. 



EDWIN KNIGHT, a sexagenarian and 
respected citizen of Greenbusli Township, 
,m, -.' Clinton County, is a native of Worcester, 

England, where was born May 4, 1827. He is a 
son of Thomas and Klizalieth (Reed) Knight, bolli 
natives of Englan(L In that beautiful island he 
was reared to manhood and received through the 
care of his parents the rudiments of an education 
in a pay school, which was the best they could 
secure for him. But the schools of that time were 
not equal to what the English national schools now 
are and his training in book learning was scanty 
and far from thorough. He appreciated, however, 
what was given him and throughout life hasa<lapted 
himself to circumstances by gaining through books 
and papers useful information which has made him 
a man of intelligence. 

The young man emigrated to this country in 
1852 when he was twenty live years old. He took 
psssage at Liverpool in a sad vessel, "The Wash- 
ington," an American ship, and after a voyage of 
thirty -six days, landed in New York City and came 



540 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



directly to Geauga County, Ohio, where he first 
began working as a farm iiand b}^ the niontli, and 
after spending a short time in lliis work engaged 
in drilling wells which he followed for several 
years and afterward spent some time in tlie oil 
fields of Pennsylvania. 

Like many another adopted citizen of our coun- 
try, the time of trouble showed tlie true-hearted 
loyalty which had grown up in his heart for the 
land to which he had come in his early manhood. 
He enlisted November G, 1864, in Companj' D, 
Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, wliich became part 
of the Fourth Army Corps. He did guard duty 
during the most of his period of service and did 
not participate in any battles although he was on a 
number of raids. The marriage of Edwin Knight 
took place February 15, 1853. The wife whom he 
then chose as his companion in life was Mary 
Marshall, one of his own country-women, who was 
born in Gloucestershire, October 14, 1833. She 
is a daughter of William and Sarah (Dyer) Mar- 
shall. In 1852 Mrs. Knight, then a young lady, 
and her two sisters came to America, taking pas- 
sage on the same vessel which brought Mr. Knight 
to this country. They came on to Ohio, locating 
near him and there their marriage took jilace. 

In 1871 our subject came to this State and 
settled in the woods and had made a small clearing 
and had the lumber cut for a house, when the great 
fires of that year swept through this section and 
devastated this neighborhood and he suffered the 
loss of all his labor and had to go back to Ohio 
and make another start, when he came again to this 
place in 1886, and made bis home on the farm where 
he now resides in Grcenbush Township. Here he 
owns eighty acres of fertile land in a fine state of 
cultivation. 

Mrs. Knight is an earnest and active member of 
the Christian Church and is identified with the 
Ladies' Aid Society. For both of these worthy 
people the days of struggle and hardship are over 
and they have reached the point where they can 
with comfort enjoy the fruits of their labors and 
lend a helping hand to others. The}' are both use- 
ful and respected members of society. Our sub- 
ject is a Republican in his political views and 
casts his vote with that party. He is well-known 



as a public-spirited man and is counted upon to 
actively promote the welfare of the community in 
every movement which he considers well designed 
for that end. He is identified with the Grand 
Aimy of the Republic and has served as Sergeant 
of the Post at Eureka, Mich. 

The brother-in-law of our subject, William Mar- 
shall, resides with him and is an Englishman by 
birth. Mr. Knight receives a pension of $8 per 
month on account of services rendered and suffer- 
ings endured during the War of the Rebellion. 
This British-American citizen possesses many 
sturdy characteristics and virtues with which the 
Anglo-Saxon race is blessed. He is well known 
throughout all this region as an energetic and per- 
severing man, and enjo}'s the confidence of all who 
have tested his honorable method of dealing. It 
is with pleasure that we represent him and his 
good wife among the honored citizens of Clinton 
Countv. 



ylLLIAM BOYLAN isa farmer, and resi- 
dent of section 24, Watertown Township, 
^^^ Clinton County, where he has eighty 
acres of fine land well improved and a handsome 
brick residence with good barns and other out- 
buildings. He is the son of James and Mary 
( Winget) Boylan, natives of New Jersey and Pcnn- 
sj'lvania, respectively. Our subject was born in 
Greene County, Pa., July 5, 1830, and was reared 
on a farm and worked for his father until he reached 
the age of twenty two years. In 1849 his father 
moved to Washtenaw County, Mich., and located 
near Ann Arbor. 

On March 23, 1853, he was happily married to 
the lady who now presides over his household. 
Her maiden name was Fannie C. Fitzsimmons and 
she is the daughter of Thomas and Eliza Fitzsim- 
mons, natives of Geneva and Cheminig Counties, N. 
Y., respeclivel}-. She was born in Chemung Count}', 
June 3, 1 834. Her parents came to Michigan in 1 844. 
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Boylan has been blessed 
with four interesting children, three of whom are 




4;;^' 







icZ/i-ccA/cL^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



54a 



now living. Their eldest, Florence, a little jjirl 
of great loveliness, was boin December, 20, 1854, 
and died March 7, 1867. Hattie, who was born 
July 11, 1850, is now Mrs. Fred L. Corbin and re- 
sides in Watertown Township. Maj-, born May 
20, 1858, married Fred W. Ainslcy, and also re- 
sides in Watertown Township. Liilie, born De- 
cember 8, 1865, is the wife of W. A. Small and 
resides in Lansing. 

In the spring of 1864, Mr. Hoylan moved onto 
the farm where he now lives. It was then nearly 
all timber and since his coming onto it he put up the 
buildings as they now stand. His father died in 
1865 at the age of si.xty-fivc years and the mother 
in 1867. In politics Mr. Boylan is a stanch Re- 
publican and takes quite an active part in local 
politics and is an intelligent observer in regard to 
national movements of the party. He has been 
Justice of the Peace several terms and held other 
responsible offices in his townshii). He is a mem- 
ber of the Grange, believing that that organization 
will lielp to i)romote the social antl industrial 
condition of the fanners. 



-^1= 






PERRY SHEPARD. Among the many prom- 
inent citizens and farmers of Eagle Town- 
ship, Clinton County, none are more favor- 
\ ablj- mentioned by their acquaintances than 
Mr. Shepard, whose portrait a])))ears on the opposite 
page and who, with his interesting family, lives on 
section 18. He is the sou of George and Eunice 
(Briggs) Shepard and w.is born in Wyoming 
County, N. Y., July 8, 18.'35. His early years were 
spent upon a farm, and during his boyhood he 
attended a district school and afterward went to 
Warsaw Academy and prepared himself for leach- 
ing. He remained in his native State until he was 
twenty years old, then came West and located in 
the eastern part of Michigan. After his arrival he 
taught school for a number of winters laboring on 
a farm during the summer, but feeling the neces- 
sity of better fitting himself for teaching he 
spent one school year diligently engaged in tiie 
.State Normal School at Ypsilanti. 



Young Shepard then learned the carpenter's 
trade and for sever.'il years devoted himself to 
leaching during the winter months and to mechan- 
ical work in the sumn)er. He was thus engaged 
until 1864, although in 1861 he bought a farm on 
which to make his home. He purchased one hun- 
dred acres, to which, by industry and economy, he 
was afterward able to add seventy .teres, and the 
whole is highly improved and forms a most beauti- 
ful home. 

In September, 1864, Mr. Shepard felt it his duty 
to leave his family and respond to his country's 
call, and enlisting in Company I, Seventh Michigan 
Cavalry, he became an integral p&rt of the force 
that was engaged in the Shenandoah N'alley, under 
the command of the gallant Phil Sheridan. Our 
subject was taken sick soon after being mustered 
into the service and was conveyed to the hospital 
at Washington, D. C. After remaining there until 
the latter part of October he came home on a 
twenty days' furlough, and joined his regiment the 
folluwing December in the Shenandoah Valley. 
In March, 1865, the boys were ordered to join the 
Army of the Potomac, and were sent to White- 
house Landing and thence to Petersburg, via City- 
Point. Prior to the surrender of Gen. Lee the 
regiment took part in seven serious engagements 
and after the scene of Appomattox was ordered 
South to intercept Gen. Johnson. Tliat Confeder- 
ate leader had surrendered before they reached his 
army and they then returned to Petersburg and 
Richmond. They awaited the arrival of Gen. 
Sherman's army and then participated in the Grand. 
Review at Washington, after which they were sent 
to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and linally discharged 
there, July 17, 1865. 

During his absence at the seat of war Mr. Shep- 
ard's family had spent the time in Wayne County 
with the parents of his wife, and after his discharge 
they again moved onto tlie farm where they have 
since resided. Mrs. Shepard bore the maiden name 
of Sarah J. Loomis and is a daughter of Jacob and 
Sarah (Kimball) Loomis, natives of New York. 
The marriage rites between her and our subject 
were solemnized in September, 1860, and they now 
have three living children — Elmer .1.. Florence C. 
and Forest Glenn. The eldest, who was burn in 



544 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



December, 1864, teaches in the winter months, 
but maizes liis home with bis parents, as do the 
other members of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Shep- 
ard have three cliildren deceased. Although only 
just past middle age Mr. Sliepard is quite decrepit 
at times, by reason of rheumatism and other 
complaints contracted in the service, j'et he man- 
ages to be around and supervise his own affairs, 
lending a helping hand whenever necessary and at 
times may be said to constitute a hand on the farm. 
His indomitable will and perseverance which have 
done so much to give him that independence 
which he now enjoys, not permitting him to remain 
idle. Mr. Shepard carh' in life formed the resolu- 
tion to establish a reputation for honesty and up- 
right action, and is now enjo3'ing as a consequence 
the respect and esteem of all who know him. 

Mr. Shepard believes it the duty of every man 
to keep himself well informed in matters of religion, 
politics and finance, and to be assured of his stand- 
ing on every question of importance. He has de- 
cided in favor of the principles of the Republican 
party and supports them with his vote and in- 
fluence. The family are members of the Baptist 
Church at Portland and are the centre of a friendly 
circle, whose various members are intelligent, up- 
right and zealous for true growth. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a view 
of Mr. Shcpai'd's pleasant home with its rural sur- 
roundings, which is presented in connection with 
this biographical notice. 



^ 




\1^ ANIEL B. SAYRE, one of the most prom- 
inent citizens of Vernon Township and a 
brother of Charles H. Sayre, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this Album, was born 
in Yates County. N. Y., in .Jerusalem Township, 
August 19, 1836. His parents, Lewis and Zillah 
(Benedict) Sayre were natives of New York, the 
former of Steuben County and the Latter of Yates 
County. They came in 1840 to Shiawassee County, 
making their home in Vernon Township in the 
days when they had to cut down trees in order to 
erect a shelter over their heads. The father was a 



man of prominence in his day and filled numerous 
positions of trust and responsibility. He died in 
1874 and his devoted wife who survived him is 
still living, having reached the age of eighty-two 
years. 

Our subject is the j'oungest son of his parents and 
was four years old when thej- came to Michigan. 
Our subject's only sister, Lydia A., married Ezra D. 
Hammond, b}' whom she had two children. She 
died in 1875, at Pewamo. Her two children are 
now married, one living at Pewamo, the other at 
St. Charles. Daniel went to school with his brother 
Charles, three and one-half miles from home, 
through the woods to a log schoolhouse. The 
chimney was made of sticks and clay and the 
benches were merely split logs with pegs for legs. 
His last school days were spent in a schoolhouse on 
section 26. He was twenty-four years old before 
he left the parental roof |)ermanently, and during 
all that time he assisted his father on the farm. 

Daniel Say re's marriage took place in 1860. His 
union with Caroline McBride was one which led up 
to a life of more than ordinary domestic happiness 
and comfort. This lady was born in New York in 
1845, and after marriage the 3'oung couple located 
upon what is still the home farm; there they built 
a simple board house and in peace and contentment 
made their home in this humble way, while they 
improved their farm and reared their little family 
of t.hree children. Their oldest son, Ernest C., 
married Emma Williamston; they reside in Vernon 
Township on a farm and have two children, Clar- 
ence and Carrie. The daughter, Zillah B., is the 
wife of Dr. B. C. Sickles, who resides at Ashley, in 
Montcalm County. The second son, Lewis E., 
married Ella Oellerich, of Grand Rapids. They 
reside with the father and have charge of the farm. 
The mother of this household passed away from 
earth, August 17, 1890. She had been an invalid 
for some ten years and went to California for her 
health in 1888, being gone five months. She was 
in Mississippi at the time of her decease, having 
gone there in search of health. 

The gentleman of whom we write has a farm of 
eighty-three acres, all of which is good arable land. 
He erected hia present residence ia 1873, at a cost 
of $3,500. It is a square two-story frame building. 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



545 



the main part mcnsuring 30x30. while the wing is 
18x23 feet and the adjourning wooii house 20x20. 
This liouse is pleasantly situated and conveniently 
arranged, the rooms being all capacious and well 
lighted. 

Mr. Sayre never learned a trade and indeed he 
never needed to, for he is a natural genius in the 
way of mechanics and can make anything from a 
barn to the second hand on a watch. He has three 
beautiful secretaries made by his own hand which 
for workmanship and finish cannot be excelled. 
He is a lover of the violin and has made many 
specimens of this instrument, which are fine in lone 
and admirable in use, and he can repair a watch as 
well as most jewelers. He has propert}' in Durand, 
a part of which is in the grain elevator which is 
known by his name, and which he and his brother 
built together. Thej^ were partners in the sawmill 
and also in the wagon-wood works on section 25, 
for some seventeen years, but they dissolved part- 
nership in 1887, the brother retaining the mill and 
our subject taking property in Durand. He was 
head sawyer for m.any years while in charge of the 
mill. 

Our subject is a I'rohibitionist in his political 
views with some Democratic leanings. He is a 
member of the Masonic order and belongs to North 
Newburg Lodge, No. IGl, and hi.s son Lewis is a 
member of the s.-ime lodge. He is also a member 
of the Patrons of Industrj'. He has a blacksmith 
shop and jewelry shop on his place where he is 
prepared to do any kind of work, ("itlier delicate or 
lieavy. 



^^^ OOLEY E. BALL, the Superintendent of 
(If ^.^ the Poor for Clinton County, and member 
^§^y of the hardware firm of Fowler & Hall, is 
like his partner one of the rejjresentative men of 
St. John's. He is a man who has been and is re- j 
markably successful in business, being enterprising 
and energetic. He has aided in building up a 
splendid Inisiness and has built for his faniil}- a 
commodious and attractive home. He was born 
in Lapeer, Mich., in August, 1847. His father, 
George F., was of Massachusetts birth. The grand- 



father was a practicing physician and spent his days 
in the Bay .State. There the father was reared and 
lived until he came to Michigan. 

George F. Ball drove the first ox-team that ever 
came into Lapeer and with A. N. Hart he made 
the first settlement there. The}' settled on land 
which afterward became the cit^' of Lapeer and 
established their homes. He became County Clerk 
and Register of Deeds and somewhat later removed 
to Portsmouth, Bay County, where he is engaged 
in the mercantile business and entered into trade 
with the Indians. He made a study of their lan- 
guage and could converse with them more fluently 
than an^' man in that region about the year 1834. 
He spent some time in Canada, having charge of 
three or four fish boats, a:id then went to East 
Saginaw, where he owned an interest in a river 
boat. He then went to Midland, where he settled 
on a farm of some two hundred and eighty-seven 
acres. He was a Democrat in his political procliv- 
ities and is now seventy-seven years ohl. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden 
name of Julia A. B.incroft. She was a daughter 
of a Massachusetts farmer and is row living at the 
age of seventy-two years. She was the mollier of 
five children, of whom our subject is the fourth. 
He was reared in Portsmouth and .Saginaw, ami 
attended the high school of Saginaw. They re- 
moved to Midland when he was about fourteen 
j'ears old at which time the father went into the 
hotel business but after four years returneil to 
farming. When sixteen years old lie went into 
the empl03' of the Cnunty Treasurer of .Midlarid 
County, John Larkin liy n.'unc, beroining liis dep- 
uty and kept all his books. At Midland he was 
the trusted employe in the lumber business and 
for fifteen j'ears had charge of p.iyingtlie lunil)er- 
men. 

The marriage of Mr. C. E. Ball and Miss Fran- 
ces A. Kipp took place at St. John's in 1>S7 I. This 
lady is a native of Genesee County, Mich. After 
marriage Mr. Ball formed a partnership with Mr. 
Fowler and Mr. C. Ivipp under the firm name of 
C. Kipp it Co.; four years later the firm became 
Fowler ife Ball. He engaged in the hardware busi- 
nass, carrying the. largest stock in town. Mr. Ball 
and brother own laixl in Saginaw County. He and 



546 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his brother, G. W. Hall, were inlerested in ttie 
first bank in Miilland and managed it five years. 
Tlie brother's health tailing, he witlidrew from ac- 
tive work and G. E. Ball moved to St. .Tolin's. 
The bank was called the C. E. and G. W. Ball 
Bank. 

One child cheers the home of Mr. Ball. For six 
years, beginning in 1885, he has been .Superinten- 
dent of the Poor. He is a Director and Stock- 
holder in Si. .lolin's National Bank and Clinton 
County Savings Bank. Socially he belongs to the 
Knights Templar at East Saginaw, St. Bernard Com- 
inander}'. He is also identified with the Free and 
Accepted Masons and Royal Arch Masons. Re- 
ligiouslj' he is connected with the Episcopal Church 
at St. John's and is a Democrat in his political adil- 
iations. 

JOSEPH H. HOWE, a retired farmer of 
Owosso and the son of a notable man, who 
was an important factor in the early set- 
^^ tling of Michigan, was born in Jerusalem, 
Albany County, N. Y., October 25, 1825. His 
parents, Joseph and Tamson (Mead) Howe, had 
a family' of six children, three sons and three 
daughters, and Joseph was the youngest son. The 
father was born in New Hampshire in 1790 and 
was a farmer b3' occupation and a son of Joseph 
Howe, of English blood. The mother of our sub- 
ject was born in Vermont in 1795, and was of 
Welsh descent, being a daughter of Jacob Mead. 
Both of the grandfathers of our subject were Rev- 
olutionary soldiers and both drew pensions. 

The parents of our subject were married in Ver- 
mont and removed soon to Western New York, 
where they settled on a farm which they carried on 
and at the same time Mr. Howe devoted some at- 
tention to painting, and with a brother-in-law car- 
ried on tanning and shoemaking, in Steuben County, 
town of Wheeler. In April, 1832, they were still 
further affected with the Western fever and moved 
to Michigan, locating in Su|)erior, Washtenaw 
County. It was in 184 1 when they finally' re- 
moved to .Shiawassee County, locating in the town- 



ship of Bennington, where he had a farm of two 
hundred acres. Here he carried on general farm- 
ing. His wife died in March, 18-18. In 1849 he 
married Mary A. Miller. She died in 1868. 

The father of our subject was a stanch Jefferson- 
ian Democrat and a ITniversalist in his religious 
faith. He was highl}' respected by his fellow-citi- 
zens, who frequently laid upon him burdens of 
trust and responsibility, and he was for some six 
years .Supervisor of his township, while living in 
Washtenaw County, and held the same jjosition 
after coming to Bennington Township. lie was 
one of the Building Committee at the time of the 
construction of the fire-proof vault in the old Court 
House in W.ashtenaw County, and also in the erec- 
tion of the county poor-house. He was a man of 
great energy and resolution and only cared to 
know that he was right and then went ahead un- 
flinchingly and unswervingly. He died May, 1876. 

The subject of this sketch attended school in 
Steuben County, N. Y., until he reached the age of 
seven yeais and then went to the district school in 
Washtenaw Count}-, Mich., whither his parents had 
removed, and later in .Shiawassee County during 
the winters, remaining on the farm with his parents 
until he vvas twenty six years old. He then began 
farming on his own account, beginning. On a 
farm of fifty acres. He soon became prosperous 
and began raising fine wool sheep anil a high grade 
of horses, and later was able to furnish horses to 
the ra.arket, selling teams as high as $500. 

Mr. Howe continued in adding to his farm until 
he had one hundred and fifty acres, when he bent 
his energies to improving it and placed ujion it 
good buildings. He continued upon this land un- 
til 1872, when he moved to the city of Owosso and 
embaiked in the boot and shoe trade, manufac- 
turing and selling ready-made goods. He associ- 
ated with him Mr. E. L. Brewer, his brother-in-law, 
and this partnership, under the firm name of Brewer 
& Howe, lasted for a period of eleven years, at the 
expiration of which time Mr. Howe sold his inter- 
est to his paitner and retired. 

Mr. Howe now devotes his time to looking after 
his general business. Soon after retiring from the 
boot and shoe trade he erected a good brick business 
block, which he rents out and which is now oc- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



547 



ciipied l)j- Knapp & Smitli, furniture dealers. His 
iu;mi:i<.',e, which took place February IG, 1852, 
united him most happily and congenially with 
Helen M. Hrewcr, of ISeniiington, Shiawassee 
County. This lady was born in Otsego County, 
N. Y., in 1833. and is the daughter of .lonalhan 
Brewer. 'I'liree children have blesscil this union: 
Kliner (I., express agent and baggage-man on the 
Detroit, Lansing <fe Northern Railroad; Homer .1. 
dieil, aged eleven months; the daughter, May, is at 
liome, the joy and comfort of iier parents. 

The gentleman of whom we write was for n num- 
ber of years a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
In politics he was a Democrat up to the year 1870, 
since which time he has atlilialed with the Prohi- 
bitionists. He was one of the stockholders in the 
First National Hank at Owosso. He still owns his 
farm, althoiigh he lives in Owosso and has a hand- 
some brick residence on Goodhue Street. AH who 
know him rejoice in his prosi)erity and his success 
is a subject of congraLuhitiou to himself and his 
fellow-citizens. 



3iHn; 



iraoBp 



ERBERT COLISTER. Among the rising 
)l': young men of Bath Township, Clinton 
County, we ai'e pleased to mention the 
(^) name which appears at the head of this 
sketcli. Mr. Colister, who is descended from stanch 
old .S(!otch-Irish stock, shows out his hereditary 
traits of industry, thrift and steady habits. Ills 
character has secured him the esteem and hearty 
good will of all with wIkjui he has come in 
contact, and his ability singles him out as one who 
is yet to make his mark in the community. He is 
an energetic young farmer and resides with his 
mother on the farm where he was born, December 
16, 1857. 

His gran<l father. Robert Colister, was born in 
Ireland, May 2'.*, 1777. He was of Scotch parent- 
age and early learned the weaver's trade, which he 
followed for years. He came to Amerii;a in 179C, 
and soon made his home in .Scipio, N. V., where, 
on March 10, 1805, he married Phoebe Sharpsteen. 
He worked at the stonemason's trade for a time, 



but finally purchased a farm and settled upon it, in 
Bald Hill, Livingston County, N. Y., where the 
father of our subjei;!, Robert Colister, Jr., was 
born. Later he sold this farm and purchased an- 
other at Springwater. 

In the fall of 1836 Robert Colister, Sr., set out 
with his family' for Michigan, making his journey 
by way of Canada, in a prairie schooner. They 
camped out during a part of the journey and at 
one time did not see a house in three days' travel. 
He first settled in Milford Township, Oakland 
County, where he lived for two years. He left the 
family there and came to Ionia, which was at that 
time the seat of the land office, and purchased of 
the Government one hundred and sixty acres of 
what is now his grandson's farm. He then returned 
and brought on his family, and in 18 10, on account 
of advancing years, he retired from active work, 
selling this farm to the father of our subject, wi'h 
whom he resided until his death, November 23, 
1857. His wife, Pliiebe Sharpsteen, was born in 
New Y''ork State, August 22, 1789, and died here 
Februaiy 11, 1838. She was the mother of thir- 
teen children, and with her husband was a member 
of the Methodist Church. She was well known 
throughout a broad circle of acquaintances for her 
pioneer work, her iiidomitalile industry- and her 
warm heart tor all who needed help and I'omfort. 

The father of our subject came here with his 
parents at the age of nineteen. In 1840 he bought 
the farm of his f:ilher, upon which but little im- 
provement had been made. He helpe<l to build the 
lug house and at that time had but few neighbors, 
and there was but one house in Jjaingsburg. He 
was on very friendly terms with the Indians, who 
were plentiful in those days.' He marketed grain 
and bought provisions at Detroit and Ann Arbor 
and later at Owosso. He was an extremely hard- 
working man, and would ciiop, split and pile four 
cords of wood in a da}'. He helped get out the 
limlier for the old State House at Lansing. As his 
family' outgrew the origin.al old log house he built 
another, more commodious, and in 1807 he 
erected the cap.acious .'ind attractive frame resi- 
dence in which his widow and son now reside. 

This lady, who was born August 10, 1827, be- 
came the wife of Mr. Colister on May 2!>, 1850. 



548 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 



She was Lois Fletcher, daughter of Isaac and 
Esther (Cole) Fletcher. Her father i^-as born in 
Connecticut in 1788 and her mother in New York 
in 1803. They came across the lake to Michigan 
in 1838 and settled in Putnam Township, Living- 
ston County, and coming to Clinton County in 
1844, made their home in the southern part of 
Bath Township. He was a blacksmith by trade 
and had a shop first at Pinkney, Livingston 
County, and afterward in this county. He died 
at seventy-one j-ears of age, and his wife at the age 
of eighty-two years. They were both members of 
the Free Will Baptist Church and were the parents 
of eleven children. 

The father of our subject owned two hundred 
and forty acres of land, two hundred of which he 
cleared himself. He was generous and benevolent, 
always helinug the poor and often losing money br- 
aiding neighbors who were never able to repay 
him, yet he himself never was in debt to any man. 
He was called from earth in January, 1891. Of 
his nine children six grew to maturity, namely: 
Ellen, Mrs. Salein Harper; Fred, who married 
Laura Bartles; Hcrliert; p]dgar L., who married 
Anna E. Carl; Hiram H., who married Anna 
Thompson; Paul C, at home. The father's first 
Presidential vote was cast for William Henry Har- 
rison and his last for Benjamin Harrison. The 
widow of this worthy pioneer resides with her son 
and is hale and hearty, a fine example of a sturdy 
and intelligent woman of advanced years. 

After attending district school our subject took 
a course at the Bartlette Commercial College at 
Lansing, graduating there in 1875. When twenty- 
one years old he began working out for others, 
spending about three years at carpentry, althougli 
he had never regularly learned the trade. He is 
noted throughout all this region as a sheep- 
shearer, having sheared as many as sixty-seven in 
one day and forty-four in one afternoon. He has 
a few fine horses and lias begun to breed Perclie- 
rons. Besides forty .acres of his own he carries 
on a portion of his iBOther's farm. In religious 
belief he is a Universalist and his political sym- 
p.athies have led him to affiliate with the Republi- 
can party. He takes great interest in both local 
and national politics and is often sent as delega;te 




to count}" and congressional conventions, and in a 
word is recognized as a local leader in the party. 
He is unusually intelligent and quick of percep- 
tion, of exceptionally good habits, and never has 
tasted tob.acco or liquor in his life. He is a de- 
lightful conversationalist, with a strong vein of 
humor running through his talk, all of which lends 
to give him the exceptional popularity which he 
enjoys. 



ooo 



LFRED B. BKN.JAMIN. Among the men 
who are winning a comi)etence by cultivat- 
1 ing a portion of the soil of Clinton 
[(^ County, mention ought certainly to be 

made of Mr. Benjamin. The farm which be oc- 
cupies consists of eighty acres ou section 7, Dallas 
Township, and he also owns twenty-one acres in 
Ionia Count}'. He has an attractive and comfort- 
able home where once there was only a dense for- 
est. He removed the timber, broke the land, 
erected a farm-house and good outbuildings, and 
made of the property a valuable tract, suited for 
the abiding-place of an intelligent family. Besides 
clearing liis own land Mr. Benjamin has removed 
the timber from over one hundred acres belonging 
to others. 

Going backward some j-ears we find that Josiah 
Benjamin, grandfather of our subject, spent his 
entire life in the Empire State and tliat he had 
three sons and one daughter. The son, who be- 
came the father of our subject, was Nathan, who 
was reared by a Mr. Rice, as he lost his father 
when quite young. When grown to manhood he 
adopted the occupation of a farmer and followed 
his calling in his native State until 1835. He then 
joined the body that was moving Westward and 
opening up new land on the frontier, and made his 
home in Oakland and then in Ionia County. After 
some years he removed to Clinton County, thence 
went to Gratiot, but later returned to Clinton and 
spent his last days with his son Calvin. When he 
came West, he drove from Oakland to Ionia 
County and his was the first wagon taken through 
by the Grand River. His dwelling was nine miles 
from the nearest neighbor in one direction and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



549 



twelve in tlie opposite. He located on a two liun- 
(Ired-at-re farm, most of which he cleared and broke. 

Nathan Benjamin was married in Ohio, where 
his mother's people lived, to C'liloe Tyler. Tlie 
bride's father, John Tyler, was a native of New 
York and a soldier in the War of 1812. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Benjamin, a large family were born, 
named respectively, Josiah. Sophronia, Lucy, Syl- 
vester, Calvin, Mary, Minerva, John, Alfred and 
Sarah. Mr. Benjamin was a Whig and later a Re- 
publican, and when the country was new he held 
various township olBccs. He was a member of the 
Baptist Church, while his wife was not identified 
with an}' religious bod}' but, was a woman of 
Christian faith and character. Their youngest son, 
Alfred B., w.as born in Ionia County January 8, 
1840, and remained with them until he was about 
nineteen years old. He spent the next two years 
working by the month for one of his brothers, and 
when he became of age bought fort}' acres of land 
in Lebanon Township, cleared it and made a good 
home. He finally traded this property for that on 
which he is now living. 

April 18, 1861, our subject was married to Mar- 
garet E. Williams, a lady whoso home training bad 
been excellent and who had grown to womanhood 
in possession of many fine qualities of mind and 
heart. The children born of the happ}' union are 
Alfred A., Ella E., John C. Andrew N. and Emma 
J. John and Emma have been removed from their 
parents by the hand of death, and only Andrew is 
at home, as the others are established elsewhere. 
Alfred is living in Pewamo, and Ella, who married ' 
S. Thuma, is a resident of Mackinaw City. 

Mrs. Benjamin is a granddaughter of Nathaniel 
Williams of New York, who came West late in life 
and died in Dallas Township. He was a shoemaker 
by trade. His wife. Margaret, bore six sons and 
six daughters, and two of the sons were in the 
Mexican War and one gave up his life there. The 
father of Mrs. Benjamin was Asa W. Williams who 
was born in New Yoik in 1818 and in 1840 came 
to this Stale. After sojourning here about three 
years he returned to the East and spent some six 
years, after which he again came to Michigan. He 
spent a few years in Oakland, then lived in Living- 
ston and Calhoun Counties in turn, and from the 



last named removed to Clinton County. When the 
war began he enlisted in Company (i, Twent}'- 
tliird Michigan Infantry, and died in the hospital 
at New Albany, Ind., November 18, 18fi2. and 
was buried on the banks of the Ohio River. He 
was married June 4, 1841, to Sarah J. Crandall, 
and their children were Margaret K., Charles P., 
Eliza D., John, Emma E., Lucy A., William N. 
and Rosy L. Mr. Williams was a mason and also 
a fiirmcr. In religion he was a Baptist, and in the 
later years of his life w.as a Republican in politics. 
Mr. Benjamin has always been in sympathy with 
the principles of the Republican party and never 
fails to cast bis vote when the ballot box is open. 
In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Union Army 
and was mustered into Com|)any (i. Twenty-third 
iMichigan Infantry. He was one of those infor- 
tunates who sufifered from illness much of the time 
while in the South, and lie was discharged in March, 
1863. He belongs to Hathaway Post, No. 378, G. 
A. R., at Pewamo. He is honorable in his business 
relations, kindly in his bearing toward his acquaint- 
ances, and in domestic life agreeable and consider- 
ate. 



^17 UDWIG STRl'BER. This highly respected 
I (JS) citizen of Owosso lost his father at a ten- 
JlA'^ fjgr age and was early thrown upon his own 
resources without means with which to embark in 
business. By industr}-, economy and close appli 
cation he has accumulated a handsome fortune, and 
while so doing has won a warm place in the hearts 
of those with whom he has been closely associated, 
and the respect of every acquaintance. He is an 
unassuming, kindly man, careful and prudent in 
business trans.actions, strictly just in all his deal- 
ings, and as fine a type of the German-American as 
the county affords. 

Mr. Struber was born in Waldeck, Germany, July 
18, 1827, being the youngest in a family of seven 
children — five boys and two girls. His father, 
Henry Struber, was a shoemaker, but only the 
faintest recollections of him are enjoyed by the 
son, as the latter was but three years old when the 
former died. The mother was Louisa (Weisman) 



550 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Struber. In accordance with the law of the Em- 
pire the lad attended school between the ages of 
six and fourteen years, and soon after leaving school 
he began a regular apprenticeship at the slice- 
maker's trade. He served three years, then entered 
the German Arm3' and led a soldier's life for an 
equal period. Upon being discliarged he made 
his preparations for emigrating to the United 
States, where he believed tliat he would enjoy bet- 
ter opportunities for personal agrandizement. He 
embarked on a sailing-vessel and after a voyage of 
six weeks landed in New York City, a stranger in 
a strange land. 

Mr. Struber came direct to Detroit, this State, 
and sought work at his trade, and thus occupied 
his time seven years. In A|'ril, 1 857, he came from 
Detroit to Owosso, and opened a boot and shoe 
store in a frame building,where he carried on busi- 
ness until 1878. He began on a small scale and 
as his reputation extended and the country became 
more populous he increased his stock, including 
leather and findings. He now occupies a brick 
block, 22x80 feet, and two stories in height, fa- 
vorably located on Main Street and built b}' him- 
self for his business. He carries a large and well- 
selected stock of goods of reliable makes, and first- 
class material. He is a stock-holder in the Owosso 
Savings Bank and for several years was a stock- 
holder and Director in the First National Bank. 
Besides his business property he owns a residence 
on Washington Street and a goodly amount of 
household appurtenances. 

Mr. Struber has an excellent wife, who has been 
faithful to their mutual interests and devoted to 
their children and at the same time has been ready 
to do kindly offices to those who were in need. 
Their marriage was solemnized in Detroit in 1852, 
Mrs. Struber lieing at that time a resident of the 
City of the Straits. Her maiden name was Dora 
Gerni'r and she is a native of Germany, but has 
spent most of her life in the United Stales. She 
was tlic motlier of three children, but one has 
passe<l to the belter land. The living areLiidwig 
F. and Kdward F.,who are now assisting their father 
in carrying on his business affairs. Mrs. Struber 
died March 20, 1890. Mr. Struber at one time 
represented the Second Ward in the common coun- 



cil. His political S3'mpatiiy is with the Republican 
principles and he is an unfailing supporter of the 
ticket. His religious home is in the German-Lu- 
tharan Church of which he is one of the trustees. 



^ 




IJI^ENRY PALMER M. D., PH. C. a notable 
l] physician and surgeon of St. John's, was 
born in Lockport, Niagara Count}', N. Y. ; 
February 22, 1857. His father, George, 
was a native of Cambridgeshire, England, where 
his parents were farmers. He was there a farmer 
and came to America in 1855, locating near Lock- 
port, wiiere he carried on farming for nine years. 
He came to Michigan in 1804 and bought a farm 
of eighty acres near St. John's. Here he brought 
his family and located in Groenbush Township, and 
resided there until his death in 1875. His wife, 
Sarah Johnson, was also a native of England, aud 
survived him, but died on the home farm in 1882. 
Of their four children our subject is the youngest. 

Dr. Palmer was reared in Lockport whence he 
came to St. John's in 1801, and remained until he 
reached the age of sixteen years, when he began to 
work reguarly by the month. When he was seven- 
teen years old he attended iho St. John's High 
School during the winters, paying his tuition, which 
he was obliged to do as he was not a resident of the 
town. In 1876 he entered the Agricultural College 
for a preimratory course to the study of medicine. 
He took a three years course in five years for ho 
worked his waj' througli by teaching to obtain 
monej' for his education. 

The young man then spent two j'ears in the West 
as a civil engineer. He spent one year in Utah on 
the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Thence in 
Oregon on the Oregon Short Line for one year. 
He then returned to St. John's and in the fall of 
1883 entered the Universilj' of Michigan in tiie 
Department of Pharmacy, graduating in 1885 with 
the degree of Ph. C. He then entered the junior 
class of the regular medical department and grad- 
uated in the spring of 1887 with the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine. 

The young Doctor now made his home perma- 







Cy}. 



Qf]M^^/^r^. 



ii,.-2---8^ 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



553 



nenlly at St. John's and worked up for himself an 
extended practice in Clinton, Gratiot an(] Ionia 
Counties. lie has a general practice but makes a 
specially of dise.ases of the eye. He has also made 
a practice of Pliarm.acj'. His marriage in this city 
in 1887 united liim happily with Miss Lucy 
Perrin, a daughter of IL M. Perrin whose 
sketch will he found in this volume. She 
was educated in this city and is a ifraduate of the 
High School and a lady of culture and rcfineuienl. 
One. child, Ruth E., gladdens their home. 

The Doctor is the Health Ollicer of the city, a 
member of the Knights of the Maccabees and a 
member of the National I'nion. He is an enthusi- 
astic Ri-puliiican in his political views. He is a 
prominent member of the State Medical Society 
and Secretarj- of the County Medical Association, 
and is also connected with the State Pharmaceuti- 
cal Association. His worthy and amiable wife is 
an active member of the Congregational Church. 



ir^;RAMv D. CLEVELAND. Among the 
'-' dealers iu Shepherdsville, Clinton County, 
none are paying closer attention to business 
affairs or succeeding better in their enterprises than 
Mr. Cleveland, a portrait of whom is shown on the 
opposite page. He is a young man of enterprising 
spirit and business ability, quick to take advantage 
of an opportunity to promote his financial inter- 
ests, yet honorable in his dealings and straiglitfor- 
wartl in his principles. He is engaged in the sale 
of general mcrehanilisc, carrying a stock which in- 
cludes dry-goods, groceries, mediiunes and paints, 
and in addition is agent for the National Exjiress 
Com[)aiiy, and Postm.aster. To this ollicial position 
he was appointed on the election of President 
Harrison. Mr. Cleveland also holds flic office of 
Justice of the Peace and is a Notary Public, and 
thus lias many demands upon his time, altliough as 
this is a law-abiding community, his decision.s as a 
Justice do not enroach very largely. 



The parents of our subject were Jerome B. and 
F^lizabeth (F-^vans) Cleveland, the latrer a native of 
Wales and the former of New York. The father 
might be called a "Jack of all trades," as he pos- 
sessed mechanical skill and agricultural knowledge 
anil was able to turn his hand to various kinds of 
work, although he gave his attention mainly to 
farming, carpentri* and the work of a millwright. 
The son of whom we write was born iu Oneida 
County, N. Y., June 14, 18.^7. He was so unfor- 
tunate .as to lose his father by death when but 
twelve years old and being thrown upon liis own 
resources he found employment .as a tow-path boy 
on the Erie Canal. He followed driving four years 
and then secured a clerkship in a store at Palmyra. 
After about six nionllis (^onlineiiicnt to the store ho 
gave up the occupation and turned his attention to 
farming in Ontario County, remaining there and 
thus engaged three years. Ever anxious to do better 
he then came to Michigan and sought work in the 
lumber woods, in brick yards, etc., as occasion 
served and prospects led him. 

AVe next find Mr. Cleveland traveling in Wiscon- 
sin, Illinois and Minnesota, then sojourning for a 
time iu this State, and in 1880 going back to New 
York. A few months later he returned to Michioan 
with a bride, and located in Ottawa County, where 
he carried on a farm three years. Thence he went 
again to his native State and spent one winter 
clerking. In the spring he came to Shephardsville 
and secured work, and after a time opened up a 
slock of merchandise, such as ho has since been en- 
gaged in the sale of. While diligent in the pursuit 
of his business affairs and zealous in advancino' his 
own interests, he discharges the duties of citizen- 
ship as he should, feeling that he cannot stand alone 
and that his own success depends very largely upon 
the general welfare. He helps support the Church, 
lakes an interest in educational matters and in var- 
ious ways promotes the good of the community. 
In politics he is a Republican. 

Domestic affairs at the home of Dr. Cleveland 
are in charge of a capable, intelligent and amiable 
woman, who became his wife, February 23, 1882. 
The ceremony was |)erformcd in Vienna, Oneida 
County, N. Y., where the bride was living, she be- 
, iug Miss Mary P^orgeon, daughter of Peter and 



554 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 



Louise Forgcon. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland have 
two bright ehiklren — Burton J., born July C, 1883, 
and Olive L., born February 2, 1888. 



¥ 



<* I^ILLIAM A. NIXON is the senior member 
of tiie firm of Nixon & Co., hardware 

^'^j dealei'S iu St. John's, his associates in busi- 
ness being R. M. Steel and F. M. Spaulding. The 
business establishment in which he is interested oc- 
cupies a double store, one hundred and fifty-five 
feet deep, where a complete stock of heavy and 
shelf hardware may be seen. Both wholesale and 
retail trade is carried on and tiie business is exten- 
sive, calling for much ability and close application 
in its control. A sutticienl force of men are kept 
to do all necessary work, inchiding plumbing. 
Fair dealing and courteous, accommodating treat- 
ment await all who patronize the establishment. 

The Nixon family originated in England, and 
emigrated thence to A'irginia, from which colony 
the great grandfather of our subject went to Can- 
ada. His son, Gen. William Nixon, was born at 
Grimsby and was a blacksmith and carriage- maker. 
The old shop in which he manufactured various 
mechanical implements and vehicles, is still stand- 
ing and he was quite an extensive manufacturer of 
carriages and wagons for those days. He was 
t^uartermaster-Geneval in the British Army during 
tiie Revolution. In his later years he operated a 
large farm on the mountains four miles from 
Grimsby. He died there when ninety-seven years 
old. His son, Allen, father of our subject, became 
a blacksmith, but afterward turned his attention to 
farming. He located on land secured by his father, 
his farm covering the present site of the town of 
Woodstock. Thence he removed to Hamilton 
where he lived retired, but he later went to the 
mountains near Grimsby and again became a farm- 
er. There he died when sixt^-four years. He was i 
a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. 

Allen Nixon was twice married, his second wife 
being Klizal)elh Van Denser, who was born neai' 
Grimsby, and whose father, John Van Denser, was 
a native uf Holland, The family faith was that of 



the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Nixon had 
four children, three of whom lived to mature years, 
William A. being the eldest. He was born'in Can- 
ada on the site of tiie city of Woodstock, Novem- 
ber 4, 1843, and was about three years old nlien 
taken to Grimsby. Seven years later he went to 
Oakville to live with an uncle, W. Y. Petlit, with 
whom he remained on a farm until he was four- 
teen years old. During that interval he bad good 
advantages in the district school. He then returned 
to Grimsby with his father and remained until he 
was seventeen years old, when he was apprenticed 
to the tinner's trade at Beamsville. He served five 
years and then went to Tonawanda, N. Y., and 
worked at his trade a short time, and next i)ursued 
his calling in Pinhole City, Pa. 

Being taken sick IMr. Nixon returned to his 
father's and started out to sell patent clothes-lines 
in the Dominion, and rusticating the next summer. 
He then re-engaged at his trade, working for a year 
in Bothwell, Canada, when the Fenian outbreak 
called him to military service, as he had been a 
member of the militia. Having received orders to 
report he did so and entered tlie volunteer ser- 
vice in Company 19, organized at Beamsville, and 
served as a private until the close of the trouble. 
He then came to Detroit and for a short time 
worked there and at Windsor, and in 1868 es- 
tablished himself at Plymouth, this State, where 
he remained a few years. Early in the '70s he 
came to Maple Rapids, Clinton County, and for 
about a decade was in the employ of Mr. O. F. 
Peck, a hardware dealer who cairied on a tinshop 
in connection with his salesroom. Mr. Nixon next 
started in business for himself as a member of the 
firm of Nixon & Co., who dealt in tinware and 
hardware. 

In 1880 Mr. Nixon moved his stock to St. John's 
and in December opened a store here. He has en- 
larged the establishment since that time, and first 
formed a partnership with a Mr. Geller, the style 
being Nixon & (Jellcr. Later Mr. Steel took Mr. 
Geller's i)lace, and the firm name was changed to 
Nixon it Co. in 1889. Mr. Nixon has a commo- 
dious and attractive residence here, built in 1890, 
and he also owns real estate in Maple Rapids. Ho 
formerly had one hundred and sixty acres near 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



555 



tbat place, but lias disposed of it. lie is a tlior- 
ough-goinjj business man and is energetic in vvbat- 
ever be undertakes, wbetbcr for bis own advantage 
or of a social, political or religious nature. He 
belongs to a Masonic Blue Lodge in IMaple Rapids 
and to a Cbaptcr and Comraaudery in St. Jolin's. 
He is also member of tbe Knigbts of tbe Maccabees 
organization in St. Jobn's, and he belongs to the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, having been a 
charter member of tbe first lodge of that order in 
the State — tbat at JIaple Rapids, No. 1. Politic- 
ally he is a stanch Republican. He belongs to the 
Congregational Church, is a member of the choir, 
and while in Maple Rajiids was Sunday-school Su- 
perintcnilont. 

Tlie present wife of Mr. Nixon is a native of 
Connecticut and bore the maiden name of Lura J. 
Brooker. Her father, Warren Brooker, a native 
of Connecticut, was a pioneer settler in Litchfield, 
Ohio. Tbe daughter was first married to Allison 
Jenne, a native of Litchfield, Ohio, anti when she 
became the wife of Mr. Nixon was living in Maple 
Rai)ids, where their wedding look place July 23, 
1873. The first wife of Mr. Nixon was Frankie 
Johnson, a native of Plymouth, lliis State, who 
left one child, named for herself, and now the wife 
of Charles Morelaud, a farmer in Bingham Town- 



ship. 



^ ^-*-^- 




.ENEDICT STAMPKLY, D. V. S., a promi- 
nent and successful farmer of Dc Witt 
[■J))llJ Township, Clinton County, was born in the 
Valley of Canton Berne, four miles from 
the City of Berne, Switzerland, August 22, 1833. 
His father, who bore tbe same name, was a Swiss 
miller, and followed that calling and farming until 
he followed his son to America in 1855. He lo- 
cated in Coffey County, Kan., being a pioneer there, 
and owned quite a large tract of land which be 
farmed until his death which occurred when he was 
fifty-five years old. His wife, Elizabeth, also a na- 
tive of Switzerland, was the mother of seven chil- 
dren, five of whom she reared to maturity, namely : 
Benedict, Daniel, John, Elizabeth and Anna. Both 
she and ber husband were consistent members of the 



Reformed Church, and she died in Kansas after 
having passed her sixtieth j'ear. 

The subject of this sketch was reared upon the 
farm in his native home and educated in the com- 
mon schools, and later entered the college of Berne 
and began the study of medicine with a view to 
practicing it. But finding that it was not to his 
taste, he took a course in veterinary surgery. He 
g|)ent three and one-half years in the college, a 
school very thorough and rigid in its requirements, 
and was graduated in 1851. 

That same year this young man and a chum came 
to America, ostensibly to sow their "wild oats," 
but after traveling over eleven dilTerenl States, our 
subject left his chum and came to Michigan, a 
country of which be had heard much. He liked it 
well, and finally decided to remain there and make 
his home in America. For ibree years he worked 
out on a farm and then si)ent four months visiting 
in Ohio, and returning, married in 1859, Lovina 
Moor, whom he had met during his previous stay 
of two years. She was born in Michigan, in June, 
1841. Three of her five children have grown to 
maturity — Anna, Thomas and Klmma. 

Mr. Stamplly first bought forty acres of land on 
section 15, and later added one hundred and twenty 
more, and w.as doing well in his work when his 
wife died in April, 18G7, and be became discour- 
aged and solil his laud intending to leave thecoun- 
try. He however took new courage and decided 
to remain. In 1867 he bought three hundred and 
twenty acres on section 1 1. and in the fall of 1868 
married Ellen R. Williaais, a most estimable lady of 
tbe village of De Witt, who was born in Woodhull 
Township, Shiaw.assee County, this State. Nine 
children have blessed this union, of whom the fol- 
lowing are living, namely: Elvira, Daniel, Roy, 
Mabel, Allen and Ernest. In 1878 our subject 
bought a two hundred and forty-acre tract across 
tbe road from bis present farm, and be is now cul- 
tivating two hundred and sixty acres of his faira 
which comprises nearly four hundred. He raises 
considerable stock and grain, and employs a large 
force of men. 

Mr. Starapfl}- has practiced veterinary surgery 
ever since he came to Michigan, and has treated 
with great success all kinds of diseases of tbe horse. 



556 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



He is frequently sent for to go many miles into the 
country. He raises from two to three thousand 
bushels of wheat each year. He is remarkably suc- 
cessful in his farming operations, and is well liked 
by all who know him. He built a large l)arn in 
1867, and expects to erect a handsome brick resi- 
dence this summer. He is a Republican in politics, 
with strong prohibition proclivities, and is a raera- 
be'- of the Reformeil Church. He has been a mem- 
ber of the Grange foi- a great many years, and for 
two years was Master of the local organization. He 
was for four terms President of the Patrons of In- 
dustry, which office he finally resigned. 



•^TLFRED S. FILDEW, senior member of 
^/l1 || the drug firm of Fildew & Millman, has 

jnii long been one of the prominent business 
^^ men of St. John's. The residence he now 

occupies was built twenty six j'ears ago, and the 
lot on which it stands was grublied by him, while 
many stumps were removed from llie streets by his 
efforts. To him is due the organization of the 
Carpenters' Co-operative Company, and he is one 
of the originators of the Cooper Boiler and Engine 
Company, and has in every way possible labored 
for the im])rovement of the town and the increased 
value of property here. In 1884 he and VV. A. 
Wilson bought out the phnrmacy of I'aeli Bros., 
and he has since been engaged in the drug trade. 
After a time his partner went out of the business, 
ami his son John came in, and the firm was Fildew 
& Son until 1890, when the present association was 
formed. 

During the French Revolution a lady escaped 
from France with her two sons and made her way 
to England, but died immediately after her arrival. 
The children wcie reared by charity, and one of 
tlicm learned the tanners' trade, which he followed 
for years. He married and reared u family, one of 
his sons being Henry, who was born in Devonshire 
in J814. The family name liecame I^ildew, agree- 
ing to the common pronunciation, although the 
original spelling vvas probabl3' F'ildieu. Henry 
Fildew w:is a carpenter and joiner in Honiton, tlie 



English city made famous by the manufacture of 
Honiton lace. He married Elizabeth Moore, a 
native of Ipswich, Suffolkshire, and daughter of 
Thomas Moore, a native of the North of Ireland, 
but of Scotch descent. This Thomas Moore was a 
Color Sergeant in Her Majesty's array. He mar 
ried an English lady, and as they spent much time 
in the West Indies, their daughter lillizabeth re- 
ceived much of her training there. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fildew, the father and mother of our subject, came 
to America in 1870, and the mother died in Si. 
John's in 187.i; the father returned to his native 
land and is still living there, now aged seventy- 
five years. The }'ounger members of their family 
who survive are : Henry, a contra('tor, whose home 
is in St. John's, but who is now doing some work 
for R. M. Steel, in Oregon; Anna, wife of William 
Cockeram, of St. John's ; and Frank, a carpenter liv- 
ing in Detroit, and at present a member of the State 
Legislature. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
in Honiton, England, August 6, 1837. He went 
to the British school until he was twelve years old, 
when he began to work for a druggist, and after 
eighteen months in his employ became a carpenter's 
apprentice. He served until he was of age, becom- 
ing a skillful carpenter and joiner, and he then 
found a position as time-keeper and book-keeper 
in a railroad yard, where construction work was 
going on. May 16, 1859. he was married at 
Sougbton to Miss Jane Parsons, a native of the 
same place as himself, and a daughter of Benjamin 
Parsons, a farmer. The week after their marriage 
the young couple left Liverpool on the '"City of 
Washington." and ten days later landed among 
strangers in New York. After some short sojourns 
in different places, they spent three years at Livo- 
nia, Ind., and then came to Detroit, where for a 
short time Mr. Fildew worked at his trade. The 
fall of that year they came to St. John's, and he 
went to work on a farm with a brother-in-law, but 
ere long was employed at his trade b}' Mr. Bruin- 
ard, a builder in Si. .lohu's. 

In 1873 Mr. Fildew organiz(d the Co-operative 
Company of St. .lohn's, becoming its President 
and Secretary, in the manufacturing of s.ash, doors 
and blinds. The company did contracting and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



557 



Iniildiiig, erecting stores, ward scboolliuuses and a 
jail, while operated under the original charter. In 
1879 it was changed to the Spoke Factory, and 
after some changes in the list of stockholders it 
W.1S reorganized with Mr. Kildew as .Secretary' for 
two 3"ears. The material at last became scarce, as 
timber was giving out in this section, and the com- 
pany then made a change and converted their 
works into what is now known as the Cooper 
Boiler & Engine Company. Other schemes in 
wiiich Mr. Fildew has been or is interested have 
airead}' been mentioned. He has three children — 
John n. married Miss Ida Lyons, of .St. John's; 
Annie E., now Mrs. J. T. Millman; and Etta J. 
Etta J. is at home, John II. is now on the road, 
traveling for B. <fe S. McGraw, of Detroit. He was 
for a lime in the drug business with Dr. Baggs, and 
then was employed in the War Department at 
W.ishi.igton about five years. 

Mr. Fildew has for years been Secretary of the 
Masonic I'.lue Lodge in St. John's, and he is Treas- 
urer of the Ancient Order of United Workmen 
and Counselor of the Chosen Friends. He is also 
connected with the Knights of Honor. He is an 
honorary meiiil)er of tiie fire department. In poli- 
tics he is a Ufpiiblican, and on more than one occa- 
sion he has been a delegate to coun'-y conventions. 
His religious connection is with the Congregational 
Cliurch. 



■'v-vjt^;-^. 



J'OHN P. GERARDY, is the manager of the 
largest general store in Durand, Shiawassee 
Count}'. He was born in New Orleans, La., 
.' March 'J, 18.0.5. His father was J. J. P. 
Gcrardy of whom a sketch will be found on an- 
other |);ige of this Ai.iUM. Mr. Gerardy, our sub- 
ject, is the eldest of seven children and had only 
reached the tender age of a single year when lie was 
brought to Michigan by his parents. His first 
school days were spent in Venice Township, Shia- 
wassee County, and he finished at the High School 
of Corunna. 

Our subject's lifework was begun at the age of 
nineteen years. He worked on the farm by the 
month in the summer time and in order to finish 



his schooling spent his winters over his books in 
Oakland County-, Jsovi Townsliip. For two years 
he worked thus when he returned to Venice Town- 
ship, where he purch.ased a farm. September 19, 
1877, he united himself in marriage to Frances A., 
daughter of E. P. Tew of Corunna. After his 
marriage he settled on his farm in- Venice Town- 
ship, where he carried on hif agricultural business 
for ten years. At the expiration of this time he 
sold his farm, in the year 1887, and located in 
Durand, giving himself entirely' to his present 
business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gerardy are the parents of one 
daughter — Rena M.. who was born August 5, 1878, 
and who lives at home with her parents. Mr. 
Gerardy adheres to the Democratic platform and 
his party has awarded him several local positions 
in virtue of the eflicient service he h.as done. He 
was Township Cle.-k for four years in Venice Town- 
ship and is now an incumbent of the [josition in 
\^ernoii Township, also Notary Public. He is a 
Mason, socially belonging to the North Nev/burg 
Lodge, No. Kil, and Corunna Chapter, No. 15.3 ; 
also a member of Corunna Conimander^' Knights 
Templar No. 21. lie is a member of the Knighls 
of the Maccabees at Durand, and holds the ofli<-c 
of Record Keeper in the same. Mr. (ieranly who 
is a prominent man in Durand and Vernon Town- 
ship, is doing a goo<l and lucrative business. Mrs. 
Gerardy was born in Corunna M.ay 8, 18.06, and is 
the third daughter of Klislia P. anil Eleanor (Mil- 
ler) Tew. She was i eared in her native town and 
was there educated. She begun teaching school 
when but thirteen years of age and followed it for 
nine yeais, during this lime holding a good posi- 
tion in .Shiawassee County. 

\I^, ICHMOND SIMMONS, M. 1)., a prosperous 
It^i^ and well-known lIoniie|)athic physician of 
/4i*i DeWitt, Clinton County, was born in 
^P) Salem Townshl|), Washtenaw County, 
Mich., January 16, 1818. His father. John P. a 
native of New York, w.as born in 1821, and his 
grandfather, Ephraim, was a native of New Eng- 



558 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



land and of English descent, who came to New 
York State in an early day and passed his last days 
there. The father, who was a cooper in his early 
days, came to Washtenaw County, Mich., in 1839 
and was one of the first coopers in that county. 
He farmed there for awhile and in 1851, removed 
to Olive Township, Clinton County, and buying 
fifty acres of land, lived upon it three years. After 
living eleven years in Branch County, he returned 
Eastand worked in the nursery business in Roches- 
ter for a year. 

Mr. John Simmons returned West and worked 
at liis trade in Coldwater until 1859, when he 
bought a farm five miles south of Coldwater and 
farmed for five years. He then returned to Wash- 
tenaw County and bought a farm which he oper- 
ated until 1878 when became to DeWitt Township, 
and buying seventy acres passed his last dnys there, 
dying .January 13, 1884. He was a Universalist in 
his religious belief and a Democrat in politics. He 
married Nancy A. Clair a native of New York 
State, where she was born in 1826. She had tliree 
children: Harriet E. died at the age of fourteen 
months, and Charles E. died when twenty-three 
years old. She still lives with her son, Richmond, 
and is a Universalist in her religious belief and of 
Holland descent on both sides of the family. 

After our subject had taken his earlier scliooling 
in the district schools he spent tnree years in the 
High School at Ann Arbor and when twenty-five 
years old began to read medicine under Dr. B. S. 
Knapp, of Owosso, Mich. After a j'ear with him 
he entered the university at Ann Arbor in 1874. 
He studied there for two jears and then attended 
the Pulte Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, tak- 
ing his diploma there in February, 1878, and in 
April of the same year coming to DeWilt, to estab- 
lish his practice. This he has built up quile exten- 
sively and does a great deal of surgery as well as 
ordinary practice. 

The marriage of Dr. Simmons with JLartha E. 
Smith occurred March 5, 1879. This lady was 
born in Victor Township, Clinton County, October 
27, 1858. Two sons have come to cheer their home, 
John L. and Daniel R. The Doctor is a member of 
the State Medical Societ}' of lloma'pathy and was 
a delegate to the National Medical Society which 



met at Niagara in May, 1883. He is a member of 
the Lansing Commanderyof the Masonic order and 
of the Blue Lodge at DeWitt. He also belongs to 
the Masonic Mutual Benefit Association at Grand 
Rapids, and is one of the Modern Woodmen of 
this place. He is a Democrat in his political views 
and is now both Township Clerk and Health Officer. 
Three and one-fourth acres of laud surround his 
pleasant home in the village. 



<|1 IVILLIAM T. TILLOTSON, an intelligent 
\rj// and prosperous citizen of Duplain Town. 
\yW ship, Clinton County, who has ever been 
helpful in forwarding the causes of education and 
church work, w.as l)orn in Brunswick, Medina 
County, Ohio, November 28,1826. He is a son 
of Leonard Tillot&on, a pioneer of that county in 
Ohio, who made his home there in the year 1815 
about eighteen miles from Cleveland in ihe days 
when it took him three days to make ihe trip from 
his home to and from that city. 

The mother of our subject was Mary C. Thomas 
in her maidenhood, and she came from Connecticut 
where she was born and reared to make her home 
in Ohio when hnt si.Kteen years old. The father 
came from Jlassachusetts when a boy and was by 
occupation of a farmer. This son received only a 
common-school education and was able to be in 
attendance upon school only during short and in- 
frequent periods, but he made the best of his scanty 
advantages and so well did he succeed that he was 
enabled to become a teacher when quite young. 

August 11, 1852, this young man came to Mich- 
igan, making his home in Elsie and working one 
one year for his cousin. He carefully hoarded his 
w.ages and in 1853 bought eighty acres of land, 
paying $3 per acre for the tract. He made a clear- 
ing of five and a half acres during the first j-ear 
and at once put in a crop of wheat. He continued 
with his clearing until he h.ad finished it and built 
a log cabin preparatory to setting up his own home. 

The marriage of our subject to Mary E. Wool, 
of Elsie, took place September 26, 1855. Five 
children blessed this union, namelj': Marvin L., 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



559 



born August 16, 185(5, died Ausjust 25, 1859; 
Marion L., born September 23, 1860; Myrti, April 
13, 1864; Haltie, May 6, 1868, and Willie, May 6, 
1876. Marion married Kva .1. Bennett, of Duplain 
Township; M3-ra and llattie are teaciiing school 
and Willie is still an attendant at school in Elsie. 
The father lias continued his farming operations 
ever since he came to this place. The old log house 
formed the family home until 1874 when he built 
a large two-story frame residence. He built his 
first barn in 1860 and the others since that time. 
He has now a place of one hundred acres of fine 
farming land upon which he raises almost every 
kind of grain and keeps graded stock, sheep and 
cattle. 

Mr. Tillotson is no partisan in politics but votes 
for principle rather than party and is a careful 
student of public movements. When he first came 
to this county he says there was no Ovid, no St. 
John's, no Owosso and very little Lansing. He 
and iiis faithful wife are members in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, to which he has belongeil ever 
since he came to the count}'. He was also Class- 
Leader and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
He is deeply interested in educational movements 
and has given his cliildren excellent advantages in 
this direction. 



-^♦o-@;^<\^..o*o- 



pTy\ UDOLPH COLBY. Another of the pioneers 
^t/ of this State who has done mucli to make 
t4i\\\ Shiawassee Township bloom and blossom 
1^ as the rose is Uudolpli Colby, who lives on 
his fine farm on sections 17 and 18, Shiawa.ssee 
Townsliip. He was born on the place September 
12, 1855, his father being James S. Colby and his 
mother Eliza L. (Nelson) Colby. Tlicy came to 
Shiawassee County and settled at their present lo- 
cation one year previous to the l)irlh of oursubject, 
coming hither immediately from Pinckney, Liv- 
ingston County, but prior to that tinu? from New 
York, about tlie year 1848. After coming to lliis 
State the fatiier secured a tract of one hunilred and 
sixty acres, which he farmed for a number of years, 
constantly adding to the original acreage until he 



became the possessor of three hundreii and twenlj' 
acres, nearly- all of which is improved. 

Our subject remained at home attending high 
school at Corunna and l)egan to teach at the age of 
eighteen, in wiiich work he continued for two years 
and then relieved his father of the cai'c of the 
home farm in which he was in charge until 1883. 
Mr. Colby then began to build his present home. 
He has added twenty acres to the original tract of 
one hundred and sixty acres. Upon the place he 
has built a new barn, 32x62 feet and twenty feet 
high and under which are good granaries. He 
erected this at a cost of $800. Ilis barn and shcils 
for stock arc supplied with water that is forced 
where needed by a wind mill. 

Mr. Colby does not devote himself to any special 
line in agriculture, but he engages in the more 
lucrative course of mixed farming. He is a most 
Intelligent man and keeps abreast with the times in 
all the improvements of the day. He was elected 
Township Treasurer in 1835. in which capacity' he 
served for two years. And at the close of the 
term he w.as elected Supervisor, and is now serving 
his fifth term During his service an arrangement 
has been satisfactorily made for the liquidation of 
the old debt standing against the county of the sum 
of about t!40,00(), which had been hanging over the 
county for forty years, the basis of settlement 
being outlined by the Supreme ('ourt as carried up 
by the recent Board of Supervisors. This happj' 
result is largely due to the action of Mr. Colby and 
his colleagues. At the June session of 1891 of 
Supervisors, Mr. Colby succeeded in reducing the 
equalization valuation of his township 122,000, 
which was an important itetn to the people of the 
township. At other times his efforts have been 
crowned with success toward making or modifying 
measures for the benefit of the township. Three 
years ago he succeeded in getting a reduction of 
valuation, amounting to |i6,()00. Some of the new 
bridges that liave been built in the township have 
been secured by his inlhuMiee in the Board. In 
June, 1891, the new law of School Commissioners 
was first tested and a citizen of Shiaw.assee Town- 
ship was chosen foi Commissioner. This conces- 
sion was largely due to Mr. Colby's efforts. 

The gentleman of whom we write was married 



560 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Janiiarj' 7, 1880, to Miss Georgians Sergeant, 
daughter of Collins Sergeant. She is a native of 
the township, being born March U, 1861. They 
have a family of two bright children — Roy L. and 
Wayne S. Mr. Colby lias been a Mason since 
1866. Politically, our subject is one of the most 
active Republicans in the county, always having 
taken a prominent position in every political cam- 
paign. He is a Director of Jhe Owosso Fair Asso- 
ciation. He is interested in every measure that 
can benefit in the least his fellow- townsmen. 



\f/OHN H. CORBIT. This gentleman has tlie 
honor of having established the first liard- 
ware store in St. John's, and of being the 
first dealer in nierciiandise in the county: 
lie camo here in March, IS.iC, when the town was 
just starting into life, the raihuad having ju.'itbecn 
Couii)leted, and during the fall he put in a general 
stock of hardware which was shipped from Buffalo, 
N. Y., to Kenton, and carlod from 'here. The firm 
of C'orbit & Moote carried on business three years, 
then Mr. Corbit became sole proprietor of the 
establishment ancl in 1.S70 he Iniilt a large double 
store, which he found it necessary to enlarge in 
later years. The building is one hundred and 
thirty feet deep and an iiupiement warehouse of 
large size is also used, five tloors being occupied 
with goods from which the retail trade is supplied 
and some wholesaling done. Agricultural imple- 
ments iiHve been handled by Mr. Corbit for years. 
At present the business is carried on b^' the firm of 
Corbit & Valentine. 

In the paternal line Mr. Corbit is of Irish par- 
entage, liut his father came to America when quite 
young. Me was married in ISaldwinville, N. Y., 
and located in Geneva County and after the death 
of his lirst [lartner made a second matrimonial al- 
liance. His wife w.as Mary Gardner who died in 
1846. He was a weaver by trade but was for some 
time a dealer in grain and produce at Pekin, on 
the old "strap" road between Lockport and Niagara 
Falls. For a long time lie was the only produce 
dealer there. He afterward retired and came to St. 



John's, where he remained with his children until 
his demise. He was an old-line Whig. 

Mr. Corbit of this notice was born in Cambria, 
Niagara County, N. Y., June 15, 1832, and re- 
mained there until fifteen years old, pursuing his 
studies in the district school. He then went to 
Lockport and served a three years' a[)prenticeship 
at the tinner's trade, then took up his work as a 
journeyman at Niagara Falls. A year later he re- 
turned to Lockport, made a short sojourn, and 
thence went to Tonawanda and from there to 
Pekin. He was in business in the East until 1854, 
when he came to Albion, this State, and entered the 
employ ol Mr. Brooks of Battle Creek working one 
season. He then returned to his native State, spent 
a short time, and coming back to Albion in the 
sjiring of 1856 decided to locate in the new town 
to which a railroad was being built. Besides his 
hardware store here he has been interested in othet 
schemes for his own good and the improvement of 
the place. He built the Republican iirinting oflice 
and the drug store block, in partnership with Dr. 
Bagg and still owns a half interest in each. He 
has also a half interest in the lot occupied by trie cor- 
ner drug store, arid a farm in Bingham and Bengal 
Townships. His outlying land consists of seventy 
acres, which is very well inipioved and [iroduees a 
fair income by rental. 

In company with his brother, George S., Mr. 
Corliil built tlie Independent office building but 
afterward disposed of bis interest to his lirotlier. 
In 1888, in iiarluership witli Ed. Brown, he bought 
out the firm of Dr. vSlewait and put up the Hotel 
St. John's, a large brick structure leased at a good 
rate. He is interested in Denver real-estate, and 
was one of the originators of the .State Bank of 
St. John's, and is a Direc^tor in that organization. 
In 1861 he built what was at that time the finest 
residence in town and is still a beauUful home. It 
is in the Gothic style of architeciure and has a 
pleasant location in a sightly part of the city. 

The wife of Mr. Corbit was formerly known as 
Miss Jennie Earl. She was born in Onondaga 
County, N. Y., where her marriage took place, and 
was dei)rivcd of a father's care and training when 
she was quite young. She has her motlier with 
her, Mrs. Earl being a lady eighty-six years old. 








1 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



563 



Mr. and Mrs. Corbit liavc had but three children 
and onlj' one of these survives. Agnes and Fanny 
are deceased; Helen, the second in order of birth, 
adds to the pleasure and attractiveness of home 
and social life, her intelligence and good breeding 
giving her popularity. She attended the St. John's 
High School and pursued higher branches in De- 
troit and Kenosha. 

The family are communicants of the Episcopal 
Church and the wife and daughter are active in the 
ladies' work, while Mr. Corbit has been a Vestry- 
man for years. He is one of the founders of the 
religious society-, having been associated with Gen. 
O. L. Spaulding and the Hon. S. S. Walker in buy- 
ing land and putting up the house of worship. He 
is a Democrat and has been a delegate to count}' 
conventions. He is a cliarter member of the St. 
John's Gas Company, and was one of the origina- 
tors of the fire dei)artment, of which he is an hon- 
orary member. He belongs to the Masonic fratcr- 
nitj- and Ancient Order of Tnited Workmen in St. 
John's. He was Trustee of the village two years 
during the early days of its existence. In business 
circles his reputation is irreproachable, and as a man 
of good character and mental culture lie is well 
regarded bj' all who know him. 



^Sff%^i. 



ellAKLES O. BUSSKLL, one of the brave 
defenders of our country, who fought for 
the old flag during the Civil War, resides 
on a farm on section 10, New Haven 'rownship. 
Shiawassee County. His father, Charles H. lius- 
sell, was a native of New Hampshire, born January 
8, 1798. He was a youth of more than ordinarj- 
ability, and was given an opjiortunity for educa- 
tion of which he availed himself. When twenty- 
one years old he left the parental home, and coming 
to Ohio, bought fifty acres of wild land which he 
cleared. He made an addition to it by the ))nr- 
chase of sixty-six acres and continued to live upon 
it for several years. 

In 1855 the father of our subject came to Cale- 
donia, Mich., and took up two hundred acres. Af- 



ter remaining in that place for two years, he re- 
turned to Ohio, where he sojourned several years. 
In 1865 he came again to Michigan, and lived with 
his son at New Haven until his death in 1880. 
On May 19, 1822 he had been joined in marriage 
I with Susan J. Starr, who was born in New York, 
j October 20, 1807. They had eleven children, five 
I daughters and six sons, of whom our subject is the 
; eighth child. His mother died April 11, 1891, in 
Kazelton, Jlich. In her early years she was a 
Methodist, but later became a Universalist. The 
father was an ardent Republican, and was active 
in party matters. 
[ The gentleman of whom we write, was born in 
Lorain County, Ohio, in 1838. He had meagre 
opportunities of schooling in his youth, but has al- 
ways availed himself of the best advantages which 
have come to him through life. He is a great reader 
and has developed his intellectual abilities by an 
intelligent choice of books. When twenty-one 
years old he began working out by the month, and 
in 1864 left the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, to 
enter the arm}'. He enlisted in Compan}' II, Twen- 
ty-third Michigan Infantry, and was at once sent 
to Atlanta. He marched with .Sherman to the ;ca, 
and was with that General near Raleigh when the 
news was brought that Lee had surrendered his 
army to Grant. He remembers with enthusiasm 
the excitement and hilarious joy with which the 
boys in blue greeted this grand mcss.age. From 
there he went to Salisbury, N. C, and was there 
mustered out and came home to Detroit, where he 
received his linal discharge. 

After returning from the war, Mr. Bussell went 
to Hastings, and buying some village i)ropert}', en- 
tered the mercantile business, but after a year went 
to Ohio. Upon his return to Michigan he bought 
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which 
he afterward added b}' purchase fort^'-five acres. 
He is a Republican in his political views, and a 
stanch and active one, taking a lively interest in 
political movements. In his boyhood he was a 
schoolmate of the Ilorr brothers, of Lorain Countj', 
Ohio, who are now so prominent in public life, and 
has alw.iys kept up a cordial intimacy with them. 
He has an excellent farm, and his barns and out- 
buildings l)y their neat appearance and freshly 



564 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



painted exterior, speak well for the care which he 
bestows upon his propertj'. He is a man of genial 
and companionable nature, and his bachelor liomc 
is a pleasant resort among his friends. 

A lithographic [lorlrait of Mr. Bussell will be 
found elsewhere in this volume. 



-^^ 




'LVIN M. BENTLEY of the Owosso Tool 
Works, Owosso, Mich., is considered one of 
I i the prominent citizens of that place. 
These works were established by D. 
Thompson & Co., in 1884 and took their present 
title in 1885. Mr. Bentley acted as manager under 
Mr. Thomjjson and when the change was made and 
he became proprietor, he continued in the same 
capacity. 

Mr. Bentley was born in Orleans County, 
N. Y., October 20, 1858. His father, William 
Bentley, a native of New York, is now a retired 
farmer of Ontario County, and his mother, who 
bore the maiden name of Sarah Holliday, is also a 
native of that State and is still living, the honored 
mother of eleven children, ten sons and one 
daughter, of whom nine survived until maturity 
and seven are now living. 

Our subject passed his school days in his native 
county, and afterward removed to Niagara County, 
where he spent two years and then moved to 
Shortsvillc and spent the last two years of his 
school days at Canandaigna Academy. His first 
work was shipping clerk, afterward assistant to the 
superintendent of the Empire Urdl Company at 
Shortsville, where he remained 'or four years. In 
1882, he removed to Linden, Genesee County, 
Mich., where he engaged in the manufacture of 
farm wagons. He built up a large business and 
after eighteen months sold out to his partner Myron 
Harris. In the fall of 1883 he moved to Ovid, 
Clinton County, this State, where he purchased an 
interest in the firm of I). Thompson & Co., manu- 
facturers of farm tools and dealers in hardware. 

The firm of D. Thompson & Co., of which Mr. 
Bentlc}' was partner, erected works in Owosso in 
the fall of 1886. Mr. Bentley bought the interest 



of his two partners, then established the Owosso 
Tool Company of which he is sole owner. This 
company makes a specialty of the manufacture of 
door and window screens and wooden snow shovels. 
They also make scythe snaths, grain cradles, hay 
rakes and all kinds of handles. This concern occu- 
pies two extensive buildings and surrounding these 
are large lumber 3'ards and railroad side tracks. 
They carry constantly from one to two million feet 
of hard wood and pine lumber. 

The buildings are equipped with the finest and 
best machinery and the company employs from one 
hundred and twenty-five men to one hundred and 
fifty men the year around. The business has sex- 
tupled within four years, and has been eminently 
successful from the start. The products of this 
company find a market from the Atlantic to the Pa- 
cific coast and have also got something of a Euro- 
pean trade. The business under the personal super- 
vision of Mr. Bentley, who is sole proprietor. 

The marriage of Mr. Bentley- with Miss Clara 
Brown of Shortsville, N. Y., took place in 1879. 
This lad3- is a daughter of C. P. Brown, President 
of the Empire Drill Company at that place. One 
son has been granted to this worthy couple, Calvin 
P. Mr. Bentley is a Reimblican in his political 
views and a man of intelligence in [lublic affairs. 
Both he and his accomplished wifeare active mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church. 



^^m- 



.^EUBEN E. DAGGETT, a respected citizen 
of Eureka, Clinton County, this State, was 
-Ai W born November 17, 1827, in Cattaraugus 
County, N. Y. He is a son of Loren and 
Prudence (Dennis) Daggett, natives of New Y'ork 
and V^ermont respectively. His paternal ancestors 
were of English stock and his maternal grand- 
father is said to have been a Revolutionary soldier. 
During the early childhood of our subject he at- 
tended the district school and also assisted his 
father upon the farm, but when ten years old he be- 
gan working out as a farm hand, earning the tre- 
mendously large wages of j!2.50 a month and his 
board. As he woi'ked out in this way until he was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



565 



twenty j-cars old, there was of course, no further 
schooling for him, and his education as far as the 
schoolroom was concerned was cut short. 

Mary A. Wright, a daughter of Edward and 
Mary Wright, of Genesee County, N. Y., was 
the lady whom this young man chose to be his 
companion through life. Their wedding da^- was 
October 17, 1847. P'our children were granted to 
this young couple, namely : Edward, JNLarj' E., wife 
of .lohn Prentiss, William and James. The two 
last named were twins. The mother of these chil- 
dren died while tliey were livinj? in New York and 
in the fall of 1857, Mr. Daggett witli his orphaned 
children, came to Clinton County', Mich., and 
began their new home in Greenbush Township. 

Mr. Daggett's second marriage occurred in May. 
1859, when he was united with Mrs. Caroline 
Badgerow who was snatched from his side by death, 
January 9, 1891. This ladj' was a member of the 
Evangelist Church, and was highly esteemed by all 
who knew lier as well as by her family to whom her 
death was an irreparable loss. In the fall of 1890, 
Mr. D.iggett removed from the farm to the vill.nge 
of Eureka, v/here he now makes his home. When 
be Grst took his farm it was a dense forest and he 
did true pioneer work upon it, clearing it and 
bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and now 
owns one hundred acres of excellent land. He is 
identified with the Evangelist Church in which he 
finds a broad field for labor. He is public-spirited 
and enterprising and is interested in the success of 
tlic Democratic part^' witli which he casts bis vote. 



, AMUEL S. C. PHIPPEN, M. ])., C. M.. one 
of the inlluenlinl pliysicians of Owosso, is a 
native of Canada and was born in tho 
county of Ontario, March 26,1860. He is the 
eldest son of Nicholas and Thomasina (Croxall) 
Pliip[)en. The fallier was a furniture dealer, and 
was also engaged in the milling business in a saw 
and planing mill, and did a very extensive business 
in a sasii, door and furniture factory. A man 
of good judgment and great ability, he was uni- 
versally esteemed where ever known. 




The son, .Samuel .S. C, passed his earl}' days in 
Brooklin, county of Ontario, where he received 
the rudiments of his education. At the age of 
fourteen he removed with his parents to I'ark Hill 
in the county of Middlesex and there he sojourned 
for four years. During this interval he was a stud- 
ent in the Park Hill High School and at the end of 
his course he passed the intermediate examination, 
receiving a first-class teacher's certificate for llie 
Province of Ontario. This of Itself spe^.ks well 
for his attainments at that earlj' age. Then going 
to Toronto he passed his matriculation examina- 
tion in medicine before the College of Physicians 
and .Surgeons of Ontario, and became registered as 
an undergraduate in medicine in the Tniversity of 
Toronto. He subsequently attended lectures over 
one year at the Toronto School of Medicine. 

We next find the 3'oung student in London, Can- 
ada, where he studied one year with Dr. Moor- 
house, a celebrated physician of Canada. After- 
ward he proceeded to Jlontreal and became a 
student in the medical department of McGill Uni- 
versity, where lie continued three years, graduat- 
ing with high honors and receiving his diploma in 
March, 1883. He stood at tiic head of liis class 
in the examination of the medical clinic at the 
Montreal General Hospital. Owosso, Mich., wa.s 
the first point to which the young practitioner 
turned as his field of labor. He came here in June, 
1883, soon after graduating, and in this [)lace he 
has built up an extensive and lucrative practice. 

Tlie Doctor established a l;ome of his own in 
September, 188(5, at which time he was united in 
marriage with Miss Anna Kohler, of Owosso, Mich. 
The bride was born and reared in this city, and is 
universally beloved for her many noble and ami- 
able qualities. The Doctor is a member of the 
Owosso Academy of Medicine and also of the Mich- 
igan Slate Medical Society. He is Assistant Sur- 
geon of the Fourth Regiment of the Michigan 
Brigade Uniformed Rank. Knights of Pythi.as. This 
gives him tlie rank of Captain on the Colonel's 
staff. He is also Local Surgeon at Owosso for tlie 
Michigan Central Railw.ay. For several terms he 
was Health Olliccr and likewise President of the 
Board of Healtii of tiie city of Owosso. Socially 
he is identified willi the Kni^lils of Pythias 



566 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Knights of the Maccabees, etc. His delightful res- 
idence at No. 707 W. Main Street is the frequent 
scene of social reunions, where he and his accom- 
plislied wife extend hospitality to their friends and 
neighbors. Politically the Doctor is a Democrat, 
believing the principles of that party to be best 
calculated to advance the interests of the nation. 



'iflULIUS FRIESEKE. The firm of J. & H. 
Frieseke began the manufacture of brick 
and tile in Owosso in 1865, on a small scale, 
(^// the work being mostly done by hand. As 
the demand increased they enlarged the capacity of 
their works and have kept pace with the growth of 
the town and now carrj* on a flourishing business, 
making brick and drain tile and all kinds of orna- 
mental brick. They use the McKenzie brick ma- 
chine, made in Adrian, and their tile machine is of 
the Bennett make, manufactured at Jackson. The 
annual output of brick is between two and three 
millions and the amount of tile varies according to 
the demand. They employ twenly-five men during 
the busy season, which lasts from six to seven 
months, and furnish them employment at wood 
chopping during the winter. 

Our subject, who is senior member of the firm, 
is of German birth and parentage, and came to 
America during his jouth. He was born February 
10, 1842, and attended school in his native land 
until sixteen years old. His parents, Frederick and 
Maria (Langerwisch) Frieseke, then crossed the At- 
lantic with their family, and landing atNew York, 
came at once to Shiawassee County, this State. 
The father died here at the venerable age of ninety- 
one years. He had been a soldier in his own land 
and liad fought under Gen. Blucher in the war of 
the allies against Napoleon. In 1859, soon after 
their arrival in America, our subject began brick- 
making for Charles Shattuck. He and his brother 
worked at the brick yard, after a time went to Yp- 
silanti and worked in a brick yard. 

Young Frieseke felt as much interest in the 
events that transpired during the early '60s as 



though he had been born in America, and soon 
after attaining to his majority he entered the Union 
army, enlisting in the Thirteenth Michigan Battery 
Light Artillery. His enrollment took place in 
1864, and he was sent to Washington, D. C, and 
spent some time in fortifications in and near that 
city. In July, 1864, he took part in an engage- 
ment at Ft. Stevens. After serving about sixteen 
months he was honorably discharged in July, 1865, 
and retuining to Owosso he started in the brick 
business before the month had expired. He bought 
out Mr. Shattuck and has continued to use a part 
of the old plant. The cl.ay is of superior quality, 
the vein about six feet thick, free from gravel and 
other impurities, and the material burns a handsome 
red. 

In 1868 Mr. Frieseke was married to Miss Cath- 
erine Strahle, a resident of Owosso, but a native of 
Germany. Her father ■ was John Strahle. The 
family of Mr. and Mrs. Frieseke consists of two 
sons and five daughters — a group of enterprising, 
active bo3'S and girls, several of whom arc already 
entering upon the duties of life. Mr. Frieseke has 
represented the Third Ward on the Aldermanic 
Board four terms and is still tilling his ollicial sta- 
tion. In 1889 he was elected to the Mayoralty and 
brought his business principles and prudence to 
bear upon municipal affairs. He is a member of 
L. B. Quackenbush Post, No. 205, G. A. R., and 
his name among his comrades is that of a good 
soldier and true patriot. He is held in good repute 
by his ac()uaintances and his reputation .as a business 
man has extended beyond the city, wherever the 
products of his yard have gone. Politically he is a 
stanch Republican. 



-^^ 



<^ l>.ILLIAM H. BIGELOW, who is now serv- 
\/\/// '"^^ '''* second term as Register of Deeds 
^^/ of Shiawassee County, is an intelligent and 
enterprising man, who for some years has been 
closely identified with the business prosperity of 
this locilit}'. He came to the county in 1878 and 
notwithstanding some misfortunes which have be- 
fallen him, particularly a heavy loss by Are, he has 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



567 



gone on his way with unflagging energy", deter- 
niined to succeed and securing for his family a 
good maintenance. He was born in Oswego, X. Y., 
•luly 27, 1852, and was but six weelcs old when his 
parents came to this State to make their future 
home. He grew up in Ypsilanti, where he first at- 
tended the common and then the high school and 
at a still later period studied in the normal school. 
He then became a student of pharmacy under Drs. 
Tripp it Van Tuj'l of that city. 

In 1873 young Bigelow went to Saginaw, where 
for two years he clerked for William IMoll, after 
which he was manager of the store three years. He 
then located in Byron, Shiawasse County, in the 
drug business and carried on the trade five years. 
During that period he was Village Recorder of 
Byron and Treasurer of Burns Township. Thence 
he went to Bancroft, where he intended carrying 
on the drug business with his brother. The stock 
was placed in the store, but the first night after 
our subject reached the place, a fire occurred by 
whic^h the establishment was totally wrecked, en- 
tailing a loss of $2,600. In the spring immediately 
following Mr. Bigelow started a drug and grocery 
business in Owasso, the firm being Bigelow & Bige- 
low. The business was carried on until he of whom 
we write was electcil Register of Deeds, when he 
removed to the county' seat in order to be able to 
give his time as he ought to his ofKcial duties. His 
first election was in the fall of 1888, when he was 
placed in nomination on the Republican ticket. He 
received a m.ajority of sixteen hundred and twenty, 
the largest given any candidate in the county, and 
ran eight hundred ahead of the ticket. He entered 
upon the discharge of his official duties Jaiuiar^- 
1, 1889, and in the fall of 181)0 was re-elected, 
with a majority of nine hundred and fortj'-three, 
which, considering the political aspect at that time, 
was extremely satisfactory. 

At the head of the household affairs in the resi- 
dence of Mr. Bigelow is awell-read and amiable lady, 
whose maiden name was Adelaide R. Brooks. She 
is a daughter of William R. Brooks, an early settler 
in Lenawee County, and was born near Adrian. She 
was given excellent school privileges, engaged in 
teaching and had a high reputation as an instructor 
of youth. Her marriage took [)lace in Adrian April 



23, 1874, and two children have been born of her 
happy union. They are named respectively Stella 
A. and Horace W. 

IMr. Bigelow is a member of the Slate I'harma- 
ceutical Society and is a registered pharmacist. He 
has been a member of tlic City Board of Health. 
He is a demitled Odd Fellow, belongs to the Knights 
of P^'thias in Owasso and is Past Commander of 
Wilson Tent, No. 89, K. O. T. M.. there. Is a prom- 
inent Mason, being a Knight Templar in Corunna 
Commandery with the rank of Generalissimo. He 
is firm in his political faith and has been a delegate 
to county and State Republican conventions and 
was a member of the County Central Committee 
several ^-ears. Personally' he is one of the most 
agreeable of men, showing an interest in the gen- 
eral welfare and the progress of human events that 
stamps him as a m;in of intelligence and kindly 
feeling. 



^ 



E^ 




?)IIOMAS ATKINSON, one of our representa- 
tive British-American citizens, was born 
February 19, 1829, in Lincolnshire, England. 
His parents Thomas and Ann (Jackson) Atkinson, 
came from England to America in 1855, and lo- 
cated in Clarence Township, Erie County, N. Y., 
coming to Michigan in 1863. They were both 
earnest and devoted racml)ers of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and died in 1863 and 1874, re- 
spectively. 

The suliject of this sketch was one of two chil- 
dren of the parental home, and his father .being a 
farm laborer residing in an English village he re- 
ceived his education in the village schools and 
worked on a farm from the time he was twelve 
years old. getting sixteen cents a day wages. In 
1851 he preceded his parents to America and was 
upon tlie ocean four weeks. He found employment 
in a brick-yard in Clarence, Erie County, N. Y., 
and worked at that and upon a farm for some time, 
and for a while worked a farm upon shares. 

In 1861 the young man was taken with the West- 
ern fever and came to .St. John's, Mich., where he 
worked by the day for about two years. He and 



568 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his brother finally purchased thirty-six acres of 
land in Bingham Township, but after a while our 
subject sold out his share and purchased what is 
now his home farm on section 13, Bengal Township. 
It was only partly improved but had upon it a 
small house and barn. I'pon this he has expended 
much labor and enterprise as he completed clearing 
it of trees and has placed it all under cultivation, 
and it now shows the hand of a thorough- going 
and practical farmer. 

In 1851 he was united in marriage with a lady 
who is like himself of British birth, Sarah Wood, 
a native of England. SLe is the mother of eight 
children: Thomas is married and lives on a farm 
near his parents; John resides in .St. John's; Emily 
is the wife of Romeo Cossle,in St. John's; William 
resides at iiome and four children died in infancy. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are earnest and active 
members of the Free Methodiat Church and he is a 
Republican in his political views. He began life 
with no means except his own energy and enter- 
prise and he has now attained to a handsome prop- 
erty, having eighty acres of land in the home farm 
and owning a house and lot in St. John's. His 
home is a pleasant one and forms one of the at- 
tractive spots in the township. 



-m 



IE 







HILANOUS EMMONS, a prominent farmer 
and lumber dealer of Clinton County, oc- 



cupies one hundred acres of land in Bing 
_ ham Township, and since 1880 has been 
the successful operator of a sawmill there. He 
manufactures lumber in considerable quantities and 
ships much of the product, although he has quite a 
heavy home trade. His farm is on section 32, of 
the township named, is well tilled and stocked and 
supplied with all necessary buildings. The mill 
from which Mr. Emmons derives so good an in- 
come was built by him in the fall of 1880, when he 
saw an opportunity for a lumber manufacturer 
to enter upon a good business. Prior to that 
time he had been giving his attention entirely 
to farming and had occupied different tracts of 
land in this State, to which he came in 1852. 



Mr. Emmons was born in Seneca County, N. Y., 
September 25, 1829, and is one in a family of nine 
children, only three of whom are now living. His 
parents were Philauous and Susan (AVilkes) Em- 
mons, each of whom was born near Great Bend, 
N.Y. The father was a good mechanic and under- 
stood the trades of coopering and masonry. He 
died in 1839, aged fifty years. He had been a sol- 
dier during the AVar of 1812. Mrs. Emmons lived 
to an extreme old age — ninetj'-five years — dying in 
1890. She was a devout member of the L'nited 
Brethren Church. 

Our sulijcct sjjent his early years upon a farm, 
but after the death of his father, which occurred 
when he ivas ten years old, he was away from home. 
He did such work on the farms as was within the 
range of liis capabilities, and during the winter 
months atteniled school until he had acquired a 
fair education. He continued to work out in his 
native Stale until he had attained to iiis majority, 
and not many months after his birthday he came 
West. During the 3'ear before mentioned he lo- 
cated in Bengal Township, Clinton County, buying 
forty acres of land on which there were no other 
improvements than a log house and a small patch 
of cleared ground. It was in a sparsely settled 
region, where deer and other wild game abounded 
and the homekeepers supplied their tables with the 
flesh of the animals they killed. Mr. Emmons 
lived there seven 3-ears, then removed to Orange 
Township, Ionia County, but after a sojourn of 
three j-ears sold out and went to Macomb Count}'. 
He remained there onl)^ a few months, when he had 
an o|iportunity to exchange his farm for a partly 
improved tract in Olive Township, Clinton Count}'. 
Here ho located and farmed two years and a half. 
During that time he bought a farm in Bingham 
Township, which he exchanged for another tract on 
which ho has established his home. 

The j'ear 1852 sr.w Blr. Emmons beginning his 
career as the head of a family. He was married to 
Sarah Kitter, a native of Seneca County, N. Y., 
who has been faithful to the obligations imposed 
upon her as wife, mother and friend. She has had 
nine children, of whom we note the following: 
Elmer m:irried Sarah A. Smitb, lives on a farm and 
operates a cider press which he built in 1878; he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



569 



has ground and pressed as high as forty thousand 
bushels of apples, and ships as high as fifteen car 
loads of cider for which he finds a ready market 
in Philadelphia. He also makes a good deal of 
jelly. Orion is married ami li\ iiii;' in Dickey 
County, N. Dak. ; Delia is the wife of Isaac .1. Miller 
and her home loo is in Dickey County, >>'. Dak.; 
Willard is now at Fairhaven, Wash.; Kmraa is 
the wife of Lewis .J. Miller and lives in St. John's: 
Pearl married Will M.ay and lives in Owosso; 
Byron C. is marrie<l and living on .1 farm in Bing- 
ham Township; Lihhie and Claude arc at home; 
Grace is deceased. 

Mrs. Emmons is a member of the .Seventh Da}' 
Adventi Church. Mr. Emmons gives his political 
allegiance to Democratic princi[)Ies and policies and 
never fails to support the candidates whose names 
adorn the party ticket. Naturally interested in that 
which pertains to farm life, he is a member of the 
Patrons of Industry. 

ON. LUTHER F. CONRAD, a well-known 
farmer resides on section 22, Watertown 
Township, Clinton County, where he has 
one hundred and eighty acres of fine laud. 
There is probably no man in this i»rt of the county 
who is so well and favorabl}' known by his fellow- 
citizens as Mr. Conrad, as he has not only been 
identified with the agricultural development of 
this section but has also been honored by his fel- 
iQW-citizens by being placed in various olliees. He 
creditably represented the second district in the 
Legislature of 1885 — 86, to which he was elected 
on the Greenback and Democratic Fusion ticket in 
a district which had been rei)resenled during the 
preceding term by a Republican. He received a 
majority' of two hundred and sixty-five votes over 
his very prominent and popular Republican oppo- 
nent. 

While in the Legislature Mr. Conrad served on 
the committee of Normal Schools, also on that of 
Roads and Bridges. He was considered to be one 
of the most intelligent members of the House in the 
matter of education, as he was the first County 




Superintendent of Schools of Clinton County under 
the present law in which capacity he served for six 
\ears. He had ;dso fille<l the oHice of Township 
Clerk. 

Our subject is the son of George and Hannah 
(High) Conrad, who were natives of Westmore- 
land (.'ount}-. Pa., and his grandfather was William 
Conrad who served in the War of 1812 and lived 
to be eighty-six years of age. The famil}- on both 
side were among the early settlers of Ohio, as his 
grandfather Conrad and his father removed to 
Stark Count}-, Ohio, in 181'.), and his graudfatlicr 
High also removed to that State the same year. His 
mother was then an infant and was carried the 
greater part of the way in the arras of her father. 
The father of our subject was born in 1807 and his 
father in 1782. 

Luther F. Conrad was born in Medina County, 
Ohio, May 23, 183<J, and at the age of thirteen he 
started out in life for himself, hiring out in sum- 
mer and attending .school in the winter and thus 
preparing himself for teaching. He taught his first 
term at the age of twent}' and continued this work 
each winter until 1864, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Infan- 
try. This regiment was attached to the Twenty- 
third Corps under (ieneral Scofield and was sent to 
Nashville, Tenn. After the battle at that point 
they were transferred to Morehead City, N. C.,and 
joined Sherman's army in connection with which 
they followed General Johnston until his surrender. 
The regiment was then placed on detached duty at 
Charlotte, N. C. On July 13, 1865, they were 
discharged and mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, 
from which point our subject returned to his home. 
After this he engaged as before in working during 
the summers and teaching in the winters until 
1868. 

The accomplished woman who presides over the 
household of our subject became his wife, April 6, 
1868. Her maiden name was Louisa Chandler, 
and she was a daughter of Edward and Julia 
Chandler, and was born in Medina County, Ohio, 
September 29, 1842. This union has been blessed 
with three chihlren. Julia Eslella, was born July 
2, 1870, and having graduated in the class of 1890, 
at the State Normal School at Ypsilatiti, is now en- 



570 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



gaged in teaching in Allegan County, tliis State. 
Holland II., who was born May 7, 1873, is with his 
parents on the farm ; Kirk H., was born February 
3, 1875, and is now one of the pages in the Michi- 
gan Legislature. The mother of these children is 
a lady of broad intelligence and was a teacher for 
five years before she became the wife of our sub- 
ject. The lion. Mr. Conrad is the Commander of 
Mason Post No. 2-48, G. A. R., of Wacousta, and 
his wife is a member of the Relief Corps. 



<0FONAS HOENSHELL. The owner of the 
farm located on section 3, Caledonia Town- 
ship, is our subject, who was born March 
19, 1835, in Westmoreland County, Pa. 
His father, Jacob Hoenshell, a native of the 
same county, was born in 1812 and was a farmer 
by occupation. He enlisted in the Mexican 
War but was not actively engaged therein. Our 
subject's grandfather was George Hoenshell, also a 
native of Westmoreland County and a farmer who 
had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
Our subject's great-grandfather was a native of 
Holland and came to America when New York was 
first settled. He was an extensive farmer in West- 
moreland County and a man of considerable prom- 
inence. 

Our subject's mother was Sarah (Keister) Hoen- 
shell. She was a daughter of Jacob Keister, also a 
native of Westmoreland County, and who served 
as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a 
farmer and for the time in which he lived, a man 
in high financial standing. Her grandfather, 
Peter Miller, was a man of wealth and influence in 
Somerset County, Pa. He came from Holland and 
handled large sums of money. The parents of our 
subject were married in Pennsylvania, where they 
resided until 1852, when they came to Ohio and 
settled in Coshocton County, in wliich county the 
father died in 1888. The mother still lives at the 
age of seventy-eight. They were the parents of 
thirteen children, six of whom are now living. 

Our subject was brought up a Lutheran, of 



which Church his parents were members. The 
traditions of the Democratic party were also early 
ingrained and he naturally- became an adherent to 
that platform. He remained in his native State 
until he was eighteen years of age, when he 
removed to Ohio with his father. Previous to 
this time he had received a good education and 
was competent to fill any ordinary position in life. 
He has always been a farmer although he learned 
the business of engineering. 

At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Hoenshell 
started out in life for himself, hiring out by the 
month to farmers in Ohio and receiving the mag- 
nificent remuneration of ^16 per mouth. He con- 
tinued in this way for two years and his economy 
is proved by the fact that in 1 85G he had laid aside 
enough out of his small wages to warrant iiis tak- 
ing upon himself the cares and obligations of mar- 
ried life. Noveml)er 6 of the year abovenaraed 
he was united in marriage with Mary Steffe, daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Nancy (Underwood) Stefl'e, the 
former being a native of Maryland and the latter 
of Pennsjivania. IMrs. Hoenshell's parents were 
married in Ohio ami always lived there; both 
father and mother are now deceased. They were 
the parents of sixteen children, eight of whom are 
now living. Mrs. Hoenshell was born in Ohio in 
1838 and received her education in the common 
schools of the district. 

After their marriage our subject and his wife 
settled in Coshocton Count}', Ohio, and worked 
the farm of his father-in-law, where he remained 
until he came to this State in 1864 and settled on 
the farm where he at present resides. At the time 
of his advent into the county there were but few 
improvements upon the place that he selected. He 
now has eighty acres of land, seventy acres of 
which are under cultivation, and he has given 
eighty acres to his sons. All the improvements 
upon his fine farm have been made by himself. 
The residence in which he is now comfortably 
domiciled and a view of which appears on another 
page, was built in 1878 at a cost of 12,000. He 
carries on the farm by himself. 

Mr. Hoenshell is the parent of .ten children, seven 
of whom are now living. The}' are .as follows: 
William, who was married to Fannie Cooper, lives 




RESIDENCE OF J0NA5 HOENo H ELL, SEC. 3.,CALED0N I A TP, SHIAWASSEE CO., MICH, 




RESIDl. I'^t ur 



L.SvVArii riOUT , SEC, 12. VICTOR TP.CLIUTOK CO,. MICH 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



578 



at Owosso and is the father of two children; Leo- 
nora, wife of L. G. Cudney, lives in Caledonia 
Townsliip and is the mother of three cliildren; 
Jacob is married to Cora Alliton, lives in New 
Haven Township and is the father of one cliild; 
John, who wedded Maude Le Munion, lives in 
Caledonia Township; Lewis 11. married Carrie 
Willis and lives in this township, and is the father 
of two children; the two youngest members of the 
family-, Ella and Fred, live at home. 

Botli parents are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of wliich body tiie father has 
been Steward and Class Leader for many years. 
He has always contributed generously toward the 
upbuilding of the church and has been Leader of 
the Bible Class in the Sunday-school for eight or 
nine years, his v/ife also being a constant and efli- 
cicnt teacher in the same. Mr. Hoenshell was 
originally a Democrat but has transferred ids 
allegiance to the Prohibition party. His fellow- 
townsmen have shown the confidence that they 
repose in him by appointing liim to several local 
otliccs. He has held minor oHiccs for twelve j'cars 
and has served efficient!}- as Commissioner of 
Drainage. 



-f- 




HOMAS LONSBURY SWARTHOl T. A 
large and fertile tract of land in Victor 
Township, Clinton Count}', is owned by 
this gentleman, and is the scene of his industrious 
and well-directed labors as an agriculturist. Its 
possession is due to his continued efforts, thrifty 
management and wisdom in investment, and shows 
that povert}' in j-outii is not necessarily followed 
b}' poverty in maturity. The career of Mr. .Swar- 
thout is but an added example of what ma}' be ac- 
complished by a young man of determined spirits 
and good habits, and is deserving tiie considera- 
tion of all such. A view of tiie homestead of Mr. 
Swarthout, which is pleasantly located on section 
12, appears on another page of this volume. 

Mr. Swarthout was born in Romulus, Seneca 
County, N. Y., October 6, 1831, and is the son of 
William S. and Betsey (AVillett) Swarthout. He 
was the fifth in a family of seven sons and at the 



age of five years accompanied his parents in their 
removal from the Empire State to Michigan. He 
received only a common-school education, but lias 
availed himself of every opportunity for improve- 
ment, and ranks high among the intelligent farm- 
ers of the county. At an early age he began to 
assist his father in the farm work, and acquired a 
thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits. He 
naturally chose farming ns his life work, and in 
the pursuit of his calling has acquired a compet- 
ency for his old age, and at the same time has well 
served his adopted townsliip and county by the aid 
that he has afforded in assisting his Icllow-citizens 
to develop the agricultural resources of this sec- 
tion of the State. 

I'ndcr pioneer intluences our subject grew to a 
stalwprt manhood and when he started out in life 
for himself, located on the estate which he now oc- 
cu{)ies. This was in 1855, he having bought the 
place the year previous. He found the farm in a 
wild condition fresh from the hand of nature, and 
it required ceaseless exertions to clear and improve 
it and place upon it all the improvements which are 
visible to-day. The homestead comprises two hun- 
dred and fifteen acres, of whicli about one hundred 
and seventy acres are under cultivation. Besides this 
he has aided his children in gaining good homes. 
His residence is a large, two-story square frame 
building and was erected in 1872. Good barns 
and other outbuildings are noticeable, and the es- 
tate bears every mark of the hand of the elHcient 
owner. Mr. Swartiiout handles sheep to some ex- 
tent. 

For many years our subject was a Republican, 
but he is now a Prohibitionist, believing that by 
adherence to that party he will best serve the in- 
terests of morality and good government. He has 
served the public in various ollicial ca|)acitles. Re- 
ligiously he is a devoted member of tlie Methodist 
P^piscopal Cliurcii, as is also his intelligent and 
wortliy wife, to whom he w;is married April 5, 
1854. Her maiden name was Mary Parker, and at 
the time of her marriage she was residing in Victor 
'I'ownsldp, Clinton County. She is a daughter of 
John and Sarah (Cronk) Parker, and was born in 
Romulus, Seneca County. N. Y., December 21, 
1834. She has become the mother of two child- 



574 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ren — Edson, a sketch of whom appears in this 
work, and Nora E., wife of Charles E. Warner, a 
farmer and salesman of Falkton, S. Dak. Mr. AVar- 
ner has been Treasurer of his county and is a promi- 
nent man in his community. He and his wife have 
one daughter, Marjory Swarthout. 



-^1 LFRED T. KNIGHT, a farmer residing on 
WiCM section 8, is a native of England where he 
(i was born in Nottingham in 183G. He is 
a son of John Truman, a lace-maker of 
Nottingliam. As our subject was early sent to live 
with his grandfather, Mr. Knight, he took bis name 
and is generally known by it, and therefore we write 
his biography under that n:ime, as he has no rela- 
tives in America outside of his family. The father 
of our subject was a well-educated man and a great 
reader. He was married about the year 1835 to 
Elizabeth Kniglit, a daughter of William Knight, a 
manufacturer of silk hose in Nottingham. This 
daughter was the second in a family of four daugh- 
ters and one son. 

John and Eliz.abeth Truman had born unto Ihem 
four daughters and four sons. As the mother died 
in 18-18 Alfred was sent to live with his grand- 
father, William Knight, and grew up by liis name. 
In 1855 he whom we now call Alfred Knight came 
to America and worked in New Jersey on a canal. 
Later he worked in a screw factory in Jlassachu- 
setts and then went to Illinois, locating for eight 
years in Burrett, Winneb.ago County. He was in 
the array for some time and after that went on the 
lakes as an engineer for seven years. Company E, 
Fifty-second Illinois Infantry was the company 
joined by our subject in 1861. He was sent suc- 
cessively to Quiney, St. Joseph, (Mo.), Ft. Scott, 
Paducah. Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and 
Corinth. When at Shiloh he saved the life of Brig. 
Gen. Sweeney by sliooting at'a rebel who was aim- 
ing at the general. All through the battle of Shiloh 
he was in the very thickest of the fight and was 
ever cherished as a particular friend of Gen. Swee- 
ney. 

It was in 1863 when our young man returned 



from the war and he was soon married to Emma 
Minkler, a native of Ohio, who was born in 1837. 
Her father was John Minklor and he had a famil}' 
of four daughters and one son. Mrs. Emma Knight 
died in 1883. After s[iending two j-ears upon the 
lakes Mr. Knight came to Rush Township and pur- 
chased forty acres of laud on section 28, but sold 
it and came to New H.aven Township and bought 
fort3- acres on section 8. In 1882 he purchased 
twenty acres more on section 9, and in 1879 pur- 
chased eighty acrts on section 8. 

In 1879 our subject oook to wife Mary Alen, 
eldest (laughter of Aaron and Mary A. (Wagner) 
Aten, of Pennsylvania. She was born April 13, 
1837. Mr. Knight is a devout member of the Dis- 
ciples Church and [irominently identified with 
Lodge No. 53, I. O. O. F. at Henderson, in which 
lie has I'.eld various offices. He has been a delegate 
to the Grand Lodge. He is a Patron of Industry-, 
being the President of that order in New Haven 
Township. His jjolitical views ally him with the 
Prohibition movement. 

(jf/, IRAM W. BROWN. Among the men now 
prosecuting a successful work in Clinton 
l!^)^^ County there may be found many who 
(^) began without means and have acquired 
wordl^' substance b^- industry-, integrity and con- 
tinued effort. One of this number is Mr. .Brown 
who now owns one of the best quarter-sections in 
Essex Township. The soil of this tract is a rich 
black loam, very productive and capable of fur- 
nishing large crops and a conscquenth* good in- 
come. The property was bought b}' Mr. Brown 
when it was almost a wilderness, and he has cleared 
and improved the larger part of the tract and placed 
it in condition for cultivation. Not onl^- is Mr 
Brown a good farmer, but he has a war record that 
entitles him to the respect of every loyal Ameri- 
can. 

The birthplace of our subject was AVashington 
County, N. Y., and his natal day August 11, 1828. 
His father, John Brown, was also a native of the 
Empire State and his occupation was farming. He 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



575 



died in the '50s, in his seventy -second year. The 
mother of our subject bore the maiden name of 
Tiieda Waters and she was born amid the green 
hills of Vermont. Iliram is one of the three sur- 
vivors in a familj' that originally consisted of eight 
children. Having been reared upon a farm his 
early education was limited to the curriculum of 
the district school, but he has made use of other 
avenues for acquiring information and there are 
few topics of the day upon winch he is not more 
than ordinarily well-informed. He remained in 
and near the old home until after the breaking out 
of the Civil War, when he decided that his duty 
was to take a place among the defenders of the 
Union, and he enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-third New York Infantry, commanded by 
Col. McDougal. 

Mr. Brown entered the set vice in the year 1862 
and first sraellcd the smoke of battle at ChanccUors- 
ville, and during the progress of the light was struck 
in the abdomen by a fragment of shell and narrowly 
escaped a fatal wound. He then fell into the hands 
of the rebels but was exchanged after sixteen days 
captivity. His wound was of so serious a nature 
that his recover}- was considered remarkable and 
the operation by which the piece of shell was re- 
moved from its lodging place between the hip 
bones attracted the attention of all the surgeons in 
the locality. It was performed by a surgeon of the 
One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York Infantr}^, 
who found it necessary to sever one of the arteries 
and to turn back the covering of the bowels. Mr. 
Brown was confined to Chesnut Hill Hospital in 
Pliil.idelphia five months, but he was then able to 
rejoin his regiment and take part in the noted bat- 
tles of the grand march to the sea. Among the 
fields on which he fought were Atlanta, Peacli Tree 
Creek, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, etc. Mr. lirown 
participated in the Grand Review at Washington 
and received his final discharge at Albany, N. Y. 
For some time he held the rank of corporal. 

In 1866 Mr. Brown was appointed on the police 
force in Troy, N. Y., and remained there twoyearsi 
During that time, while on his regular beat, he met 
with an experience that added much to his reputa- 
tion as a member of the force. He was attacked 
by the bully of the city who found more than his 



match on this occasion and was knocked down by 
our hero six times and most gloriouslj' whipped. In 
18G8 Mr. Brown decided to resume the occupation 
in which his early years were spent and emigrating 
to Oakland County, this State, he bought a farm in 
Avon Township, but two years later sold it and 
removed to Clinton County. He then bought the 
laud he now occupies, on section 17, Essex Town- 
ship, and set himself to developing the resources 
with which nature had supplieil it. 

In 1863, while at homo on a furlough, Mr. 
Brown was united in marriage with Miss Permelia 
Thomas, who was born and reared in Washington 
County, N. Y., and has proved her worth as a com- 
|)anion and helpmate. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
there have been born live children, named respcct- 
ivel}-, Theda, Anna, Kalie May,.Iohn H.and Lewis 
C. The daughters are deceased, but the sons are 
living and still fill tlieir places at the i)arenlal fire- 
side. Mr. Brown is not an office-seeker, but lias 
yielded to the wishes of his neighbors and served 
them as Highw.ay Commissioner and in other ca[)a- 
cities of local interest. He gives political sujipurt 
to the Republican ticket, as he believes that the 
principles of that party are the soundest and best 
adapted to increase the pro5i)erit3- of the nation. 



^^ 



^^ 



jANSOM CONVERSE, whose fine farm is 
jii#*r located on section 25, Owosso Township, 
cAi\\\ Shiawassee County, a mile and a half 
\^ south of the city of On'osso, was born in 
Cayuga County, N. Y., near Port Byron, on the 
Erie Canal. His parents, Elias and Emma (Fret- 
tenburg) Converse were natives of New York and 
Vermont respectively. 

The parents came West in the early days, settling 
at White Lake, Oakland County, Mich., in 18U. 
Here they lived for six or eight months and during 
that time the family was deeply bereaved by the 
untimely death of the wife and mother. Tliey 
tlien removed to Livingston County, making their 
home in the township of Conway. After living 
there ten years they returned to Oakland County, 
and ten years later the father "bought a farm ad- 



576 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



joining the old Livingston County place, and made 
it bis home until his death in 1875, having com- 
pleted his seventy-fourth year. His birth occurred 
Feoruary 3, 1801. 

The family of Elias Converse and his first wife 
consisted of AVilliam, who died in Nevada in 1859; 
Angeline, the widow of William Babcock, and re- 
siding in North Bradley, Saginaw County; Ransom; 
Lewis, who lives in Owosso City, and James, who 
lives in Livingston County. Tlie second wife of 
Elias Converse was Mrs. Harriet Richmond, who 
survived him until the fall of 1890, and who reared 
to manhood two sons — George, who resides at the 
old home in Livingston County, and Herbert, who 
lives at Fowlerville, that county. At the age of 
twenty -one our subject was married to MissLevina 
Richmond, of Livingston County. She died in the 
spring of 1857, leaving one child, Charley Eugene, 
who lived to be five years old. 

On November 13, 1857, our subject was united 
in marriage with Miso Harriet W. Morehouse, the 
ceremony being solemnized at Jackson, although 
the bride was a resident of Livingston County. 
She was born in Scio, Washtenaw County, Septem- 
ber 4, 1839, and was the daughter of Capt. Josiah 
Morehouse, a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
Mary (Anderson) Morehouse. The parents came 
from Orange County, N. Y., at an early date and 
settled in Washtenaw County, two miles from Ann 
Arbor. 

Ransom Converse bought a place in Livingston 
County, and lived there two years, after which he 
sold the place and rented for a time. He had just 
secured a new home in Conway Township when his 
first wife died. A few years afterward he bought 
in Cohoctah Township, and lived there until he 
came to Owosso with the exception of three years 
at Fowlerville. It was on August 16, 1880, that 
he came to Shiawassee County, and bought his 
present farm of sixty acres, pleasantly located one 
and a half miles south of Owosso. He has a beauti- 
ful farm and a pleasant home with good improve- 
ments, and the whole place is in such a condition 
as to reflect credit upon the thrift and man.agement 
of the owner. 

Three children have been born to our subject 
and his estimable wife, the eldest of whom— George 



Freeman — died in his third year. Frank E., was 
born November 19, 1863, and Mary I^dna, Septem- 
ber 5, 1870. Frank has ever been a close student 
and is now one of the leading teachers of the 
county. He graduated first at the Owosso High 
School, and then took a literary course in the 
Miciiigan State Iniversitj' at Ann Arbor, taking 
his diploma with the class of 1888. He taught two 
or three terms when only seventeen years old, and 
after graduation filled the Principal's chair for two 
years in the graded schools of Saranac, and is now 
Superintendent of the city schools of Pontiac, 
Mich. A wide-awake, progressive teacher, he is 
meeting with marked success. Edna is still a stu- 
dent in the public schools, and while pursuing her 
studies, she still continues the faithful daughter and 
helper in the home, her mother being an invalid. 

The political views of Mr. Converse liave been 
in accord with the utterances of the Republican 
party, but the last four j-ears he has voted the Pro- 
hibition ticket. Mrs. Converse is an earnest and 
devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
It is by hard work that this worthy couple have 
gained their present substantial position and they 
justly rank among the most influential people in the 
community. 



•s^*^ 
•^%- 






■vf OIJN P. MILLER. This gentleman is one 
of many who are successfully prosecuting 
the calling of a farmer on the fertile lands 
_ of Clinton County. His efforts have re- 
sulted in the accumulation of property and his 
real estate consists of two hundred and eighteen 
acres on section 18, Dallas Township. He h.id a 
somewhat larger amount but the right of waj' of 
the railroad has reduced his estate several acres. 
He has made excellent improvements upon his 
property, and in every part of the estate neatness 
and order prevails, and the evidences of good man- 
agement are visible to even the most careless ob- 
server. 

The grandfather of our subject was Querin Mil- 
ler, and the father was Mathias ^liller, the latter 
born in Germany in 1796. This gentleman mar- 



PORTRAir AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



577 



ried CatheriuaBierschbacli, wlio died May 21, 1843, 
at the age of forty-three j'cars, the j'ear of her 
birth having been 1800. Ten years after her de- 
cease tiie husband emigrated to America, leaving 
his native land June 10, 1853, and coming at once 
to Clinton County. He settled on a farm of eighty 
acres in Dallas Township, wiiere he passed the 
remnant of his da^'s, and died July 28, 18G0. In 
his native land he had followed the trade of a 
blacksmith, but here he gave iiis attention entirely 
to farming. He bad fought against jS'apoleon at 
the age of eighteen j-ears while acting in the Prus- 
sian army. His children were Catherina, John, 
John P., Peter, Annie and Joseph. Tiie List three 
named are deceased. 

Tiie gentleman whose name introduces these 
paragraphs was born in the village of Nuerburg 
Drees, Rhenish Prussia, July 8, 1830. When 
old enough to enter upon the duties of life 
he became a farmer, and carried on his vvori< in his 
native land until 1853, when he came with liis 
father to this country. lie spent some lime in 
Grand Raiiids, making shingles by hand — that be- 
ing before machines for that purpose had been in- 
troduced — and followed that occupation until he 
ha<l produced nearly a million. In 1857 he set up 
his home in Dallas Township, and here he has re- 
mained, although not on the same tract of land. 
He had two farms that he sold, and in May, 1883, 
took possession of that which is now his home. His 
acreage here was one hundred and forty-three, 
which in 1890, was increased to the present 
amount. 

Mr. Miller has been twice married, his first com- 
panion having been Mar3' C. Brucker, to whom he 
was married June 10, 18G2, in Dallas. She was a 
daughter of Peter Brucker, who died in (iormany, 
and came hither with her stepfather, John M. 
Mueller, when eleven years old. She died June 19, 
1871, at the early age of twenty-seven years, leav- 
ing four children — Catherina, John, Peter and 
Mary. One daughter, Barbara, died in infancy. 
The present wife of Mr. Miller bore the maiden 
name of Elizabeth Fox, which she exchanged for 
that she now beais, May 28, 1872. She is a daugh- 
ter of Anthony Fox, a native of Germany, who 
came to this State in a earl^- d.ay. The second 



union of Mr. Miller has been blessed l)y the birth 
of the following children — Jose|)h, Annie, Malhias, 
Rosy, Edward, Clara, Anthony, Bertha, Theresa 
and Gertrude. The last two named are decoased. 
September 24, 18G4, Mr. Miller enlisted in Com- 
pany I, Twenty -third Micliigan Infantry, and after 
spending most of the lime on picket line, was dis- 
charged at Salisbury, N. C, June 28, 18G5. He 
was an earnest Democrat and has retained his con- 
nection with thai party. In the discharge of pub- 
lic affairs he has been called upon year after year 
to assume responsibility', and he now holds the 
office of Township Supervisor, in which po- 
sition he is serving for the second terra in 
succession. He was Treasurer two years 
and was the first one in Dallas Township 
ever elected twice in succession. As Justice of the 
Peace he served two terms, and again in 1889, and 
he has been lligiiway Commissioner nine years, 
and School Director twelve j'ears. Mr. Miller is 
crop correspondent for the State, and if informa- 
tion regarding the pros|)ect and results is desired, 
he is tile man to approach. By his neighbors he is 
held in esteem because of his friendliness and 
worth of character, anil in business circles he has 
an established reputation. 



vr^j ZEKIEL MITCHELL is extensively engaged 
lU) in farming and stock-raising on section 23, 
jlL^' Seiota Township, whore he owns a valuable 
tract of land of two hundred and forty acres. The 
neat appearance of tlie place, and the many im- 
provements there seen, all indicate careful manage- 
ment on the i>art of the owner, and speak to the 
passer-by of his industry and enterprise. He was 
born in Sodus, Wayne County, X. Y., on the 5th 
of May, 1828, and is the eighth in order of birth 
in a family of eleven children. The Mitchells a;e 
of Irish origin, and on the maternal side our sub- 
ject is of Irish descent. His ptirents, Neweom and 
Polly (Howe) Mitchell, were natives of Vermont, 
and in that State were married. At an early day 
they removed to Wayne County, N. Y., and the 



578 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



year 1846 witnessed their arrival in Michigan. 
They settled in Salem, Washtenaw County, but af- 
ter a year removed to Bennington Township, Shia- 
wassee County, wiiere the remainder of their lives 
were passed. When a young man, Newcom Mitch- 
ell had learned the blacksmith's trade and he made 
that occupation his life work, altliough after com- 
ing to this county, he purchased eighty acres of 
wild land which he cleared and improved, carrying 
on farming in connection with his trade. He was 
a Whig in politics, and a member of the Baptist 
Church, to which his wife also belonged. They 
were highly respected people of the community, 
and many friends mourned their loss. 

Until eighteen years of age Ezekiel Mitchell lived 
in his native State, and spent his time in work upon 
the farm, and in attendance at the district schools. 
With his parents he came West in 1846, but soon 
after reaching Michigan he left home, going to Ann 
Arbor, where he was employed in various lines of 
lalior for a few years. On coming to Shiawassee 
County, he engaged in business as a horse dealer, 
after wiiich he worked for a time at the blacksmith's 
trade, which he had learned in his youth, engaging 
in that pursuit in Sciota Township, in Pittsburg 
and in Laingsburg. In the meantime he had pur- 
chased the farm which he still owns, and after a 
few years spent in l)lacksmithing, he settled upon 
his land, and to its cultivation has since devoted 
his entire energies. 

A marriage ceremony performed in 1853, uuited 
the destinies of Mr. Mitchell and Miss Electa Main, 
who was born in Freedom, AVashtenaw County, 
Mich., in 1836, and is a daughter of Francis and 
Electa Main. Unto them has been born a fam- 
ily of five children — Gertrude, Charles II., Etta, 
Maud and Mabel, twins. 

As before slated, Mr. Mitchell's farm comprises 
two hundred and forty acres of land in a body, of 
which one hundred and seventy-five acres has been 
cleared and improved, and is now under a high 
state of cultivation. Where was once a barren 
waste, waving fields of grain now delight the eye, 
and in their midst is a large and ))leasaut two-story 
frame residence. To the rear of the house is a 
wood barn and other outbuildings such as are nec- 
essary to a model farm. Mr. Mitchell also owns 



seventeen acres of land within the corporation lim- 
its of Laingsburg. He has made every dollar which 
he possesses, and certainly deserves great credit for 
his success. Indolence or idleness is utterly for- 
eign to his nature, and his life has been character- 
ized by hard work, perseverance, good management 
and enterprise. In politics he is a Democrat. No 
more worthy citizen can be found in the commu- 
nitj' than the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch, and it is with pleasure that we present this 
brief record of his life to the readers of this Album. 

\f)AMES A. CHAPIN. Shiawassee County 
has now become so thoroughly settled a 
country' tliat it is beginning to count among 
its pioneers man}' a man who is able to re- 
tire from business and having passed the daj's of 
his youth and maturity in hard labor and having 
acquired a handsome competency, can sit by and 
watch the progress of younger men as they follow 
in his footsteps. Among this number we may 
mention the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch who has long been a prominent citizen and 
an intelligent and successful farmer and who, hav- 
ing rented out his farm in Bennington Township, 
makes his home in Owosso. 

Our subject was born in Allegany County, N. Y. 
in the town of Burns, December 22, 1828. His 
father. Deacon S.imuel Chapin, was a native of 
New York,asoldier in the War of 1812 and a prom- 
inent member in the Baptist Church and followed 
farming as his occupation. His father, Samuel, 
was a native of Connecticut, of English ancestry. 
The mother of our subject, Eliza Armstrong, was 
a native of Ontario County, N. Y. and a daughter 
of James Armstrong, a native of New Jersey and 
an early settler of New York. The Ai'mstrongs 
were of Scotch descent. 

James A. Chapin and his parents removed to 
Michigan in 1852 and located near Ann Arbor, 
and 1854 moved on a farm near Grass Lake. They 
afterwards moved to Shiawassee Count}', where 
the}' spent three years and then removed to W.ash- 
teuaw County, making their home in the city of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



579 



Ann Arbor, where the father passed away from 
earth in May 22, 1872. Tlie mother, who was a 
devoted member of the Bapiist Cluirch, was called 
hence in March 29, 1884 and they are both buried in 
Ann ArI)or. She was the uiolher of nine cliihlren. 
Her husband, Samuel Chapin, had been twice mar- 
ried, his first wife being Miss Betsey Godfrey by 
whom he had two sons: Decatur who took part in 
the Civil War and afterward died by disease con- 
tracted while in service and Barnej" J. who was 
also a soldier and became Lieutenant Colonel of the 
Eightj'-six New York Infautrj'. He fell in the 
battle of C'liancellorsvilie, Ma}' 3, 1863 being siiot 
in action while cliarging upon his noble black 
steed. 

James A. Chapin, the subject of tliis notice is 
the eldest son by the second marriage. John C, 
tlie brother next younger, is deceased; Miles died in 
California in 18G3, where he removed in 18.')2. 
William went some 3'ears ago to Puget Sound and 
makes his home at Tacoma. E. Bennett Chapin, M. 
D., m.akes his home at Gr.ass Lake. Eliza (Mrs. 
John C. Harper) lives at ^Milan; Cornelia A. is 
single; Electa J. is the wife i)f B. \V. Waite of 
Dexter; Samuel is a doctor and lives at Milan, 
Mich. 

Our subject passed his boyhood days in school 
near Genesco in Livingston Count}', N. Y., and 
previously attended asciiool in GeneseeC'ounty that 
Slate. In 18U3 he settlerl upon a farm in Beiinington 
Township, .Shiawassee County, taking a farm of 
eighty acres which he has since increased to one 
hundred and ninety. He has l)ecn a breeder of 
Short-horn cattle, line sheep and good horses and 
he continued in this business up to the spring of 
1891, when he concluded to rent out tlii^ farm. 

Seraphina E. Armstrong, a native of Maconil) 
County, Mich., and daughter of John D., and 
Elvira Armstrong became the wife of Mr. Chapin 
Feljruary 8, 1854. Her parents removed to the 
territoiy of Michigan in 1831. They were l)orn, 
Mr. Armstrong in Ontario County, N. Y., Mrs. A. 
in Vermont State and they were of Scoteli descent. 
Three lovely daughters have come to bless the 
home of Mr. and Mrs. Chapin, all of whom iiave 
grown to years of maturity and are a comfort and 
honor to their parents who gave them every op- 



portunity of improvement and a liberal education. 
Ella E. is the wife of M. W. Southard of Owosso; 
Mellie S. is a graduate of the State Normal 
School at \'alparaiso, Ind., and is now teaching her 
fourth year in the city of Owosso. Mary C. has 
been for several years a teacher and is a graduate 
of the Owosso High School. 

Mr. Chapin is well-known in Republican circles 
as a stanch adiierent of ihe principles of that party 
and lie takes an active part in local and county 
politics. While living on the farm, he was Trea- 
surer, Clerk, Justice, etc., of Bennington Town- 
ship and he has been for twelve years past the Su- 
perintendent of the Poor of the county. He is 
truly honored by all who know him and his family 
stands high in social ;uid educatioii.al circles. 



c^^IIADDEUS L. CUONKIIITE. 



The Ger- 
M^i ™"" element in our country has produced 
many of llie best results, although the Teu- 
tons are supposed to be slow, and indeed, are slow 
in some respects, the careful wa}' in wiiich tiiey 
balance results, insures them against making mis- 
takes and pcrliaps tliis is one of the reasons of 
their wonderful [irogrefs in the sciences in which 
nicety and ex.actness are required. Our subject is 
of German descent and the cliaracteristics of his 
nation aie to be found iu the nice detail with wiiicli 
every part of the work on his farm is linislied. 

Our subject's father was Cornelius L. Cronkhite, 
a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y., being born 
January 20, 1818. He was a farmer by calling. 
His wife was Maria E. (.loncs) Croidvhite, a native 
of Rutland County N. Y., and born Januar}' 21, 
1 81 7. Her fathe» was John Jones, a native of Con- 
necticut; her mother Electa (Stacy) Jones, a native 
of A'ermont. He also was a farmer and came to 
Michigan in 1844, locating on section 34, Venice 
Township. Tlie motiier died in 1 8 l(! and the father 
in 1847. They were the parents of three children, 
two of these now living. The parents of Mr. 
Cronkiiile were married in Cayuga Count}', N. Y., 
iu 1840. Their lirst home was in Cayuga County, 



580 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



N. Y., and there they remained until 1844, when 
they came to Michigan by way of the lakes, their 
first stop being at Detroit, thence by wagon to 
their claim in this place. After the tedious over- 
land journey they arrived at their destination, and 
settled upon eighty acres of land. It was perfectly 
wild and there were few neighbors, there being 
at that time only a dozen voters in the township. 

He of whom we write provided a dwelling for 
his family by erecting a log house, well built for 
the time and considering the immediate demands 
of the family. There were some Indians in tlie 
countrj', and plenty of wild animals, but their worst 
enemy was the fever and ague, from which they 
alternately shivered and burned. The settlers 
used to trade with tlie Indians for venison, meal 
and pelts. Mr. Cronkhite added to his farm 
until at the time of his death, it comprised two 
hundred and forty acres. One hundred acres of 
this he cleared during his life, and built his resi- 
dence in which the family now live. It is now 
thirty-two years old. Everything in tlie house 
was made by liand and made on the ground, for 
there were no stores at which furniture could be 
procured. It took a year to erect the modest home 
that now could be built in one tenth of the time, 
but when It was erected it was one of the most 
elegant and pretentious houses in thocount}'. 

Besides the house, Mr. Cronkliite built barns 
that arc a credit to the place, and set out a fine 
orchard from which now the family have plentiful 
harvests. A block which was to have been used 
in the building was left in the woods, and two years 
ago the subject of our sketch found tlie same block 
covered with mud and leaves but as sound as it 
was forty years before. When the barn was raised 
Mr. Cronkhite was obliged to get men from Ver- 
non Township and Genesee County besides all 
the men then living in tiiis township. We are not 
told, but can surmise, after the raising was com- 
pleted and the floor laid, the amount of good 
cheer that was devoured to celebrate the erecting 
of the new building. .Mr. Cronkhite Sr. died on 
the 8th of February, 1882. Our subject's mother 
still survives and is well and bright, still wielding a 
powerful influence over her family'. She has the 
attraction of an intelligent, well-educated woman, 



having received academic advantages in her girl- 
hood. She and her husband are the parents of 
three children, two of whom are now living, 
Thaddeus and Dewey W. Frances was born May 
18, 1842, and became the wife of the Hon. Hiram 
Johnson; she was the mother of five children and 
died January 12, 1890. The first son, who was 
born December 2, 1847, was united in marriage to 
Eliza Stewart and is living in Imley City, Mich., 
where he is pastor of the Baptist Church. His lit- 
tle family comprises two children. The parents of 
our subject were members of the Baptist Church, 
of which body the father is a trustee. 

In politics Mr. Cronkhite Sr. was a Democrat. 
He was Treasurer of this township under his party, 
also Iligliwa}' Commissioner and Commissioner of 
Drainage. He attained a high degree of promi- 
nence in this community bj' virtue of his judgment 
and intuition of human nature. The principles of 
temperance and the welfare of schools were vital 
issues with him. 

Our subject was born Ap-il 27, 1854, on the 
home farm where lie at present resides. The dis- 
trict schools of his community afforded him all the 
educational advantages that he enjoyed. The 
presiding genius over this academic hall was 
Emeline Pierce, long since deceased. Her school 
numbered seven pupils, and for the tuition she had 
$1 each per week. He has always lived at home 
and since assuming charge of the farm has cleared 
twentj'-five acres and has added a granarj', tool 
shed and cattle shed to the buildings on the place. 
One hundred and eighty-three acres of the farm is 
now under cultivation. He is engaged in general 
farming, giving the greater part of his time to the 
breeding of stock, liaving some fine Clydesdale 
horses, Durham cattle and Merino and Shropshire 
sheep. 

October 27, 1875, Mr. Cronkhite abjured a life 
of single blessedness and united himself for better 
or worse with Mary J. Gidley, daughter of Edwin 
and Polly (Heniman) Gidley. Mrs. Cronkhite 's 
father is a native of Massachusetts, as was also the 
mother. The^- came to Michigan at a very early 
day. Mr. Gidley served in the Civil War in the 
First Michigan regiment of P^ngineers, remaining 
with them the full term. He died May 4, 1891. 




i i 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



583 



Mrs. Gidley still survives, and lives in this town- 
sliid. They were the i)arents of oig'at ciiildren, four 
of whom are now living. 

Mrs. Croiikhite was born April 11, 1857, in Oak- 
land County. She enjoyed llio advantages of a 
good education and well fitted to be a model wife 
and mother. She and her husband are the parents 
of three children, viz: Celia S., born Xovember 1.5, 
1878; Sarah B., born October 11, 1880, and an in- 
fant who died soon after birth. Mr. Croni<hite is 
the Treasurer of the local school district. He for- 
merly vot«d the Democratic ticket and once was 
attracted to the Greenback party. lie is an ar- 
dent advocate of temperance principles. 

JOHN E. HILL. On the opposite page is 
presented a portrait of Mr. Hill, wlio is 
numbered among the prosperous business 
men of Ovid, Clinton County. He pos- 
sesses a genius for business of the highest order, 
being of sound understanding and quick percep- 
tion, and quick to carry out the measures which 
his judgment approves. Hence his various enter- 
prises have invariably been successful, for they 
are always guided b^- prudence. Gifted b3' nature 
with tine endowments, he has cultivated them to 
the utmost, and is actively conducting his busi- 
ness as a harness and trunk dealer. He throws 
into his dail^- labors his individual uprigiitness 
and integrity, qualities which are the glory of 
every man's character, whatever his position in 
life may be. 

The native place of Mr. Hill was JLintua, I'or- 
tage County, Ohio, and the dale of his birth Au- 
gust 29, 1853. His father, John W. Hill, was a 
native of Connecticut, and was there reared and 
educated. He was by profession a minister of the 
Gospel in the Jlethodist Episcoiial Church and 
honored his calling hy his upright life. The 
mother, whose maiden name was Emily Starr, was 
reared to womanhood in Summit County-, Ohio. 
Our subject left his parental home when a lad 
of only eight years, and going to Pennsylvania, 
made his home with friends in Mercer County. 



At the age of twelve he removed to Forestville, 
N. Y., where he remained for some time. His 
educational advantages were very limited, as in 
his childhood he attended the common schools for 
a brief period, and then t<jok only an incomplete 
course. 

In his youth Mr. Hill became an appicnticu to 
a harness-maker at Girard, Erie Count}-, Pa., and 
with his employer, whose name was J. C. Simmons, 
he remained nearly four yearj. After he learned 
his trade he supplemented his scanty schooling by 
a j'ear in the Bryant & Stratton Business College 
at Meadville, Pa. AVe next find him at Cleve- 
land, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until 
June, 1873. He then returned to Pennsjdvania 
and followed the same line of work for a year in 
Edinborougli. From there he went to Cambridge, 
Crawford Count}-, the same State, and on May 2, 
1875, located in Meadville. It was in 1885 that 
he finally decided to leave that city permanently 
for tiie far West, as he considered Michigan to 
be, and leaving the Ke3'stone State M.ay 12, he 
came to Ovid, where he lias since been conducting 
a business in the harness and trunk trade. 

The marriage of our subject, October 2'J, 1879, 
united him with Miss Jennie M. Erazier, of Mead- 
ville, Pa. In politics 5Ir. Hill is a Republican. 
He is intelligent in regard to mniters of public 
good, and always willing to do his share for the 
upbuilding of the town and its social and moral 
elevation, but he is no |)olitician in the popular 
sense of the word, and never seeks office. He is 
content to do his part by casting his ballot for the 
men and principles which he endorse.s and to 
quietly express his views on matters of public 
interest. 



OHN UE.-VD, a British-American farmer, le- 
siding in Bath Township, Clinton County, 
and one of tiie most intelligent and pro- 
gressive of the citizens of this vicinity was 
born in Buckinghamshire, England, May 24, 183G. 
His father, William Read, was born in 1809 in 
Northamptonshire, Englanil. and his grandfather, 
Richard, who was an exlen!*ive farmer on the ten- 



584 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ant sj'stem and a man of unusual vigor, died in 
England. The fattier was also a fanner and com- 
ing to America in June, 1852. made his home in 
Washtenaw County, Mich. After a short time he 
reraiived to Livingston County, whore he owned 
and managed two hundred and forty acres ot land. 
He was a hard worker and a man of more than or- 
dinary health and strength, a Presbyterian in 
religious belief and a Republican in politics. He 
died in March, 1888. 

The mother of our subject whose maiden name 
was Mary Marlow was born in England, about 
1812. .She was the mother of eight children, when 
the family emigrated to this country, and their 
journeying under these circumstances may well be 
considered a great undertaking. Three more little 
ones were added to her tiock after coming to Amer- 
ica. The children are John, Joseph, (recently de- 
ceased,) Jacob, George, Sarah, (Mrs. Hagadorn,) 
Edward, Richard, Thomas, William, Mary A. (Mrs. 
Jones,) and Albert. The mother was a Baptist in 
her religious belief and brought her children ujj 
to revere the principles of Christianity. She is 
still living on the old homestead in Livingston 
County. 

The subject of this sketch was sixteen years old 
when he emigrated with his parents to this country 
and as he was six weeks on the way, and was veiy 
observing he learned much from the sailors while 
on the voyage. He had never traveled on a rail- 
way until he started on this journey from his old 
home. He had spent his boyhood in farm work 
and in the English schools, and after settling in 
Michigan worked out by the month at wages rang- 
ing from |i6 to $15. 

At twenty years of age the young man began 
life for himself, working on farms and in the lum- 
ber woods for several j'ears. His marriage with 
Ruth Sickles, October 15, 1863, w.as a union 
which has been blessed by harmony and happiness. 
Mrs. Read was born in New York State, May 8, 
1836, and came to Michigan when a little girl. Her 
parents Simeon and Lois (McDonald) Sickles, were 
pioneers of Washtenaw County. One child only. 
Flora L., who died at the age of eleven years 
blessed the union of our subject and his wife, 
^fter marriage Mr. Read lived in Lenawee 



County, for a few years on a rented farm, and then 
coming to Clinton County, in the spring of 1866 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of partially 
improved land where he now lives. He has greatly 
improved this farm and built in 1872 his large 
white Irame residence. His neat and commodious 
barn was built in 1870. These handsome iniildings 
adorn a farm which every passer-by can see is well 
cultivated and economically managed. 

Mr. Read is a Repulilican in his political views 
but sufficiently independent not to be closel}' bound 
b}^ party ties. He served as Supervisor of Bath 
Township in 1869 and 1870. He has a second farm 
on section 7 of tlie same township which is under 
bis own personal supervision. He also loans money 
out at interest. 

The wife of his 3'outh was snatched from his side 
by death July 1, 1890, and he was again married 
February 23, 1891, this lime taking to wife Rosa 
L. Youngs, who was born in Fremont, Sandusky 
Countj', Ohio, in 1854. She was reared upon a 
farm and educated in the district school, and has 
lived in Clinton County, since 1872. She takes an 
intelligent interest in fancy work, and has taught 
wax work. Her parents, Cyrus and Mary (Flor- 
ence) Youngs, were born in France and both came 
to America when they were thirteen years old, 
where they met and were married in Buffalo, N. 
Y. 'J'he}' came here from Sanduskj- Count}', Ohio, 
and now own a beautiful farm of two hundred 
acres upon the banks of Park Lake in this town- 
ship. 



,EUBEN GILMORK, a member of an old 
New England famil}', and a son of a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812, makes his home 
V'fiiion section 10, Caledonia Township, Shia- 
wassee Count}'. His father, Arelus Gilmore, a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, was born September 7, 1792, 
and his mother Orna (Nichols) Gilmore, was also 
born in the old Bay State, her natal d.ay being Oc- 
tober 7. 1800. Their marriage was solemnized in 
Lorain County, Ohio, and there they spent all their 
wedded life. Aretus Gilmore opened up a new 
farm and improved it and became a prominent 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



585 



man in bis localit}-. They were the parents of 
thirteen cliiklren, six of whom are now living, and 
the father passed away in 1851. but his v/ife lived 
to complete eighty-five years. After Mr. Gilmore's 
death slie married a second time, but iiad no chil- 
dren by her second union. .She was an earnest 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Are- 
tus Gihuore was a AVhig, and took an active pail 
in polities, and was also wide-awake in regard to 
the interests of district schools, being a member of 
the Board. 

The subject of this sketch was the third child of 
his parents, and was born .January 29, 1822, in Lo- 
raine Count}', Ohio, and attended the district school 
there, making his home in that county until he 
reached the age of thirtj' years. When j'oung he 
learned the trade of a s'.iip-calkcr, and worked at it 
for some time. From the time he was twelve 3-ears 
old he took care of himself and earned the money 
witli which to clothe himself. His marriage took 
place, Jlay 13, 1847, his bride being Rachel Fisk, 
a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Jack) Fisk. 
Mr. Fisk was a native of Vermont, born November 
4, 1794, and his wife was a Mary lander. He was 
a farmer and a soldier in the War of 1812. Their 
marriage took place in ^Maryland, whence they re- 
moved to Steuben County, N. Y. After some 
twelve years residence there they went to Lorain 
County, Ohio, in 1S38, and lliere they died, Mr. 
Fisk in 1879, and his faithful wife in 1877. He 
was a Democrat in politics, and both of them were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
they were the parents of twelve children. Mrs. 
Gilmore was born in August, 1825, in Steuben 
Count}', N. Y. 

After liieir marriage Reuben and Racliel Gil- 
more rented a farm until they came to Michigan in 
1858. Here they took a partially improved tract, 
having upon it a log house, and remained upon this 
farm for ten months. They then returned to Ohio 
for three and one-half years, but again came to 
their Michigan farm upon which they remained 
from that day to this. Mr. Gilmore has cleared 
the timber from some of his land and erected all 
the buildings which now stand upon it. Forty acres 
still remain in timber, and thirty-two are improved. 
Two of their five children are living: John, who 



married Mrs. El!a (Howe) Lindsey, lives in this 
township, and has three children; J.ackson, who 
married Louana Hart, and h.as eight children, and 
makes his home in Howard City. One daughter, 
Minerva L., died M.iy 24, 1889. 

Mr. (iilmore is a member of the Patrons of In- 
dustry, and has been upon the School Board for 
some time. He takes an active interest in political 
matters, affiliating with the Democratic party. For 
many years he has acted as Road Commissioner, 
and in this capacity has proved himself both effi- 
cient and aggressive. He is proud to s.ay that al- 
though he has reached and passed the limits of 
three-score years and ten, he has never been a party 
to a law-suit, either as one who sues or as one be- 
ing sued. 



#^ 



-^r— 



eALVIN P. BARRUS, a farmer residing on 
section 7, Greenbush Township, Clinton 
County, is a native of Onondaga County, 
N. Y., and was born on the 7th of June 1826. 
He is a son of William K. and Mary A. (Neal) 
Barrus, who were natives of New York, and be- 
came the parents of eight children, seven of whom 
still survive, namely: Robert, living in Gratiot 
Cc)unty, this State; Lucinda, wife of David Sadler, 
of Cayuga County, N. Y. ; Calvin P.; James C, in 
Gratiot County; John W., in New York State; 
Marietta, wife of William Finch ; and Sarah, Mrs. 
Bogardus, a widow. 

The subject of this brief sketch was reared to 
manhood in his native county, ami from early boy- 
hood was engaged in farming. He received the 
rudiments of an education in the schools of his day, 
but had not the advantages which are so richly 
showered upon the children of this generation. He 
has, however, persevered ihrough life in the hal)it 
of reading which has made him the intelligent, 
broad-minded man who is so highly respected by 
liis neighbors at this day. 

An event of great importance in the life of Mr. 
Barrus took place in 1856. He was then united in 
marriage with Anjanetle Bogardus, a native of New 
York State, and a daughter of Henry and Mary 



586 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Bogardus. Three children resulted from this mar- 
riage: Louisa A., wife of E. A. bimith, is the only 
one who lived to matuiity. In 1865 our subject 
came to Clinton County, this State, and made his 
home on the farm where he now resides in Green- 
bush Township, which was then in the unbroken for- 
est. Here he has done thorough pioneer work and 
has been one of the chief factors in making the 
wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose. He now 
owns one hundred and twenty-three acres of as fine 
land as is to be found in the county, and he has it 
all under a fine state of cultivation. He has had 
no one to help him make a start in life, and has had 
to make his way step bj' step through difficulties 
which would have appalled a man of less endurance 
and perseverance. 

The faithful wife, who had been his helpmate 
and counselor for many years, departed this life 
May 4, 1891, leaving behind her a wealth of love 
and affection, and many friends to mourn her loss, 
for she was respected and beloved by all who knew 
her. In her death the county lost one of her rep- 
resentative women and one of her bravest pioneers. 

Mr. Barrus is identified with the M.asonic order, 
and i.s a Democrat in his political views, believing 
that the princijjles of that party are best adapted to 
improving the condition of the masses and to aid 
in the upbuikling of the country. He has served 
as the School Assessor, and is a man of true public- 
spirit and enterprise. His comfortable home and 
surroundings, and the excellent condition of his 
farm, speak louiily to every passer-b3- of his indus- 
tr}- and enterprise as well as of his good manage- 
ment. He is a typical representative of the self- 
made Michigan pioneer, and receives the just 
enconiums of all who know him. 



^ ^-^^- 



^ AFAYETTE LEWIS. Love of country is 
I (^ noticeably a distinguishing characteristic Of 
jik^ some families, and its manifestations are to 
be traced through their history from generation to 
generation. We Bu<l this true in the family to 
which our subject belongs, as one of his grand- 
fathers was a patriot in Washington's army during 



the Revolutionar}- struggle, liis father took an ac- 
tive part in the War of 1812 and he and two 
brothers fought for the old flag during the days of 
civil war. To further attest their love for the best 
traditions of our country his parents gave him the 
name which we all so deeply honor, the name of 
W.ishinglon's friend and the friend of America. 

Lafayette Lewis resides on section 24, Duplain 
Township, Clinton Countj-, where he carries on 
the work of a farmer and stock-raiser. He was 
born October 7, 1824, and the place of his nativity 
was Crawford County, Pa. He is the son of Laban 
and Sallie (Darrow) Lewis, the father being a na- 
tive of Vermont and the mother of the Empire 
State. The ancestry on the father's side is Scotch 
and the mother is of mixed German and English 
stock. 

There were no free schools in that jjart of the 
countrj' where our subject's boyhood was passed, 
and it w.as with difficult}' that his parents obtained 
for him the educational advantages which they felt 
were due to every child. They gave him the best 
opportunities within their powers but he was not 
able to )Hirsue an extensive course of study. They 
gave him however the best home training and 
thorough drill in the duties of a farm. 

The most important event in the life history of 
Mr. Lewis may well be considered his marriage, as 
he was therebj- joined to an affectionate and capa- 
ble wife who was a help to him in every department 
of life and whose companionship cheered and stim- 
ulated him through seasons of discouragement and 
hardship. This union was solemnized in Crawford 
County, Pa., September 4, 1848. The maiden name 
of Mrs. Lewis was Polly A. Vincent, a daughter of 
Morey and Sara (Rhodes) A'incent. She became 
the mother of eight children, all but one of whom 
are now living near their father, and th.it one re- 
sides in Detroit. The efforts which this parent 
made to sustain and educate his offspring are now 
doubly reworded in the affectionate care and com-- 
panionship of his children. 

The subject of this sketch came to Michigan in 
18C5, immediately after the close of the war in 
which he had served for nine months. It was in 
the One Hundred and Sixti-eighth Pennsylvania 
Infantr}^ that he fought for the old flag and the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



587 



Union, and he received his honorable discharge in 
Jul}', 1865. On moving to Michigan he made his 
home wlicre lie now resides, luiying eighty acres of 
excellent laud, twenty' of which he has given his 
eldest son, Franklin M., who is married and lives 
near by. The eldest daughter, Jane, married Milan 
Kmmons, who was a soldier for four j-ears in the 
Civil War and who now lives in the same township 
with Mr. Lewis. Alice Lucinda is now Mrs. Frank 
Searle and Laura is the wife of Ira Warner, a mer- 
chant in Elsie. Verna married Charles W. Hawk- 
ins, a short hand reporter in Detroit. Maurice O. 
lives in Owosso and is a jeweler by occupation, and 
the two youngest children, Cora M. and Herbert T. 
are still under the parental roof and attending 
school, the daughter being a student at the High 
School in Elsie. The beloved mother of these 
children is no more with them, as she passed to the 
other world April G, 1890, and all that remains of 
her mortal being is lying at rest in the cemetery 
at Elsie. The principles of the Republican party 
are the political creed of Mr. Lewis and he cast 
his first Presidential vote for Taylor. 



"fifAME.S K. TRl'.SDELL. a successful farmer 
of DeWitt Township, residing in North 
Lansing, was born in Brandon Township, 
Oakland County, Mich., November 28, 1845. 
His father, (lamalie! Trusdcll, a fanner, was a na- 
tive of New York and came to Michigan some 
time during the '30s, journeying by Erie Canal 
and Lake to Detroit, where lie bought oxen and 
drove to Oakland County. 'I'liere he took up 
Government land and was one of the first whites 
in that region. Deer and bears were plentiful and 
he hunted some, but he was a hard worker and de- 
voted himself mostly- to his farms, of which he 
cleared up three in Oakland County. The last one 
was a tract of four hundred and twenty acres, which 
he sold. There were many Indians in that region 
and he was friendly with them. He moved to 
Clarkston, in the same county, and for three years 
engaged in the livery business. lie then went into 
the same business in connection with a farm at 



Corunna, Shiawassee County, and owns several 
farms there. He lived there about twenty years a 
retired life and finall}- made his home at Flint, where 
he died when about eigbt3--three years old. He was 
a Democrat in his political views. 

PlKcbe A. (Riker) Trusdell, the mother of our 
subject, a native of New York State, brought to 
maturity ten of her thirteen children, and dieil in 
middle life in February, 1875. James Trusdell 
moved to Corunna when about seven years of age 
and attended the village school there. When fif- 
teen years old he learned the trade of blacksmilh- 
ing, which he worked at until about fourteen years 
ago and occasionally takes a turn at it j-et, h.iving 
a small shop on his farm. He began work for 
himself at fifteen years of age, and did days' work 
at his trade until 1871. when he eslablisiicd a shop 
of liis own at DeWitt. Clinton County. After 
running a shop here for a year he moved to Clare 
and then to Lansing. During his nine years' resi- 
dence in that city he established a liver3' stable on 
Turner Street, which he carried on for about live 
years. He then traded his business for the farm 
where he now lives. 

The marriage of James Trusdell with Ella Gard- 
ner was solemnized .lanuary 19, 1871. The bride 
was born in DeWitt Tovvnslii|), March 13, 1852, 
and her parents, John W. and Ph(ebc A. (Phillips) 
Gardner, were natives of New York State, who 
came to Clinton County in LSH. Mr. Gardner 
was a farmer, blacksmith and nierchant, and used 
to do a large business in merchandise in DeWitt, 
drawing his goods from Detroit by team. He died 
at the age of sixty years, but his widow still lives 
in DeWitt. .She is an active and earnest member 
of the Baptist Church, and is the mother of one son, 
Milan, and of one daughter, who is the wife of our 
suliject. 

'l"he four children of our subject are still living 
— Clyde, Arthur. .Maude and Lora. Mr. Trusdell 
has one hundred acres of line arable .'-.oil, seventy 
of wliich are under cultivation, lie has hirnj^elf 
cleared most of the place. The handsome frame 
residence, which is an ornament to the farm, was 
built in 1890, and the property is well supplied 
with barns and other ouibuihiings necessary to the 
carrying on of mixed farniiiig and the raising of 



588 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



stock. He has ten cows and furnishes milk for the 
condenser at Lansing. He is a Democrat in his 
political belief, and both Pathmaster and School 
Director, and is a man of more than average intel- 
ligence. His wife is fully his equal in education 
and business ability and her reputation as a woman 
of genial nature and lovely Christian character is 
well known in the community. 



-J^^- 



• i* " 



CHARLES HAUGHTON, a leading farmer 
and dairyman residing on section 10, New 
Haven Township, Sliiawassee County, Mich., 
is one of the foremost men in his section of the 
county, being highly esteemed, both in agricultural 
circles, for his business-like way of conducting af- 
fairs, and also among religious people, as he is 
looked upon as a leader in the Disciples Church. 
He was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, June 2.3, 
1835. 

Samuel H. Haughton, the father of our subject, 
was born in Connecticut about 1793, and coming 
to Ohio with his parents when a boy, settled upon 
a farm in TrnrabuU County. Here he enjoyed a com- 
mon-school education and started out in life, upon 
reaching his majority, by taking up one hundred 
acres of Government land, which he cleared and 
where he made a home. "When he had reached the 
age of twenty-five he decided that he would for- 
ward his own interests by taking a life partner and 
he was married in 1820 to Amanda Osborn, daugh- 
ter of Josiah Osborn, a farmer of Trumbull County. 
Amanda was one of a family of four daughters and 
three sons and the year of her birth was co-incidert 
with the beginning of this century. One daughter 
and six sons blessed the home of this pioneer 
couple, of whom our subject is one. Samuel and 
Amanda Haughton were earnest and devoted mem- 
bers of the Disciples Church, in which he filled con- 
scientiously and efficiently the offices of Deacon, 
Trustee and Elder. Politically he was a sound 
Whig and later a sturdy Republican. He passed 
from earth in 1862 and his devoted wife survived 
him for twenty years. They are buried side by 
side at Southington, Trumbull County, Ohio, 



A good common-school education was bestowed 
upon the subject of this sketch and when he reached 
his majority his father gave him fifty acres of good 
land and sold him tifty acres more in Southington. 
In the meanwhile he had married, in 1852, Nancy 
Hurd, a daughter of Isaac and Lucy (Viets) Hurd. 
Nancy was one of a family of three sons and five 
daughters, being born December 6, 1839. Six 
children have been granted to this happj- home, 
namely: Laura A., Minnie, Mattie, M^-rtie, Mel- 
vin and Calvin. 

Our subject came to Michigan about the year 
1865 and purchased one hundred and twenty acres 
on section 12, and later bought ninety acres more 
on section 10. He and his faithful companion are 
Disciples in their religious belief and he is an Elder 
and Trustee in the church, being a very prominent 
man in religious circles. He was formerly a Re- 
publican and is now an ardent Prohibitionist. At 
one time he filled satisfactorily the office of Drain- 
age Commissioner. 



/p^EORGE W 

iff (=s- residing c 
^^1 ship, Clint 



^^EORGE W. PRATT, a prominent citizen 
on section 8, Greenbush Town- 
iton County, is a native of Madi- 
son County, N. Y., where he was born May 26, 
1827. He is a son of James and Sallie (Perkins) 
Pratt, both natives of New York, and his father 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. Of the nine 
children born to this worthy couple the following 
survive: Lafayette, who resides in Shiawassee 
County ; George W. ; Sylvia, now Mrs. Van Duzen, 
in Shiawassee Countj'; Maiy, Mrs. W. Tunningly, 
of Genesee County ; Walker and Sarah, who live in 
Lansing, Mich. 

When but two years old our subject removed 
with his parents to Chautauqua County, N. Y., and 
was there reared to manhood and was prepared 
for his life woik of farming. His schooling was 
taken in the district schools, wliicli were not well 
fitted to impart a very thorough grounding in 
the elements. He w.as married Januar3' 4, 1849, to 
Charlotte Turk, who was born September 4, 1831, 
in Chfiutauqua County, N. Y. Her parents, Jacob 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBIJM. 



589 



and Nabby Turk, were natives of New England 
and earl3- settlers of Chautauqua County. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have been born ten ciiil- 
dren, four of whom are living: James M., laither, 
Lomon and George. In tlic spring of 186G, Mr. 
Pratt emigrated to Michigan and settled in Green- 
bush Township, Clinton County, lie lived on 
section 17, until the spring of 1885, when he re- 
moved to his present home. lie has done some 
pioneer work in his day, and now owns some one 
hundred acres of land, most of which is under cul- 
tivation. He still has about eight acres of timber, 
where can be found about two hundred and Dfty 
splendid specimens of the liard maple, from which 
he annually makes a supply of maple sugar. lie 
has also some tine white and red oak and beech 
trees. He has been remarkably successful in life 
for a man who started with no means. 

Our subject is a Democrat in politics and a pub- 
lic-spirited citizen. For tliree j'cars he has served 
as Moderator of the school district in which he 
lives. Mrs. Pratt was one of seven children, six 
of whom are living. Her brothers and sisters are 
named: William H., Willard, Sarah, Jacob, Har- 
mon and Nabb}'. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are now in 
their prime, enjoying the fruitsof a life well -spent 
and are highly respected b}' all who know them. 

ylLLIAM TAPHOrSE is the owner of the 
farm located on section 25, Caledonia 
Township, Shiawassee County. The par- 
ents of our subject were James and Elizabetli (Ne- 
ville) Taphouse, natives of Hampshire, England, 
where they always lived. Mr. Taphouse, Sr., died 
in 1870, his wife preceding him by many years, 
her death occurring in 1825. They were the par- 
ents of five children, four now living. 

He of whom we write was born February 12, 
1816, in Hampshire, England, where he remained 
until iie had attained to manhood. He was brought 
up as a farmer lad and had but limited educational 
advantages. In 1838 he was married to Mary Bol- 
ton, by whom he had three children, two now liv- 
ing. Elizabeth became the wife of Andrew Stores 



and lives in Texas; they have a family of seven 
children; Mary A. became the wife of Gilbert Card 
and lives in Owosso; she is the mother of four 
children. 

Mrs. Taphouse died in 1817 and our subject 
again married in November, 1848, taking to wife 
Harriet Cowdry also a native of Hampshire, Eng- 
land. l»y this marriage there were nine children, 
four of whom are living. They are Alfred, Hatlic, 
Charles and Edith. The former married Susan 
Watson and lives in Caledonia Township, tiiis 
county, having one child; Hattio is the wife of 
Charles Lewis an<l lives on her father's farm; she is 
the mother of one child ; Charles look to wife Ellen 
Gerardy, making his home, which is brightened by 
two children, in Owosso; Edith is the wife of An- 
drew Geeck and lives in Owosso; she has one child. 
Mr. Taphouse's second wife died May 3, 1888, 
aged fift)--nine years, her natal daj* being June 15, 
1828. 

Our subject moved to America in 1855 and on 
landing at New York he determined to come at 
once to Michigan, which he did, locating in Oak- 
land Count}', where he was engaged in renting 
farms. One he occupied for seven years, the other, 
in Rose Townslii|), four j'cars. In 1867 he came 
to Shiawassee County and settled upon section 25, 
Caledonia Township. It was a wild farm and the 
only building upon it was a board shanty, through 
whose cracks the snow blew fast in winter. 

When Mr. Taphouse first landed in America he 
had a wife and six chihlren dependent upon him 
and on deciding to come West he was obliged to 
borrow enough mone}' of his brother-in-law to make 
the trip. His hard labor, however, enabled him to 
make the change to this county in much better cir- 
cumstances. He settled u|)on eighty acres, for 
which he paid I'art of tlic price down. He added 
to and fixed the little ohl house until it was a com- 
fortable place, where they continued to live until 
1883. He cleared seventy acres during this time. 
His present pleasant and cozy home was built at a 
cost of $1,000 eight years ago, Mr. Taphouse no 
longer conducts the work of his farm himself, rent- 
ing the place to his son-in-law. Our subject has 
been a very hard worker all his life and now in his 
later years is enjoying the fruit of his early labors. 



590 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




His family are inenihevs of the Preslj^'terian Church 
at Coruuna. His children all incline to Christian- 
ity. He has given his children every advantage in 
an educational waj' that he could aflford and thej"^ 
are all respected and honored members of societ}' 
in the places where they have located. Mr. Tap- 
house has alwa}'s been interested in politics, cast- 
ing his vote with the Republican party. He lias 
ever been a temperate man in his habits and is in 
fairly good iiealth, his famil}- trusting that many 
years of usefulness and serenity are still in .store 
for him. 



RS. MARIETTA BFSH. A traveler in 
Clinton County could not fail to notice 
the improvements upon a certain eighty, 
acre tract of land on section 9, AVatertown 
Township, and would l)e likely- to inquire who is 
the fortunate owner. The substantial outbuildings 
indicate large crops, and a glance at the commo- 
dious brick residence is sulficient to impress the 
beholder with the belief that on this farm tlie com- 
forts of home are considered of great importance. 
A view of this pleasant homestead appears in con- 
nection with tliis biographical notice. Mrs. Bush 
rents out tiie land, but still continues her residence 
on the farm. She was an able coadjutor of her 
husband in the upbuilding of their pleasant home, 
and contributed her share towards its prosperity. 
Not only is she a capable manager and good finan- 
cier, but slie is also extremely kind and benevo- 
lent, ever read^^ to extend a helping hand to any 
who are in trouble. 

Mrs. Bush is tlie daughter of Byron Moses, a 
a resident of Watertown Township and a native of 
Massachusetts. Mr. Moses came to Lapeer County, 
this State, many 3'cars ago, and was for sometime 
identified with its development. His daughter, 
Marietta, was born August 6, 18.56, in Lapeer 
County, and wlien she was about three years old 
accompanied her parents to Watertown Townsliip. 
There she grew to womanhood, receiving excellent 
educational advantages, which have been of incal- 
culable value to her in managing her business 
jififairs. Under the careful instruction of her mother 



she early became a capable housewife, and when 
she married was well fitted to take charge of a 
home of her own. 

In 1875 Marietta Moses was united in marriage 
with James T. Bush, and presided over his home 
until June 2, 1887, when he passed away, leaving 
her in charge of their two children: James W., 
born September 29, 1876; and Vera L., November 
27, 1879. Both arc still at home with their mother. 
Mr. Bu?h was a native of New York, born Febru- 
ary 10, 1831, and was for a long time a prominent 
farmer of this part of Michigan, having come here 
about 1856. His paternal grandfather, a native of 
Holland, lived to the venerable age of one hundred 
and three years, and served through the Revolu- 
tionary War. Conrad Bush, father of James T.Bush, 
resided in New York, and died May 8, 1889, at the 
great age of ninety-two years. 

James T. Bush was twice married, and was be- 
reaved of his first wife December 2, 1874. His 
death was not only a severe afHiction to his fam- 
ily, as he had been a good husband and father, 
but it was felt that his removal look away one of 
the best citizens of the township who had contrib- 
ted liberally- to its growth. He farmed extensively 
and acquired a good amount of property. Mrs. 
Bush is a prominent and influential member of the 
Congregational ChuvcTi at Wacousta, and is highly 
esteemed throughout the community. Being a wo- 
man of more than ordinary business ability she 
condujts her affairs with wisdom and success. 

"♦ • > ' ';:=^^^^ » < '■■"' 



■ft' 



HARLES A. WHELAN. Prominent in 
church and political circles and one ot the 
^^y inthiential citizens of Shiawassee Township, 
Shiawassee County, is the gentleman whose name 
appears at the head of this sketch. He was born 
in Amherst Township, Lorain County, Ohio, Janu- 
ary 6, 1846, and is the younger of the two chil- 
dren in the parents' home, his brother bearing the 
name of Frank. His parents were Clark and 
Laura (Aiken) Whelan, who came to Michigan in 
January, 1867, although the son did not come 
West until the following fall. 




^^a£aa.«a.s^ta»sife^r»aa^!l^^aga^ 



PXSIDElfxCE 'J^ MR^.! lA.RlETT,-, BUS H, -.EC. 9.>VATER"r0VVN TP./JLiNTQN ::';.,MICH. 




j^ .1 ..VI.. ■.■•1 ... aix. */..'j:.^ 



<WO >»ni(; 



•.,v'< , •. •.v.*..<»it;f.'jS4.-,i|'. i.-.j;j^. 



RESlDEISCf. OFMR. G.A.WHEbAN. SEC Ij. SHIAWASSEETR, SHIAWASSEE C9,M I CH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



593 



Oar subject was reared on a farm and took a 
three years' course in Oberlin College, leaving col- 
lege at the age of nineteen to engage us a clerk in 
the general store of I. M. Johnson & Son. Here 
he continued for two years uiit'l lie decided to fol- 
low his father to Michigan. He remained with his 
father until March 24, 1869, when he was married 
and settled on the farm where he now Tives. His 
father at tliis time presented him with seventj-six 
acres of land, upon which lie live.i for four years 
and then went to Vernon to take a clerkship for 
Nichols <t Herrington. 

This change of occu|)ation was not actuated by 
a love of change or a distaste for agriculture, but 
was made for the purpose of realizing money with 
which to build a suitable home. He accomplished 
his object in two years, and coming back to the 
farm erected the liouse in which he now lives at a 
cost of *2,000. This residence, a view of which 
appears on another page, is a pleasant and commo- 
dious house of twelve rooms, and has been the 
abode of the family since he returned from \'er- 
non. Mr. Whelan has added by purchase to his 
farm until it now comprises one hundred and 
thirty acres, upon which he carries on mixed farm- 
ing. 

A firm Republican, Mr. Whelan is prominent in 
the ranks of his part}-. He served as Township 
Treasurer and was afterward elected Supervisor for 
two years. He served tliree years in the capacity 
of Township Treasurer, under peculiar circum- 
stances. Edwin Sheldon, the incumbent of that 
oflice, proved a defaulter to the amount of is!4,000 
and left the count}-. Our subject was appointed 
to fill out his term, and after assuming the olficc of 
Supervisor he found it his first duty to act against 
the bondsmen, which he did in a prompt and busi- 
ness-like manner and brought the affair to a suc- 
cessful termination in one trial, so that the town- 
ship did not lose bj' the defaulter. He was elected 
Justice of the Peace in 1889, in which office he is 
now serving. He was the Reiiublican candidate 
for member of the Legislature in 1890 in his dis- 
trict and made a fine canvass against the Hon. 
Hiram Johnson, his successful competitor. 

The marriage of our su))ject united liim with 
Rebecca A. Newberry, daughter of William and 



Mary (Parmenter) Newberry. She was born in 
the old Newberry homestead, April 21, 1847. 
Throe children have been born to her, namol}': 
Edwin C, born July 23, 1870; Mary E., Septem- 
ber 3, 1873; .and Howard N., May 5, 1876. Edwin 
graduated at the A'ernon High School in the class 
of '90. Ma}' has fitted herself for tlie teacher's 
profession and graduates this j-ear at the same 
school and expects to teach next year. She is 
giving especial attention to music. Howard N. 
is also a student of tlie high school. The various 
members of the family arc prominently identified 
with the Baptist Church at Vernon. Thej' have 
one of the neatest homes in the township and are 
highly appreciative of the best things of life. 




^IlLVRKl) DERHAM. The farm of one hun- 
WlUW drod and ninety acres which so much re- 
sembles the beautifully cultivated farms 
of central P]ngland and which is located on 
section 8, Venice Township, Shiawassee County, 
belongs to the gentleman whose name is at the head 
of this sketch. He is of English parentage, his 
father licing Henry Derham, a native of Somerset- 
shire, England. Mr. Derham, Sr., still survives 
having readied the age of seventy-five 3-ears. He 
makes his home at Corunna. His trade was that 
of a miller and baker but since coming to America 
he has engaged almost exclusively in farming. 
Forty- four years ago he came to this country, re- 
maining in Rochester, N. Y., two years, thence 
coming to Michigan. 

The mother of our subject was Martlia (Jewell) 
Derham, a native of the same shire as her husband, 
wiiere he wooed and won her. Mr. Derham came 
to Michigan in 1849, coming to Shiawassee 
Count}', where they located eighty acres on sec- 
tion .5, it being as wild as was all the land at 
the time of the first settlement. 

Our subject's father returned to Oakland Coun- 
ty the summer of 1850, thence went to New York 
State. The next fall he purchased his farm in this 
State and made a temporary home in the log barn 
of George W. Priest, until a shanty could be put 



594 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



up on his own claim. As soon as this was erected 
the family moverl into it making it their home 
until 1866, when our subject bought his father out, 
and Mr. Derbam, Sr., retired to Corunna to live. 
Thirty acres of the farm were at that time cleared. 
Our subject's mother died in 1868. The father 
again married Mrs. Marra in 1870. By bis first 
marriage he had five children who were named re- 
spectively, William our subject, Elizabeth, Mrs. 
Ethan Doan, Charles, and Emma who is Mrs. "Whit- 
temore. Our subject's mother was a member of 
tlie Methodist Episcopal Church and his fatlier was 
a Republican in politics. 

Alfred Derham was born in England, August 3, 
1841. He was nine years of age when brought to 
Michigan and here received a good common-school 
education in Venice Township. He became self- 
supporting at the age of fifteen, although until he 
was seventeen years of age his wages went to his 
father. From tliis period he bought his time and 
worked out, securing with his savings eight}- acres 
of land of his father in Caledonia Township. This 
was located on section 13. After adding forty 
acres to this purchase he sold it in 1865, or at 
least a part of it, and traded the rest for the old 
homestead. 

At this lime the Civil War broke out and there 
was a call for volunteers. Our subject enlisted 
August 8, 1862, in Company H, Twenty-third 
Michigan Infantry. He was first sent to Louis- 
ville, Ky., thence to Shelb\-ville, after which he 
went with ids regiment to Frankfort, also to Perry- 
ville and Bowling Green. From this point his reg- 
iment was engaged in guarding trains to Nashville, 
which duty lasted during the winter. The next 
summer he was engaged in chasing the rebel. Gen. 
Morgan, over Kentuckj' and up into Ohio and our 
subject assisted at his capture. From that place 
they went to Cincinnati, crossing over into Coving- 
ton, Ky., and near there had several skirmishes 
with the rebels. At Paris, Ky., they were enabled 
to save the railroad bridge from destruction by 
the rebel force. 

The regiment in which Mr. Derham was left 
Paris August 4, 1863. They served in the Second 
Brigade and the Second Division of the Twenty- 
third Army Corps. They proceeded by the way 



of Lexington and Louisville to Lebanon, thence to 
Newmarket and leaving that place August 17, par- 
ticipated in the advance into Eastern Tennessee, 
arriving at Loudon. September 4. September 5, 
the brigade made a forced march of twenty miles 
to Knoxville, thence to Morristown and then re- 
turned to Loudon. 

During this time our subject was engaged in 
picket duty and in building intrencliments. From 
Loudon the regiment marched to Lenox Station 
and again returned witli tlie arm}' to Huff's Ferry 
and attacked the enemy on the 12th, no advantage 
being gained Ijy either side. During much of the 
time they were under the command of Gen. White. 
At Knoxville, Gen. A. E. Burnside commanded, 
and directed his regiment to burn Ihe wagons, etc., 
to keep them from tlie rebels. The retreat to 
Knoxville was a iieated one and a brisk fight took 
place at Campbell Station. Mr. Derham was pres- 
ent during all the siege of Knoxville. After this 
siege was raised the regiment was active in doing 
picket dut}' and outpost duty during the Atlanta 
campaign. His regiment participated in the battle 
of Rockj' Face and made a charge at the battle of 
Resaca. 

May 22, the original of our sketch was shot 
through tlie left leg by a musket ball and he was 
sent to the hospital, from thence to Nashville. 
From that place he proceeded to Jeffersonville, 
Ind., and thence to Detroit. At Jeffersonville his 
wound became serious, gangrene setting in and .hs 
a result he was obliged to suffer two severe opera- 
tions b}' having the wound burned. His discharge 
was received at Detroit after a service of two 
years and five months and then the return home 
seemed to offer a prospect of blessed peace. After 
returning from his war experience he was incapa- 
citated for work for over a year. 

Alfred Derham w.as married December 31, 1866, 
to Elvira L. Wilkinson, a daughter of Charles and 
Eliza Wilkinson, a sketch of whom will be found 
in another part of this Album under the name of 
George C. Wilkinson. Mrs. Derham wjis born 
Maj' 31, 1847. The young couple at once took 
up their lifework on the farm wliich he owned and 
where he has since remained. He now has one 
hundred and ninety acres of land, one hundred and 



PORTRAir AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



S!IO 



fort^- of wliich arc under cultivation. In 1871 he 
built liis home at a cost of 11,500. He has since 
built four bnrns and carries on a j^ood business in 
general farming. 

Mr. and Mrs. Derliam are the parents of live 
children, viz: Elmer C, born April 8, 1868; 
George H., May 30, 1871; Floyd A., October 10, 
1875; Albert G., March 30, 1880; Blanche G., De- 
cember 4, 1889. The family are members of tiie 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the fatlier 
is one of the Trustees. The children have received 
the educational advantages to be attained in their 
district. t)ur subject has been a member of the 
School Board for a dozen years. His eldest son is 
now Assessor in the township. Mr. Derham is a 
member of Corunna Lodge G. A. R. He has 
taken an active interest in politics, casting his vote 
with the Republican party. The Commission of 
Drainage, which is so important an one in this 
State, has been presided over by our suljject. 



-»**^@yX^-°*°'- 



^ETER FLEAGLE, a valiant soldier of the 
Civil War, who manages a farm on section 
15, Greenbush Township, Clinton Coun- 
ty, is a native of Carroll, Md., where he 
was born March 24, 1833. His ancestry on 
botli sides is traced back to Germany. He is the 
third eldest son of his parents, Daniel and Nellie 
Fleagle, both natives of Pennsylvania. He re- 
mained in his native Slate until he reached the age 
of twenty-, when he left home and going to San- 
dusky, Ohio, began work there. He had received 
only a rudimentary education as the earl}' schools 
of Mari'land gave but a scant measure of the in- 
tellectual training which the children of to-day 
enjoy, but he made the best of the circumstances 
and has since he reached manhooil taken long 
Strides in the direction of self-education. 

Peter Fleagle in 18G0 took to wife Mary Cole, a 
native of Ohio and daughter of Daniel H. and 
Anna Cole. By their union he became the father 
of four children, two only of whom are now living: 
Nellie, who is the wife of Frank Marshall, and Anna. 



The mother of these children, departed tliis life 
February 20, 1874, and the second marriage of our 
subject united him with Alice Riddle, a daughter 
of George K. Riddle, of Greenbush Township. To 
them have been born four children : Ella, Edward, 
Freddie and Louis. 

The subject of this sketch enlisted in A|>ril, 18G1, 
in the Eighth Ohio Infantry. He entered as a 
private and served for three months, doing duty at 
Cleveland and Camp Dennison. He afterward 
re-enlisted for three years, in 1862, in Com- 
pany K, One Hundredth Ohio Infantry, a regiment 
which was attached to Gen. Sherman's army. He 
marched through Georgia, Alabama and East Ten- 
nessee, and particii)ated in the battle of Franklin 
anrl the siege and battle of Nasiiville. He also 
took i)art in the Atlanta campaign and was present 
at the fall of that cil\' and went with the Twenty- 
third Corps when it was ordered back to N:isliville 
to protect that city and guard the prisoners of 
war. He was afterward in the campaign in North 
Carolina with Sherman and fought at Wilmington, 
Kingston, and in various skirmishes, and was hon- 
orably discharged in July, 1865. 

After his discharge Mr. P^leagle came to Clinton 
County, Mich., where his family was then living, 
as they hivd removed to this region during the war. 
He has been a resident here since 186.5 as he then 
settled on the farm which he now occupies, a line 
tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land, 
mostly under cultivation. He is practically a self- 
made man and has made a good success of his ef- 
forts as a farmer. He is a Republican in i)olitics 
and kee))s himself abreast of the public movements 
of the day, and is ever an earnest helper in all 
movements whiih tend to the uplifting of society. 

Mr. Fleagle has served as Commissioner of Green- 
bush Township for several years and also as School 
Director. He is identified with the Keystone 
(!range. Both he and his excellent wife aie con- 
sistent members of the Methodist E|)iscopal Church, 
and he has for some time served as Class-Leader 
llierein. The record of our subject IxHli as a gal- 
lant soldier in the great Rebellion and as an hon- 
ored citizen of the Republic is an excellent one, and 
his posterity may point to it with pride, and may 
make it their object to emulate and imitate his 



596 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



life. Mr. Fleaglc is among the most honored and 
esteemed citizens of Greenbusli Township and en- 
joys the confidence of all who have had dealings 
with him. 

-, I RAM REED, a prominent farmer residing 
\i on section 28, Venice Township, Shiawassee 
County, is a son of Riley Reed and Caro- 
line (Jackson) Reed, both natives of On- 
tario County, N. Y., where they were eng.agcd in 
agriculture. Their early married life was spent in 
that State until more than fifty years ago, thej^ 
came to Michigan to reside. They settled in 
Farmington Townsliip, Oakland County, and lived 
there for twent}' jears. When thej' went there 
their farm was entirely unbroken and uncultivated 
and the}- put it in a fine condition before leaving 
and moving to Sliiawassee Count}'. About thirty 
years ago they came to Venice Township and made 
their home again on a new farm and have improved 
it and put it in fine shai)e. Both |)arents have now 
passed away from earth, the father dying some 
thirteen years ago. Three of their five children 
survive them. 

The birth of Hiram Reed occurred April 13, 
in Ontario County, N. Y. He was bred a farmer 
and has ahv.ays followed that calling. When he 
came to Shiawassee County at tiie age of twenty- 
one, he had not a single dollar of capital and 
worked on a farm b}' the month, earning $144 per 
year, continuing in tliis w.ay for foUi- years. He 
then bought eighty acres of raw land, having no 
improvements whatever upon it, and was married 
in 1865 to Olive Delling, a daughter of E. M. and 
Sarah (Brewster) Delling. both natives of Maine. 
Mr. Delling came to Miciiigan in 1830 and ra.ade 
his permanent home in Southfie'd Township, Oak- 
land County, where he died in 18S7. His wife 
still survives him and is now sovent}--five years old. 
The}' were the parents of six children, now living. 
Mrs. H. Reed was born in 1839, in Oakland 
County and received more than an ordinary edu- 
cation so that she was enabled to teach school. Mr. 
Reed built a frame house upon his farm and began 
clearing it and now has one hundred and leu acres 



of his one hundred and twenty under cultivation 
and all cleared by his own ax. His pleasant and 
attractive home built some eight j-ears since, cost 
him $1,600 out.<ide of his own labor, and he has 
two barns and other comfortable and convenient 
outbui'dings. He carries on mixed farming, being 
active in the work himself. 

Two children have blessed this home, Finley C. 
and Edwin E. and to both of them has been given 
a good common-school education. Their motlier 
is an earnest and active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Reed is a man of intelli- 
gence and is thoroughly informed on the live issues 
of the d.ay. He believes that a man should not 
neglect his duties as a citizen and that the right of 
suffrage is not paramount to the duty of voting. 
His political convictions allj- him with the Demo- 
cratic part}', and he has been a member of the 
School Board, aad is now upon his second term as 
Treasurer of Venice Township. lie is a man of 
strictly temperate habits and his fine farm is the 
direct result of his sturdy industry, upright life and 
active enterprise. 

. OOP - 



s^DWlN D. WEBSTER, one of the intelligent 
|U] and progressive farmers and highly rcs- 
JLl^ pectcd citizens of Essex Township, Clinton 
County, was born in Franklin County, Mass., 
October 26, 1828. He is the son of Lym.an and 
Dimis (Slebbins) Webster, both natives of Massa- 
chusetts. When only six years old, he migrated 
with his parents in 1834 to Kent County, Mich., 
and after a short stay moved to Ionia County, 
where the}- resided until the spring of 1837 when 
they came to Clinton County. Here they were 
early settlers and did much pioneer work. 

In 1850 the father of our subject went to Cali- 
fornia with a view of mining, and somewhat later 
made a journey to Australia, from which far distant 
country he never returned and was never heard 
from again. Our subject was reared to manhood in 
Clinton County amid the scenes of pioneer life in 
which he took a sturdy and manly part. He re- 
ceived his education in the early schools and is 
mainly self-educated. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



597 



The first luaniaye of Mr. Webster took i)lace in 
1851. He was then united with Eliz.-ibetli Parr, b^- 
whom lie bad two children, Marj- 1)., (Mrs. O. D. 
Casterline) and Elizabeth H., (Mrs. "W. B. Caster- 
line). His second marri.agc which occurred in 
1858 was with Caroline Waller, a native of New 
York. Mr. AVebster settled on the farm wiiere lie 
now resides in the fall of 1858, where he owns one 
hundred and twenty acres of rich arable soil in a 
high state of cultiv.ition. 

For eight years our subject has served as Justice 
of the Peace and for three years as Highway Com- 
missioner. He is a Democrat in politics, and a 
man of enterprise and public spirit. He turned the 
first furrow on his farm and chopped the first tree 
which was felled upon that tract of land. He is 
identified with the Masonic order and also with the 
Pioneer Society of Clinton County and both he and 
his worthy wife are members of the IMcthodist 
Episcopal Church. He has a fine barn and residence 
and his farm is one of the chief ornaments of the 
township. 



JOHN C. ADAMS, one of the representative 
and intelligent residents of Antrim Town- 
ship. Shiawassee County, is the subject of 
tills sketch, and a man whom we arc pleased 
to point out as worthy of the respect and admira- 
tion of his fellow citizens. He was born in Ontario 
County, N. Y., September 13, 18.'57. His father, 
David D. Adams, began life August 23, 1806 and 
was also a New Yorker by birth. He was a stone 
mason but after marriage followed farming and 
came to Michigan in 1847, landing in this township 
and making his home on the farm now cultivated 
by our subject, upon June 2, of that year, thus be- 
ing among the earliest settlers. He built his log 
house at the beginning of the next year on a 
spot adjoining what is now the home of his son. 

Wild game was then plentiful and tlie country 
was quite unformed. Mr. Adams helped to organ- 
ize the First Methodist P^piscopal society in the 
township and was elected its Class-Leader. He 
passed from earth August G, 1880. His good wife. 



who bore the name of Angeline Howard, was born 
in New York, November 21, 1813, and died in 
1856 upon October 21. She also was an earnest 
and valued member and worker in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. A family of ten little ones 
came to bless this pioneer home and eight of them 
are still in active life. 

John C. Adams was born on old Bald Hill near 
Hemlock Lake, in Ontario County, N. Y. His 
schooling was very scant and after he was ten 
years old he obtained only about fourteen months 
of school life up to the age of twenty-three, but 
those months were fraught with much benefit to 
him as they were devoted to earnest study at Prof. 
Nuttings' Acailemy at Lodi, during tliree terms. 

The young man enlisted when he w.as about 
tvventy-four years oltl in the Union Arm^-, which 
he joined May 2G, 1861, but the company which he 
joined did not go into warfare. He subsequenlli^ 
enlisted August 9, of the same 3'ear in Companj' 
II, Fifth Michigan Infantry under command of 
H. D. Terrj-. He was present at the siege of York- 
town and was wounded at Williamsburg, \a. May 
5, 1862, being struck by a ball in his nose, cutting 
him badi}' on the right side and crushing the bone. 
He came home after a thne on a furlough and was 
subsequently discharged. 

He taught for a few terras after returning from 
the war and also engaged in farm work at the old 
homestead for a number of years. His present 
farm was purchased in the spring of 1871. He was 
married twice, the first time March 28, 1865, tak- 
ing for his bride Anna M. Hutchins, of Newberg, 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, who died soon after mar 
riage. His second marriage which took place De- 
cember 22, 1870, united him with Mrs. Maty 
Dodge, whose maiden name was Km pp. She was 
born in Niagara County, N. Y., and was formerly 
the wife of Mr. Henry F. Dodge, who died in 1867. 
Mr. Adams' [jolitical views have led him to aflil- 
iatc with the Republican party and his fellow-citi- 
zens have placed him in various oflices of trust and 
responsibility. He was Highway Commissioner 
one year; Drainage Commissioner three years; 
Clerk for two years; Treasurer one year; School In- 
si)ector for several terms and is at present Justice 
of the Peace. He has been Notary Public for 



598 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



twenty-four years and has transacted a great deal 
of business for his neiglibors. He is identified 
with the Independent Order of Odd Fcdiows, the 
Grand Army of the Republic and the Grange. 

Both Mr. Adams and his faithful helpmate are 
devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and he is a member of the official Board 
being both Stewart and Trustee. He also fills the 
position of Class-Leader and is looked up to as a 
spiritual instructor. He has always been a liberal 
contributor to all benevolent and charitable pur- 
poses. He takes great interest in Jersey and Hol- 
stein cattle. He began life with limited means, his 
first purchase being forty acres, and he now lias 
purchased an<l cleared more than one hundred and 
forty acres. For twelve j'ears he had charge of 
the post-office at Glass River. 



^ €-*-^ ^ 



?ETUS S. WOODHULL, a well-known 
farmer residing on section 9, Woodhull 

? Township, Siiiawassee County, was born in 
Ontario County, N. Y., February 22, 1827. His 
father, .Tolin Woodhull, who was a native of New 
York State and born in 1791, was a farmer and 
owned a sixty -acre farm in New York, anil came 
to Michigan in 1836. making his journey through 
Canada by ox-teani and horse-team. The family 
is of English descent and springs from two brotli- 
ers who came to this country during the French 
and Indian War. The grandfather of our subject 
owned two hundred acres of land in Ontario 
County, N. Y., but came AVest to live with his 
cliildren soon after their emigration to Michigan, 
and died here in 1811, wiien seventy seven years 
old. 

The grandmother of our subject, Catry (Rob- 
ison) Woodiiull, was born in New York State, Janu- 
ary 9, 1774, and her oldest son, John, became tlie 
father of our subject. Ilcr father, John D. Rob 
ison, for whom slie named her first-born, was a 
carpenter and joiner by trade, as well as a farmer. 
He joined the arm^' as a Commissarj- during the 
Revolutionary War, and also fought in the war 
between the French and English. He was the first 



settler of Phelps, Ontario Count}-, N. Y., to which 
place he came in 1788. He was of Scotch de- 
scent, and a man who was highly respected by all 
who knew him, and continued in life until he 
reached the advanced age of eighty -five j'ears. 

The father of our subject established his family 
upon the farm where he now resides when there 
was not another famil}^ in the township. It took a 
week or more to go to market, which was no 
nearer than Pontiac or Ann Arbor. He was most 
friendly with the Indians, and thej' reciprocated 
his kindness, and through them he easily supplied 
his family with venison. His log house was the 
first one built in the township. He cleared a part 
of the farm and died in 18.52. He was a deeply 
religious man and an earnest and active member 
of the Baptist Church. In early life he was a 
Jacksonian Democrat, but later his convictions led 
him to espouse the piinciples of the Free-soilers. 
His wife, Clarissa Swift, was born in Ontario 
County, N. Y., in 1801, and brought three children 
with her when she made the toilsome journey to 
the AVest. Her four children are now all living, 
namely: Nancy, Mrs. Stone; Zetus S. ; Elizabeth, 
Mrs. Smith; and Frances, Mrs. Kimball. She died 
when seventy-eight years old at ^he home of lier 
daughter, Mrs. Stone, in Wisconsin. She was a 
member of the Baptist Church and a most devoted 
and earnest Christian, who believed in keeping up 
the ordinances of religion and was not kept at 
home from religious services by bad weather or 
an}- light excuse. 

Zetus Woodhull was in his ninth year when, with 
his parents, he made the journe}- \Vest. Indian 
children were his plaj-mates and he quickly learned 
theii language, lie remembers with interest the 
wolves and deer vihich abounded and which made 
his boyhood life an adventurous one. He attended 
his first school three years after coming West and 
had to walk a mile and a half to reach it. It w.as 
the primitive school-house which has so often been 
described, and w.as carried on under the rate-bill 
system. As he was late in beginning his school- 
life, he carried it on past his majority and spent 
three winters at Corunna pursuing his studies. He 
began life for himself when twenty-six years old, 
after the death of his fatiicr. He has always lived 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



599 



here, as lie bought out the interests of the other 
heirs in the home farm. 

In 1858 this young man was united in marriage 
with Alice Colby, a native of Candda, whose father 
settled in Ypsilanti In 1834. She was a Baptist in 
her religious views, and a true helpmate in every 
sense, but died in 1881 , when fifty-two years old. 
She was the mother of four children, three of 
whom are now living: Scott, Lelah and Lee. One 
died when four j-ears old. Mr. AYoodhull has now 
two hundred and fort}- acres of land, most of 
which he has improved, and carries on mixed farm- 
ing, raising stock and garden produce. He has for 
many years been a member of the Republican 
part}-, but cast his first ballot for Martin Van Bii- 
ren, when, after his occupancy of the Presidential 
chair, he was renominated to that position by the 
Free-soil Democrats. He has served as Township 
Clerk and Commissioner. He has seen great im- 
provements in this section, as the countr\' when he 
came to it was just as it came from the hand of 
nature. He built his present house in 1871, and 
has a gool frame barn, which he erected in 1842. 



ELIJAH 
among 
Clinton 



LIJAH W. COBB holds an honorable place 
the citizens of Duplain Township, 
iton County, as a [lublic spirited man 
who has achieved success in bis chosen calling and 
is an active promoter of all movements for the 
good of the community, in religious, social and 
industrial circles. He was born in Bennington, 
Wyoming County, N. Y., June 18, 1829. His 
worthy and intelligent parents, Joshua W. and Su- 
sannah (Doty) Cobb, were of Eastern birth and 
lineage. The father's native home and where he 
received his earlj* training was in Canaan, Conn., 
and the mother was born at Half Moon Point, 
N. Y., a beautiful pl.ace on the Hudson River. 

The father of our subject followed throughout 
life the agricultural [)ursuits which he had chosen 
as his vocation, and when this boy was fifteen 
years old the family removed from the East to 
Clinton County, Micli., and located at a point in 
Duplain Township, whicli was afterward destined 



to be the site of the village of Elsie. Forests then 
covered that tract of land and wild animals roved 
over the ground which now resounds to the busy 
feet of the citizens of the village. The father 
took up land where the son now resides and began 
the laborious task of hewing from the forest a 
productive and beautiful farm. 

Before coming to Michigan the boy had received 
onl3' the rudiments of an education which are 
given in the common schools, and the forest home 
in the wild West offered no advantages for further 
education so his schooling ended at the time of 
his emigration to the Wolverine State. He now 
devoted himself to assisting his father and sub- 
duing the wilderness, and after he had reached the 
mature age of twenty -six years he felt that he had 
earned the right to establish a home of his own, 
whicli he proceeded to do with the co-operation 
of Miss Ann Sickels, of Howell, this State. 

This lad}-, who became Mrs. Cobb November 
14, 1855, is a daughter of John F. Sickels, and is 
now the mother of four children. The eldest, 
Arthur Eugenio, was born November 29, 1857; 
Agnes L., December 28, 1862; Willie S., July 25, 
1865; and Emma G., August 15, 1871. Agnes 
died in infancy; AVillie, December 16, 1872; and 
Emma, October 3, of the same year. Arthur, 
who is the only surviving child, married Cora 
Waldron, of Elsie, and now conducts the farm 
for his father, thus relieving his parents of much 
responsibility. 

Elijah W. Cobb u[)oii the death of his father, 
which occurred when his son was twenty-one 
\-ears old, took charge of the entire place. He 
found eighty acres of land, with about fifteen 
acres cleared, and he proceeded with energy and 
enterprise to make substantial improvements, to 
clear the rest of the farm and to add to it by pur- 
chase. He has added some twenty acres to the 
original tract and has placed upon it the farm- 
houses and barns of which he may well feel proud. 
About the year 1865 he engaged In buying staves 
for Fowler, Essington & Co., making that his busi- 
ness for a number of years. He then openetl a 
store for the sale of groceries, in which he was 
successful, but being desirous of changing his line 
of goods, sold out this establishment and took up 



600 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the sale of hardware and drugs. In this he con- 
tiuuea until about the year 1870, when he dis- 
posed of this business, as he had received the 
appointment of Postmaster at Elsie, which position 
he held until the election of Cleveland, since which 
time he has directed his attention entirely to agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

BIr. Cobb's official life has not been bounded 
by the duties of a Postmaster, as he has held the 
office of Township Treasurer for four years, and 
has also served his township as Highway Commis- 
sioner and Treasurer of the village high school. 
He is now a member of the Village Council. His 
political convictions lead him into affilation with 
the Republican party, for which he does good ser- 
vice both by his own vote and the influence which 
he exerts among his fellow-citizens. He takes a 
more than ordinary interest in school matters and 
is very active in efforts to improve the schools of 
the township. He also is helpful in fostering the 
cause of religion and is a friend to all church 
work. He has done his share toward public im- 
provements and is ready with his counsel and his 
purse to hell) forward necessary movements in that 
direction. He gave $500 to the railroad which 
was built through Elsie, as one of the induce- 
ments to that choice of direction. This is one 
example of his public-spirited enterprise which has 
made him so well known and so thoroughly re- 
spected in the community. 



,j.^^^..._ 



-'-!>) 



; — i-?*^' 




FOWLER. The owner of the fine farm on 
section 10, Vernon Townsliip, was born in 
the township and county in which he now 
resides September 17, 1H43. His father was 
.Tosiah Fowler, a native of New York and he was 
born October G, 1810, a farmer who had the addi- 
tional benefit of a trade — that of a cooper — 
which was indeed an advantage to him in coming 
to a new State in pioneer da3s. When he first 
came to Michigan he settled in Oakland Counly, 
thence came to Shiawassee County, where he set- 
tled on section 10, Vernon Township, improving 



the place ihat he had purchased as much as possible 
before his marriage. He built a log house in which 
he lived with liis familj' for many years. He cut 
the timber on the place and realized from it a good 
return. He was a Republican in politics and a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
died April 24, 18G2. 

Our subject's mother was Elizabeth (Chalker) 
Fowler, a native of New York State, having been 
born September 11, 1826, and died in 1879. She 
was married to Mr. Fowler in Vernon Township, 
in the year 1841. She and her husband were 
brought up side by side in what was then known 
as Chalker neighborhood. They were the parents 
of nine children, each of whom was gladly wel- 
comed into the family. Six of these are now liv- 
ing. Mr. Fowler, our subject, was the second 
child and first son, and was reared in his native 
place. His first school d.ays were spent in the little 
log schoolhouse on section 9, Vernon Township, 
and as he grew older he was advanced to the dig- 
nity of a frame schoolhouse on section 7, of the 
same township. He remained at home, assisting 
with the farm work until he was twenty-three years 
of age. 

Our subject felt ihat if the future had anything 
particular in store for him he should begin to find 
it out, so he left the home nest and engaged him- 
self as a laborer on the neighboring farms or at any 
work that he coidd find to do. This he continued 
for five years and tlien he went into the lumber 
woods in the northern part of the State. He spent 
one summer in Detroit in which he enjoyed the 
various exi)criences of camp life. In 1881, our 
subject purchased the land upon which the old 
homestead stood and upon which he now resides. 
In 1885 he was united in marriage to Mary Assel- 
stine, a native of Canada and who was born May 
20, 1859. She was reared in the same place where 
they were married. Mr. Fowler has eight3'-six 
acres of vvell improved land and devotes himself 
to general farming. 

Our subject is a Democrat in politics. He has a 
great regard for religion, but has not connected 
himself with any denomination, although his wife 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mrs. Prowler, who is a very superior lady and an 





'/ 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



603 



energetic supporter of whatever work she takes up, 
whether it be in her family, church or society-, is 
a fine musician and is the leading voice in the 
ciiurch choir. Mrs. Kowler's parents were Billings 
and Lucy (Huffman) Asselsline and are natives of 
Canada. Her father was a mechanic and was en- 
gaged in building threshing machines in Canada, 
although he farmed the early part of his life. lie 
died June 17, 1890. The mother is still living and 
resides with the family of our subject. 



C'^EORGE W. TOPPING, M. D., an able 
^—j physician and courteous gentleman whose 
5^41 home is in DcWitt, Clinton County, comes 
of good old English stock and represents families 
long known in the Empire State. In choosing a line 
of life he diverged widely from that of his father, 
yet has been a worthy successor of his parents in 
having been actuated by the principle that "what 
is worth doing is worth doing well.'' He applied 
himself diligently to useful studies, laid a broad 
foundation on which to rear a superstructure of 
experience, and has been a strong tower in his 
profession. For thirty seven 3'ears he has made 
the town of De Witt the center of his professional 
labors and he long ago attained a Stale reputation 
and rose to a prominent position in the community. 
Going b.ack a few generations in the ])aternal 
line we come to Daniel Topping, who with five 
brothers emigrated to America from England, 
all settling on Long Island. He was a Cap- 
tain in the forces that fought for the freedom 
of the Colonies, and in civil life he was a farmer. 
lie owned a large tract of land, given him by the 
Government for his services in the Revolution, but 
not liking the pro|)erty, sold it for a song and set- 
tled near Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. There he died 
at a ripe old age. His warrant covered ground now 
the site of the town of Elbridge. One of his chil- 
dren was Simon IL, who was born on Long Island 
December 2:3, 1762, and died Eebruary 8, 1831. 
He owned one hundred acres of land in Cayuga 
County', N. Y. His wife was Sarah Frost, born in 



New Jersey July 22, 17G5, and died July 18, 1848. 
Both spent their old age with their son, IJavid 
Topping. Both belonged to the Baptist Church. 
The}' reared nine children. 

One of the family of Simon and MaryTopi)ing was 
Daniel, who was born in Hanover Township, Morris 
County, N. J., December 25, 1790, and followed 
the ancestral occu|)ation. He was a Lieutenant in 
the War of 1812, and fought at Lewistown and 
Black Rock. Afterward he was a Captain of the 
State Militia. Tall, straight and of a soldierly bear- 
ing, he was a marked man wherever be appeared, 
as his grandfather had been before him. He was 
known far and near as Deacon Topping, holding 
office in the regular Baptist Church almost a life- 
time. His home was the stopping place for all the 
ministers who passed that way, and his hand was 
ever open to relieve the wants of others. He made 
his home in Cayuga County, N. Y. where be 
breathed his last Sunday, October 3, 1847. His 
faithful wife survived him many years and passed 
awaj' at the home of their son, George. W., our 
subject, April 1, 1874. She was born at Rens- 
selaer ville, N. Y., October 21, 1791, and bore the 
maiden name of Betsey Atwood. She was one of 
those good, kind and devoted women who leave a 
void in the entire neighborhood when thej' pass 
away, and from her early life she was a consistent 
member of the Baptist Church. The chiblren she 
reared are Nancy, Lyilia, James, Louisa, Harriet, 
Cynthia, Almina, George W., Morton and Charles. 

Dr. Topping was born at Mentz, C.a\"uga Count}-, 
N. Y., December 1 1, 1827, and his boyhood days 
were spent on a farm. He attended the district 
school, then went to Grolon Academy in Tompkins 
Count}', and later studied in the Normal .School in 
Albany. To this school he was appointcil by the 
Count}' Board, which gave a free scholarship to the 
most successful teacher in tiie county. The year 
before he had been clerk in the collector's office at 
Montezuma, on the Erie Canal, and in the winter 
had taught a large district school, thus showing 
how able he was to instruct and guide others. 
After taking up his work in the Norm.-d School, 
young Topping began to study medicine, reading 
with Dr. J. V. Griggs at Montezuma nine months, 
lie next went to Townsend, Huron County, Ohio, 



604 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and puisued liis studies with his brother-in-law, 
Dr. W. S. AUaben, about six moutlis, after which 
he spent one term in the medical department of 
the Wooster Universit}', Cleveland, Ohio. 

The next step of Dr. Topping was to cross the 
plains to California in company with three com- 
rades, the part}' having eight horses ai.d two mules. 
They were one hundred and twelve days traveling 
from Kansas City to Bear River, Cai., and during 
the trip had some trouble with the Indians but lost 
none of their number. Mr. Topping and his part- 
ner opened and worked mines, and had the usual 
experience, sometimes maliing a "rich strike" and 
again being reduced almost to a "grub stake." At 
one time Mr. Topping could have brought back a 
fortune, but lured on by high hopes he stayed 
and lost, and at last after an absence of three years, 
came home with 13,000 only. The return was 
made by the Nicaragua Route in the spring of 
1853 and the young man was soon found studying 
Latin and German at Lockport, N. Y. In the fall 
he entered the medical department of the University 
of Michigan and in the spring of 1854 received his 
diploma and at once selected De Witt as the place 
in which to open an office. 

Dr. Topping has a reputation based not alone on 
the careful di.agnosis and skillful treatment of dis- 
eases but also upon critical surgical operations he has 
performed. Much work with the knife and saw has 
been placed in his hands and he has shown cool- 
ness, keenness of apprehension and the delicate 
touch required b}' a surgeon, and the tender firm- 
ness so needful in times of danger and excitement. 
In 1867 he performed an operation on Cliarles 
Corlett, who had completelj- severed the lar3-nx 
and the anterior portion of the acsophagus near the 
X)omum adami. For twenty days the patient was 
fed through the wound. As this was the first case 
of the kind on record it caused the name and fame 
of Dr. Topping to travel broadcast in professional 
circles. He performed a new and difficult amputa- 
tion of a part of the foot through the shaft of tiie 
metatarsus, and other equally important work lias 
been done by liim in a number of cases. He h.as 
removed tumors and wielded the scalpel in almost 
every way known to surgeons. 

A great shock and grief came to Dr. Topping 



June 17, 1864, when his wife was burned to death. 
She was but twenty-eight years and two da^-s old. 
Her maiden name was Lusiana Hurd and she had had 
two daughters — Alice, novv wife of W. S. Weld, an 
insurance agent in Elgin, 111., and Mrs. Mary 
Walbridge, whose husband is an attorney in Ithaca, 
this State. August 3, 1865, Dr. Topping made a 
second matrimonial alliance, wedding Sindenia A. 
Ballard, wiio was born in Franklin County, Vt., 
October 18, 1833, and by this marriage a son was 
born, George Ballard Topping, now in a whole- 
sale drug house in Columbus, Ohio, having gradu- 
ated in pharmacy from a school in Ann Arbor. 
The residence of Dr. Topping is a neat and attrac- 
tive one and within it the evidences of taste and re- 
gard for true comfort may be seen. Mrs. Topping 
is a notable housewife, is bright and winning in 
her ways, and kind hearted and obliging. 

In 1877 Dr. Topping was President of the old 
Clinton County Medical Society and he has been 
Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and President 
of the Michigan State Medical Soeiet}', holding the 
last named office in 1883. He was sent as a dele- 
gate to the meetings of the American Medical As- 
sociation four or live times, of which he remains a 
permanent member. During the Civil War he was 
appointed Examining Physician by Gov. Blair. 
He is a member of tiie Detroit Medical and Library 
Association and takes an abiding interest in all that 
pertains to the improvement of medical science and 
those who practice it. Dr. Topping belongs to 
Blue Lodge No. 272, F. & A. M., in De Witt, to 
Commandery No. 25, K. T., in Lansing, and to 
Capital Chapter, No. 9, R. A. M., in the same city. 
He also is a member of Council No. 29,of Royal ami 
Select Masters in Lansing, of the Odd Fellows Lodge 
No. 24) , in De Witt, and the Grange No. 459, here. 
He represented his society three times as a delegate 
to the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows. Politically 
he is a Democrat, but sufficiently independent to be 
in no bond.age to party ties, reserving the right to 
consider the man and the need of the moment at 
every election. For a number of years he was 
School Inspector, and in every work he has under- 
taken he has shown himself to be worthy of trust. 
At present he carries on a drug store in connection 
with his practice. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



605 



The Doctor is a regular correspondent of the 
medical journals of tiie country and is often en- 
gaged in the discussion of important subjects 
through different periodicals. lie has given con- 
siderable attention toornotholog}- and entomology, 
and has the largest collection of birds and insects 
in the counUy. Mrs. Dr. Topping was graduated 
from the Michigan Female College June 28, 1861, 
and prior to her marriage was a very successful 
teacher for twelve j'ears, teaching in some of the 
finest schools in the State and holding the position 
of principal in several graded schools. Since her 
marriage she has taken a ver3' active part in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and has served for 
several years as Superintendent of the Sunday- 
school. In the cause of temperance she is an active 
worker whenever an opportunity presents itself. 
She is now and has been for several years President 
of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, of 
De Witt. 

The attention of the reader is invited to the litho- 
graphic portrait of Dr. Topping which accompanies 
this sketch. 



-5- 



-^^ 



THEODORE W. SCIIOEWE, a prominent 
and wealthy German - American citizen of 
^p^ DeAVitt Township, Clinton Count}', has 
one of the tinest brick farm residences in that 
county. It is beautifully situated on the south 
bank of the Looking Glass River about one mile 
west of the 'village of De Wilt. Adjoining it 
are two large red frame barns and other neat and 
convenient oull)uildings, which show the hand of 
a practical farmer. He is a warm hearted, whole- 
souled man, who is universality beloved by his 
neighbors. He was born in Prussia, Germany, 
November 6, 1842. 

The father of our subject, .John Schoewe, was a 
carpenter and millwriglit by tr.ade in Germany and 
coming to America in 1854, settled in Erie County, 
Ohio. His long wearisome trip from the old home 
to Sandusk)-, Ohio, consumed the time from April 
22, to .luly 14, as they crossed the ocean on a sail 
ship. He had some money when he reached this 
country, about $2,000, and added to his possessions 



after coming here, and at the time of his death 
owned one hundred and scvcnty-two acres in Eric 
County, Ohio. He died in 1874. He was an active 
church member having been connected with the 
German Alelhodist Church during most of his life. 
Upon coming to this country he adopted the politi- 
cal principles of the Republican party. His wife, 
Carolina Heinch. was born at Laurensburgh, Ger- 
many, and was the mother of ten children, only 
four of whom arrived at years of maturity, namel}' : 
August, Henrj-, Lewis, and our subject. She was a 
member of the German Methodist Church for the 
greater part of her life and died in April, 1882, 
both she and her good husband being buried at 
Castalia, Erie County, Ohio. 

The subject of this sketch attended school in 
Germany, until he was eleven years old, when he 
came to this country and after that attended the 
college at Berea, one winter. AVhen twenty-two 
years old he began working for himself, his father 
giving him some land to farm and Later dividing 
the farm with him. When twenty-five years of age 
he came to Michigan and worked in Detroit at the 
Michigan Central Kailwa}- shops for two years at ^')0 
per month. He then returned to Ohio and bought 
forty-eight acres of land from his father, and later 
received the twenty seven acres which was his share 
of the estate. He farmed there until November 
1872, after which he bought eighty acres in DeWitt 
Township, about one mile south of his present re- 
sidence. After about three years he exchanged 
that propertj' for his present farm. 

The wife of our subject, Rebecca Heitmcycr, 
who became Mrs. Schoewe, September 6, 18G4, was 
born at LaAvronsburg, Ind., March 6, 1847. Of 
her ten children nine are still living. William 
married Emma Grose and is a farmer; Robert died 
at the age of five years; Carrie is at home and 
Minnie who married John Wannicke makes her 
home at Berea. licrtha, Elsie, Fred, Eddy are all 
at home as are also the twin babies who have not 
yet received their names. One chilil, a twin sister of 
Minnie, is dccea.sed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schoewe 
are active and consistent members of the German 
Methodist Church, and Mr. Schoewe is a Re|)ublican 
in his politics, llis handsome and spacious brick 
residence was built in I 88(; at a generous cost and 



606 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his large barn was erected in 1876 and the other in 
1882. He conducts mixed farming and lias ten 
head of cattle, ten horses, and usually keeps a flock 
of about one hundred sheep. 




ELVIN J. TYLER, a well-known and in- 
fluential farmer residing on section 7, 
Lebanon Township, Clinton County, is a 
son of Washington T. S. Tyler, whose fa- 
ther, Malachi Tyler of Pennsylvania, was born 
February 4, 1769, and died December 12, 1815. 
His wife, Polly Story, was born April 24, 1773 and 
died July 14, 1866. At an early day this couple 
made their home in New York: they reared a fam- 
ily of four sons and two daughters. The father of 
our subject lost his father when quite j'oung, and 
lived at home assisting his mother until he reached 
his maturity. His marriage took place in 1828, and 
his wife, whose name was Mary, was a daughter of 
William Pollack, a native of Maryland. His fa- 
ther was James Polluck, a native of Ireland. Will- 
iam Polhick had in early life removed to Xew 
York and settled in Genesee County being one of 
the pioneers there. He was married in Madison 
County, N. Y., to Rachel Stephens, and became 
the father of the following children: Mary, Martha, 
Emily, Rachael Sophia, Jane, Cordelia. Their fa- 
ther was a cooper by trade and followed this call- 
ing all his life, dying in New York July 15, 1884. 
He had been bereaved of his wife October 10, 1865. 
To the parents of our subject the following chil- 
dren were granted: Melvin, Cassandra and George. 
The family removed to Michigan in 1865, making 
their home in Lebanon Township, Clintou Count}', 
on a farm of sixty acres, which they afterward sold 
and removed to Ionia Count}-. Here they resided 
in Matherton until the death of the father, Febru- 
ary 24, 1883, in his eighty-lhird year. He was 
Supervisor in Stafford Township, N. Y. for a num- 
ber of years and held various township ofTicos in 
this State. In politics he was lirst a Whig and 
later a Republican. His wife is now living with her 
son, our subject, and has readied the age of seventy- 
nine years, having been born October 24, 1812. 



The subject of this sketch first saw the light, 
September 8, 1831 in Genesee County, N. Y. After 
reaching his m.ajority he purchased a farm of 
seventy-five acres which he cultivated for eight 
years in Byron Township, Genesee County, N. Y. 
He was married in the latter County, N. Y., to 
Adelia Walton, a daughter of Jarvis Walton, who 
was born in Massachusetts in 1800, and who mar- 
ried Sallie Tillotson in Cattaraugus County, N. Y. 
Five children came to bless their home to whom 
the following names were given: Henrietta, Perry, 
Mary, Billings, and Adelia. Mr. Walton was a 
carpenter and mason who came with his family to 
Michigan and made his permanent home in Mc- 
Comb County, where lie cultivated a farm, and 
died in 1856, having been bereaved of his wife in 
1841. 

To Melvin J. Tyler and wife have43een born the 
following children: Alice, Clara, Mary, Ida, Stella, 
Fred and Edith. Upon coming to IMichigan in 1863 
our subject settled on one hundred and sixty acres 
which he now owns. lie has cleared and improved 
most of his land and has jilaced upon it good 
buildings. He is a Master Mason and a member of 
Lodge No. 178 at Hubbardson. He is a popular 
man among the Republicans and has been twice 
elected to the position of Township Treasurer. 



^ 



^^ 




LAYTON A. JOHNSON, a well-known and 
highly respected citizen of Ovid Township, 
Clinton County, was born in Highland 
Townshi|). Oakland County, this State, August 23, 
1863. He is a son of Willis D. and Sar.ah A. 
(Gifford) Johnson. His father was a native of 
New York and his mother of Ohio. His father 
was by trade a carpenter and also conducted a farm 
upon which the early life of this boy was i)assed 
and where he spent most of his time until he reached 
the age of nineteen years. He had the advantage 
of a comtnonschool education hut went to school 
in the winters only, as his father died when he was 
but six years old and he had to devote his sum- 
mers to work for his own support and that of the 
family. When he was hut eighteen years old he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



607 



came to Ovid and attended school for more than 
two years. He attended for twenty-six months 
without being once absent or tardy, thus showing 
the earnestness witii which he (jursued his education 
and the value he placed upon his school privileges. 
He graduated in .lune, 1883. 

Tlie young man now entered the insurance busi- 
ness, working for Mr. E. Netiiaway in Ovid and 
after working for thirteen months was given a half 
interest in the business. He continued as a partner 
for a year and then purchased the entire control of 
the business and has since conducted it alone with 
great success for a 30ung man. He established a 
branch office at Owosso and pl.aced it under the con- 
trol of a trusted employe. In connection with in- 
surance he is also carrying on a considerable real 
estate business and this year is liamlling bicycles. 

The marriage of Mr. Johnson, July 23, 1889, was 
an event of great importance in tiie life of the 
j'oung man. The lady of his choice was Ella M. 
Nethaway of Ovid. They are the parents of one 
little son born May 15, 1891. This gentleman's 
political views are in accordance with the declara- 
tions of the Republican party, and he is deeply 
interested in both local and national politics. He 
has held the office of Village Assessor for three 
years past. He is a prominent and useful member 
of the Baptist Church with wliicii he has been con- 
nected since he was twelve years old and is a mem- 
ber of the State Board of the Baptist Sundaj'-scliool 
work. 



ESEK OLNEY. Tlie gentleman whose name 
heads this list, was born .January 17, 1829, 
' and died April 26, 1888. His native place 
was Columbus, Chenango County, N. V. His par- 
ents were James and Clarissa (Ostrander) Olncy, 
the former being a native of Rhode Island, and 
was one of an old and liighl^' respected family in the 
State, well known in Kliode Island history. Our 
subject was reared on a farm until his fatiier's 
deatli, which family calamity left the wife and 
children iudeed greatly bereaved. The father had 
■ been deeply in debt, and our subject, the eldest 
of three children, felt tliat it was his duty to re- 



main at home, which he did until he was thirty 
years of age, devoting liimself to clearing off the 
indebtedness on the homestead. 

Borrowing a large amount of money from an 
uncle, he began business as a money-lender. The 
familj' broke up when our subject had attained Iiis 
thirtietli year. lie came to Coruuna, this Stale, 
in 1859, and began to loan monc}' tlial he had se- 
cured as his share of the farm, and was also agent 
for many Eastern capitalists for whom he loaned 
out money. He remained in Coruuna fourteen or 
fifteen years, until his marriage in 1874, when he 
removed to Vernon, wliere he lived for fifteen 
years. He still continued the business here at this 
place of money lending. He remained at Vernon 
until his death. While driving what was consid- 
ered a gentle horse, it became frightened, appar- 
ently without cause, and he was thrown from the 
carriage, striking tlie skull at the base of the brain. 
Tlie skull was shattered and he lay from Mond.ay 
afternoon until Thursday morning, when he died 
with progressive paralysis, from the effects of the 
wound. 

Mr. Olney was a Republican in politics. Socially 
he had luan}' friends and but few intimates, but to 
the friends who really reached his heart he was a 
friend indeed and for life. At the time of his 
death he was handling about ?! 100,000 for Eastern 
men. All of the men for wiiora he was agent were 
personal friends whom he had known in the East. 
He was rather independent in tliought and action, 
and believed that attention to his own business was 
paramount to any other consideration. At the time 
of his death his business affairs were so perfectly 
and metho<lically arranged 8S not b^^ any possibil- 
ity to admit of litigation on the part of friend or 
foe. He dealt u|)rightiy and wisely both for him- 
self and others. 

Mr. Olney was united In marriage October 1, 
1873, to Miss Addie E. Fox, eldest daughter of 
Dr. W. B. Fox. She was born February 2, 1855, 
at Osceola, Livingston County, this State. She 
acquired a good education at the Owosso High 
School, where she took the normal course, after- 
ward teaching for four terms in tiie district school 
of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Olney have been blest 
I by the advent of two d.aughters into their home: 



G08 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mabel, the eldest, was born October 17, 1875; and 
Nellie, February 22, 1878. Both are accomplished 
musicians. Mabel is at present a student at Oak- 
side School, Owosso, with Mrs. Josephine Gould as 
Principal. The younger is making great improve- 
ment in special studies, and particularly in music. 
She is not content with having acquired what she 
already has, for she is fitting for the higher work 
of college life. 

Since Mr. Oluoy's death his wife has continued 
his business, making collections and following his 
tactics as nearly as possible. She has a beautiful 
home at Bancroft, wlicre she has lived since her hus- 
band's death, and is a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church. AVhile Mr. Olney never sought 
public positions, nor was even a business man]in 
the ordinary sense of the word, he was an important 
factor in tliis county, and much of tlie imijrovemenl 
that the county now boasts is due to his tact and 
management. 



^^^ORMAN ANDRP:W HARDER was born 
I jlj ou the old homestead where he now lives, 
/ili^ June 9, 1837, and is the j'oungest of the 
family of Dr. N. P. and Sallie (Purvis) Harder. 
He was reared on the farm and remained at home 
and when nineteen years old the charge of the farm 
fell to him. It then consisted of one hundred and 
forty-five acres, the remainder of the three hun- 
dred and eighty five acres having been divided 
among his brothers. The parents lived with this 
son until their death, the father passing away in 
1863, and the mother surviving until August 
23, 1887. Tlie house now standing was built by 
our subject in 1869. He has disposed of a part of 
his acreage and now owns only eight3'-two acres. 
He is a Republican in his political views but does 
not care for office. 

N. A. Harder was married September 3, 1857, 
at Argentine, Livingston County, this State, his 
bride being IMiss Caroline Carr, a daughter of 
David and Rebecca (Evans) Carr, who had come 
to Antrim Township, Shiawassee County, in 1846, 
from Wayne County, N. Y., wheie this daughter 



was born on Christmas Day, 1836. Mr. Carr died 
in Antrim Township, about the jear 1861, and his 
widow survived him some five years. Only two of 
his children, Mrs. Harder and Miss Emily Carr, 
who resides with her sister, are residents of this 
count}'. Two other sisters make their home in 
Livingston County ; Cordelia, Mrs. Emer^', who 
lives in Durgee, and Rebecca Maria, Mrs. Benjamin 
Colburn. A brother David lives in Isabel County 
and James Carr resides in Livingston County. 

Two children have been born to our subject and 
his worthy wife. The son, Joseph Clifford Harder, 
born February 14, 1863, is following the ancestral 
tendency to professional life and is a member of 
the junior class of the Homeopathic department of 
the State Universit}' and expects to graduate in 
the class of '92. He had read with Dr. Harvey 
for one year before entering the Universit}'. The 
daughter, Emma Pearl, born August 24, 1873, is a 
student of the Owosso High School, having now 
completed her second year in that institution. She 
is now prepared to teach and expects to follow tliat 
profession. Mr. Harder is prominent as a Mason 
and for twenty-eight years has been identified with 
that order. Both he and his intelligent and amia- 
ble wife are devout members of the Baptist Church. 




TEPHEN WATSON was born in Durham- 
shire, England, November 15, 1817. His 
parents were Stephen and Mary (Feather- 
stone) Watson, also of English nativity. 
Our subject was only six months old when the 
family emigrated to the United States, settling in 
Clinton County, N. Y. When sixteen years of age 
his parents removed to Canada and settled near 
Lake Ontario, where the family' are still represented. 
His father died there about 1848. His mother 
died in 1863. 

When seventeen years of age, the gentleman of 
whom we write, went back to Canandaigua N. Y., 
where he learned the blacksmith's trade, which 
he followed for about fifteen years, working at it 
both in New York and Canada. August 18, 1842, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Kin- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AJ,BUM. 



609 



j'on, who was born at SjTacuse, January 24, 1821. 
Her father was Joliii and her mother Mars^aret 
(Chatterton) Kinyon, both natives of Dutchess 
Count}'. After his marriage, Mr. Watson continued 
to live in New York and Canada res[)ectivel3' for 
seven j-ears, having lived for five inontiis in Ni- 
agara Count3% Canada, during which time he was at 
Niagara Falls where he worked at his trade. He 
went back to New York, where he remained for a 
3'ear and in the fall of 1650 came to Michigan. 

Like most early settlers, Mr. Watson [)urchased 
a farm, his comprising one hundred and sixty 
acres. Tliere was a small clearing, but no liouse. 
He began to improve the place on which he has 
lived ever since. The first tract was located on 
section 8, Sliiaw.assee Township. To this he added 
one hundred and sixty acres on section 5, aggre- 
gating three hundred and twentj' acres on sections 
5 and 8. He devotes himself to general farming, 
having about two liundred of his land uniler culti- 
vation. 

Mr. Watson and his wife have had a large fam- 
ily of children, all of wlion) have attained to man- 
hood and womanhood and have taken responsible 
positions in life. They are Simon Zelotes. who 
lives in Owosso; Charles Slei)lien, who is engaged 
in business in Colorado; Mary Emily, who is Mrs. 
James Monfort, of Corunna; Iviwin G., of Shia- 
wassee Township; Frank Henry, of Owosso; Edgar 
K., who is at home and o|)erates the farm. lie 
was born March 11, 18GI, and is jet unmariied. 
Mr. Watson is a Democrat in politics, but is not in 
any sense a politician. He has not united himself 
with anj- church. Our subject is a Mason of 
twenty -five years standing. 

The original of (jur sketch has been a hard work- 
er anil the farm which is so finely improved vv.as 
cleared almost entirely by himself. He brought 
hither means to buy his first one hundred and sixty 
acres, but had little else to commence with. Mrs. 
Watson's local attachments are very strong indeed, 
and she says '..hat she was so impressed with the 
loneliness of the country in pioneer days that she 
thought it doubtful whether she could remain 
here, so she kept enough money in gold by her, 
which she l)ronglit from New York, to carry her 
back to her home, should she be so homesick that 



she could not endure it. Mrs. Watson has two 
brothers in this State, Simon Kinyon of Corunna, 
and William Kinj'on of Barrj' County. Simon 
Kinj'on is one of the early pioneers, having lived 
in the county upwards of half a century. Mr. 
Watson is one of the stanch and sturdy citizens 
of the count)' and he has been greatly aided in his 
efforts at building up his home and rearing his 
large family so that the}' might take an honorable 
position in life, bv his estimable wife who is in 
every sense a beautiful woman. 



-^•-^^^^^^^^r^^ 



^■■v*^ 



S^DWIN A. GOULD, of the firm of M. 
|l^ Wood & Co, a manufacturing compaii}' 
/iL=^ which furnishes handles of all kinds to 
the market, is an esteemed citizen of Owosso, 
Shiawassee County. This business was estab- 
lished on a small scale in 1868 by Mr. Wood, 
who was joined in it in 1878 by Mr. Gould, with 
whom he formed a partnership. Our subject was 
born in Flint, Mich , January 7, 1852, and is a son 
of David Gould, one of the carl}' settlers of Owosso. 
Having settled liere when a boy, he became a promi- 
nent citizen in this part of the State,and one who was 
active in securing railroad facilities. He was Mayor 
of Owosso for two terms. He was largely engaged 
in tiie lumber business in the Saginaw Valley. He 
was a son of Daniel Gould and died in Owosso in 
his fifty-seventh year, in 1884. He was a native 
of Cayuga County, N. Y., where he was born Sep- 
tember '20, 1827, being the youngest of four broth- 
ers, Daniel, Amos, Kbenezer and David, all of 
whom were prominent in the history of Owosso. 

David Gould was at one time one of the saw- 
mill kings of Michigan, cn'ting large quantities of 
lumber, lath and shingles. His wife was Mary L. 
Todd, who w.as born in Oakland County, this 
State, and is the daughter of John and Polly Todd. 
She is the mother of two children, a son and a 
daughter, our subject and Anna L., who is still 
single. 

The subject of this sketch spent the most of his 
school days in the Owosso city schools. He con- 
tinued with his father in the lumber business up to 



610 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the time when he went in with Mr. Wood in the 
handle works. Mr. Gould w.<»s married May 6, 
1873, to Miss Frankie Eggleston of Owosso. Mr. 
and Mrs. Gould have two sons, P>nest L. and 
Ray D. 

Mr. Gould is a Democrat in his political views 
and four years acted as Alderman for the First 
Ward of Owosso, and during the last year he was 
in ofHce, he was President of the City Council. 
He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. His 
residence at No. 520 Adams Street is among the 
handsomest in the city, and is surrounded by beau- 
tiful grounds which are in a high state of culti- 
vation. 



'^^' 



^"lULIA A. LITCHFIELD, the widow of 
Joseph A. Litchfield, who owns the highly- 
improved farm on section 4. Fairfield Town- 
ship, .Shiawassee County, was born Novem- 
b^8, 1844, in Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio. 
She is a daughter of Ehenezer and Eliza M. (Hyde) 
Nethaway, the former born September 30, 1809, in 
Huntington, L. I. and the latter horn in Massachu- 
setts, November 7, 1820. 

Mrs. Litchfield lived in Ohio until she was about 
six years of age when her parents removed to Du- 
plain I'ownship, Clinton County, this Slate. Here 
our subject received a fair common-school educa- 
tion. She left her father's home only to enter that 
of her husband, her marriage taking place March 
1, 1866, when she became the partner of the joys 
and sorrows of Joseph A. Litchfield, formerly of 
Columbia, Lorain County, Ohio. He was of 
English birth and parentage, his natal day being 
August 5, 1839. 

After their marriage for seven years Mr. and 
Mrs. Litchfield spent nine months of each year in 
Cleveland, Ohio.and the remaining three months on 
his farm in Shiawassee County, this State. This 
farm he had purchased about one year previous to 
his marriage and it made a delightful summer home 
for the young couple. In 1873 they came to their 
farm to make a permanent home, but in 1877 they 
modified their plans somewhat and moved to Mor- 
rice, this county, where they kept a hotel, in which 



business they continued until they were burned 
out, the fire sweeping everything before it, in Au- 
gust, 1880. They had previous!}' lost their farm 
residence by fire, March 16, 1869, at which time 
they lost all the^- had possessed excepting the cloth- 
ing they wore and the land. About $4,000 worth 
of property, including a stock of lumber was lost 
in this wa^'. 

Mr. Litchfield had been the overseer of all the 
mason work on the Lake Shore Railroad. After 
their hotel was burned they returned to the farm 
where they rebuilt and have since resided. Here 
Mr. Litchfield died February 24, 1888, and is bur- 
ied in tiie cemetery at Elsie, this State. He had 
formerly been married to Dora Downie but they 
had no children. Our subject has been the mother 
of four children — Ehenezer A., Henry T., Adella E. 
and George A. The eldest son was born January 
25, 1867, in Daplain Township, Clinton County, 
this State. He at present has charge of the farm 
which he directed three years previous to. his fath- 
er's death. He received only a common-school edu- 
cation, but has made a decided success of whatever 
he has undertaken. He doos not confine himself 
wholly to the cares of the farm but finds some time 
for the pleasure of travel. In 1890 he joined a 
company known as the C. H. Smith Bic3'cling 
Tourists. This merry party left Detroit August 
18, at ten o'clock on their wheels for a trip to Ni- 
agara Falls bj' way of Toronto and Northern Can- 
ada. They arrived at Niagara Falls August 25, at 
eleven o clock in the morning. The}' went from 
Toronto to Lewiston on a steamer. After his re- 
turn from this trip he went to Dakota where he 
took much interest in studying the condition of 
the country. 

The second child of Mrs. Litchfield, Henry T., 
was born in Ovid, this State, January 9, 1873. ije 
is energetic and ambitious and is of great assistance 
to his brother and mother in directing the work on 
the farm. Adella was born March 8, 1876, in 
Fairfield, this county. She onl}' lived to be six 
months old, her death taking place September 13, 
1876. The j'oungest son, George A., was horn in 
Morrice, Shiawassee County, June 19, 1880. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Litchfield had the pleasure of a 
trip to England in 1887, at which time they visited 







RlJiui i^iuL or ;/,R5^ JULIA A , LI rCHF I ELu, SLC.^t. r. 



1 1^ r it i_LJ 



) Tr;^ 3^i^'vVAo5t• L WJ.,W'i\Ct-i . 




FARM RESIDENCE OF D . L . WARREN ,5EC. J5.,MIDDLEBURY "1 P. .SHIAVVASSLL CQ.,IVIICH , 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl»lilCAL ALBUM. 



Gia 



the gentleman's sister. They were gone two months 
and jNIr. Litchfield derived mufii benefit to iiis 
health. Mrs. Litchfield's father was three times 
married and each wife presented liim with a family. 
Our subject had one sister — Marilla S., who was 
married to John T. Cobb; she was born April 22, 
1842, and died childless October 30, 1860. Her 
husband soon after enlisted in tiie army and there 
died. Our subject's oldest half-brother, L'a, wiio 
took to wife Mary A. Wool, was born April 22, 
1836. fic lives in Nebraska and lias a very pleasant 
family of three children. Caroline A.; a half- 
sister, born December 31, 1837, died while young; 
Charlotte A. born September 27, 1840, married 
John Curtis and died September 26, 1873. She 
left two children, one of whom, Elmore Curtis, is 
a physician in Saginaw Citj-; the other, Frederick, 
makes his home in Elsie, Mich. Henry C, born 
August 1, 1848. another half-brotlicr, served about 
one and one half years in the army for which he now 
receives a pension, his home being in Davenport, 
Iowa. His family comprises two children. Ella 
M. married Clayton Johnson and lives in Ovid, 
having one child. 

Mrs. Litchfield was a teacher before her marriage, 
having spent about seven terms in that work. She 
loves travel and feels that much may be learned 
from observation of portions of the country and 
the manners and customs of the various classes of 
people. One of the pleasantest trips of her life was 
made in 1871, when she spent several weeks visit- 
ing her aunt in New York City. A view of tlie 
home where she and her children entertain their 
many friends, is presented on another page of this 
volume. 

RS. LAURA (ROBINSON) MANN, the 
widow of Francis F. Mann, who resides on 
section 9, WoodhuU Township, Shiawassee 
County, is now the second oldest pioneer 
of that township. She is a woman of wonderful 
mind and her faculties, both mental and physical, 
are still bright and active, although she is now 
eight^'-two years old, having been born in .Spring- 
field, Vt., June 9, 1809. Her father, Daniel Rob- 




inson, was a native of Connecticut, born October 
2'J, 177G. His father, Isaiah Robinson, a native of 
the same State, was a son of Jolm Robinson who 
came to America and was the head of the family 
in this country. His fatlior, John Robinson, is the 
onesowcU known in history in connection with the 
movements of the Puritans in England and on the 
continent. 

Isaiah Robinson, the grandfather of our subject, 
was a soldier in the lievolulionary War l)ut finally 
settled on a farm near Springfield, \'t., where lie 
reared a family of ten children and died at the age 
of eighty-two. His wife passed awa^' in 1876. His 
son Daniel was also a farmer and worked at the 
carpenter's trade some, settling in St. Lawrence 
County, N. H., where he followed farming and 
surveying. He was an unusually intelligent man 
and made every effort to overcome the lack of 
carl}' .advantages and was in many senses a self- 
educated man. He pushed his studies after reach- 
ing maturity and attended school after he was 
married, fitting himself for teaching, which he pur- 
sued for twenty winters. He had to an unusual 
degree the respect of his pupils, and was consid- 
ered one of the most important members of the 
community, being not only superior mentally but 
jjhysicall}', and having the advantage of a military 
bearing on account of his drilling in the State mili- 
tia in which he was a captain. He was a Whig in 
politics and of very liberal religious views. He died 
June 28, 1854. 

Nancy McElroy, the mother of our subject was 
born in Boston, jNIass., October 30, 1771, and was 
the daughter of Archibald and Elizabeth McElroy 
who came from Scotland to America in 1740, dur- 
ing the war between the Highlanders and Low- 
landers. They belonged to the latter class and left 
their homes on account of the persecutions of the 
Highlanders. The mother of our subject received 
her name, Nancy Martin McElroy, from a British 
Gen. Martin who was acquainted with her parents 
during the Revolutionar}- War and at the time she 
was named he presented her with an English Bible 
printed in German text. She bore two sons and 
four daughters, namely: Omenda, Mrs. Hulett; 
Oi)heus; Hannah, Mrs. Graham; Laura, our subject, 
Nancy and Orsemus. Their mother died March 11, 



614 



POR'J'RAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



1813. She was a woman of sterling Christian char- 
acter and was connected with the Methodist Church. 

Our subject was brought up on a farm and 
learned the trade of a seamstress. Wlien eighteen 
years old she went to live with an uncle, William 
Robinson, just over the State line at Walpole, X. II. 
She was exceedingly expert with her needle and 
made many elegant garments. She there met and 
married the man of her (dioice, Francis F. Mnnn, 
who was born at Alstead, N. II., December 12, 1808. 
Their marriage was solemnized June 29, 1836. Mr. 
Mann was reared upon a farm and learned the trade 
of a shoemaker, at which he worked until about a 
year after his marriage. 

The young couple decided to try their fortunes 
in the "West and came to Washtenaw County, 
Mich., in October, 1837. They made their journey 
through Canada by team and wagon except the 
distance from Chatham to New York, when on ac- 
count of rain and mud they took a boat and crossed 
the lake. They remained in Washtenaw County 
with a sister of Mrs. Mann's until February, 1838, 
when they came to Shiawassee County and took up 
a farm in the woods in WoodhuU Townshii). Here 
they built a log house and went to work to clear 
the land. 

TherejWere then only three families in the town- 
ship, but there were wild animals in abundance. 
The wolves used to have a run-way right by the 
side of the log cabin and many a night the young 
couple used to lie awake and hear them howl and 
wonder whether tiie iirolection was sufficient for 
them and their animals, for they made strenuous 
efforts to get into the pen and kill the pigs. Deer 
were abundant and Mr. Mann occasionally killed 
one for venison but he was no huntsman. Indians 
often came to trade baskets for flour. 

Mr. Mann was far from strong and suffered much 
with malaria after coming to the West. He died 
May 31, 1882. His political views were in acco"d 
with the principles of the Republican party and he 
held the offices of Treasurer, Justice of the Peace, 
School Inspector, etc. Mrs. Mann reared three 
children of her own: Mary O., Helen L, and Har- 
riet L. The latter married I-inus D. Parks; tbey 
have both died, leaving one child, Clarence E.,who 
makes his home with his yrandmyther, She also 



adopted and brought up three boys — Amassa F. 
Chadwick. James O. McClintock and Albert J. 
Wilcox. 

The subject of this sketch has a fine farm of one 
hundred and twenty acres and has seen wonderful 
changes in this region during her lifetime. She 
has lived in three different houses on this farm. 
She still has charge of her business but rents out 
her laud to others. She is a devoted member of 
the Christian Church and her daughters are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
they take an active part. Helen has been Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school for one year and 
assistant Superintendent for a number of 3'ears. 
She wrote a history of the Suuda^'-school and read 
it at a convention in 1888. Take them all in all 
this family has been exceedingly influential in 
shaping matters, social, industrial and religious for 
this township. 



^(^\ MIKAN. Among the many valuable citi- 
*, J zens who have come as emigrants from the 
^ German Empire, to our prosperous and 
beautiful State of Michigan, all are ready to wel- 
come Mr. V. Mikan, who has made his mark as an 
industrious and valued member of society in Ver- 
non Township, Shiawassee County. He was born 
in Bohemia, Germany, July 13, 1834. His father 
who also bore the name of V. Mikan, is a native 
of the same province, and is now living and resides 
with this son. The brother, John, whose sketch 
will be found on another page is the only other son 
of this father, and his wife Anna Saka, who is also 
a native of Bohemia. The mother died at the age 
of seventy-six years. 

Mr. Mikan and his brother John remained in 
their native place until 1854 being reared upon the 
farm and given a public school education. In the 
year just mentioned the family altogether came to 
America, and made their first home near Racine, 
Wis., where they bought a farm and cultivated it 
until 1857. They then came to Shiaw.assee County, 
Mich., and located in ^'ernon Township, pn the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



615 



spot which Uiey now call home. The land was all 
woods then and they cut the limber and hewed the 
logs and put them up, making for themselves a 
block house. This building still stands on the place 
and is looked upon as a pleasant memorial of llie 
early days. The brothers own everything in part- 
nership and have six hundred and forty acres of 
laud, four hundred and eiglity of which are in Shi- 
awassee County, and one hundred and sixty in 
Genesee County. 

In 1870 Mr. Mikan removed to the house where 
he now resides and made his home there. They 
keep a good stock of cattle a fine lot of horses and 
from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and 
fifty head of sheep. He is a very hard working 
man, and spares no pains to improve ids farm and 
make it one of the most proiluctive in the towushi[)- 
His marriage in 1864 united him with Mary Berka, 
a native of Bohemia. They have eight cliildrin, 
four daughters and four sons, namely: Mar}', John, 
Ella, Matilda, Frank, Milton, Victor, and Blanch; 
the oldest daughter is the wife of O. T. MeCord, of 
Omaha, Nel). She taught for five years in Omaha 
previous to her marriage. John resides in Durand ; 
Ella who attended school in Ypsilanli is in Oraalm, 
Neb., with her sister. The other children are still 
at home. 

Mr. Mikan has two large barns, one 82x40, the 
other, which is a cattle and horse barn, is 3Gx(J0 
with a shed which measures 20x40. Mr. Mikan is 
quite independent in regard to politics, and votes 
conscientiously for the man who will fill the office 
with the most beneflt to the community. The 
brothers carry on the farm together, and have al- 
ways worked in unison from the time they were 
able to work at all. 



-^ 



J ^ AMES ALBERT HAYl'. Among the lead- 
ing Democrats in Rush Township, Shiawas- 
see County, prominent both in local politics 
and in business circles, is the gentleman 
whose name beads this paragraph, and whose flue 
farm is located on section 22. He was born in 
Palmyra, N. Y., October 19, 1831, being the son 



I of Charles Hayt, a native of Norwalk, Conn., who 
was born about 1790, and came to >i'ew York some 
twenty five years later. He married Jane JSoule, a 
daughter of Nathan and Mabel (Hodge) Soule, 
natives of Bennington, Xt., who had two daughters 
and one son, Jane, the youngest, being born about 
the year 1795. 

Charles and Jane Ilayt were blessed by tiie birth 
of nine children, two daughters and two sons, are 
yet living. The seveiilii child, our subject was 
only live years old when he was sent to live with 
his grandparents, with whom he remained until he 
reached the age of fifteen- When his father died 
he returned home but stayed there only a short 
time. lie lived in various States from that time 
on, and learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade. 

In 1854 the young man came to Michigan, and 
in 1857 to Rush Township, and bought forty acres 
of land where Henderson now stands. After clear- 
ing some of it lie disposed of it bj' sale and went 
to the locality of Detroit, where he worked at his 
trade. His marriage took |)lace in 1858, his bride 
being Cyrenia M. Dains, a daughter of Samuel and 
Sabra (Wallace) Dains. Mr. and Mrs. Dains were 
New Yorkers and the i)arents of two sons and seven 
daughters, of whom Cyieuia was the seventh in 
order of birth, her natal (la^- being October 31, 
1839. 

Eiglity acres of land on section 22, were pur- 
chased by our subject in 1859, and he removed on 
to it the following year and built a house. Six 
children have blessed their home, namely: Louisa 
E., Lester H., Luther H., Hubbard D., and Lena 
M.; one died unnamed. The oldest daughter ig 
now the wife of Frank Condis, of Bancroft, and 
the oldest son has married and is living at Alraa, 
Gratiot County, this Slate. The remaining three 
have been taken to the other world. In 1881 he 
bought forty acres on section 23, and forty acres 
in 1884 on section 9, which latter tract he has given 
his daughter. He is especially fond of country life 
and although he has tried living in Owoaso three 
different times he finds tliat he prefers the farm. 

Mr. Hayt is a Democrat in his political views, 
and cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin 
Pierce, and his last for Mr. Cleveland. He is a 
prominent worker in the party, and has been a del- 



616 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



egate to county, congressional and State conven- 
tions, and lias been Chairman of several boards. 
In 1864 he enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Mich- 
igan Infantr}', and received the appointment of 
Corporal, and served bravely until the close of the 
war. He has been Justice of the Peace for four 
terms, Township Clerk three terras. Township 
Treasurer three terms, Highway Commissioner two 
j'ears, School Inspector four terms, and on Board of 
Review two terms. He has been an officer in school 
matters nearly ever since he came to this part of 
the country. His official record, his war record and 
his recoid as a citizen entitle him to just praise. 




ZEKIEL F. BROWN is one of the promi- 
nent young farmers of Eagle Township, 
wlieie he resides on section 2;), and owns two 
hundred and eighty-one acres of land in the town- 
ships of Eagle and Watertown, Clinton County. 
Tliis farm he has improved finely and placed upon 
it excellent buildings and all the conveniences for 
farm life. He is the son of Isaac and Hannah 
(Odell) Brown, natives of Monroe and Rockland 
Counties, N. Y., and was born in the first named 
county April 10, 1842. 

In 1853 the parents of our subject removed to 
Michigan and made their home on section 25, 
Eagle Township, Clinton County, where they have 
ever since resided. He was trained in the usual 
duties of a farmer's boy and attended the district 
school, supplementing what he had thus obtained 
by a course at Lansing, Mich. In 18G4-65 he took 
in addition to this a commercial course at Bryant 
& Stratton's Business College at Rochester, N. Y. 
He proposed by this course of study to fit himself 
for teaching, and began his professional work in 
this direction in 18G3. After he returned from 
Rochester he taught school for quite a number of 
terms in Clinton County. 

In October, 1870, Mr. Brown was married to 
Louisa S. Tallraan, daughter of Aikens Tallman, 
who was a native of New York Slate. This union 
has been crowned by the birth of two children, 
both sons. The eldest, J. Earl, born January 27, 



1872, is now attending High School at Lansing, 
from whicli he will soon graduate. Fred L., born 
February 4, 1880, is attending the district school. 
Mr. Brown is interested in political questions but is 
not a part}' man .as he votes for men and measures 
rather than according to the dictates of the wire 
pullers. 

Our subject is a grandson of Ezekiel F'. and 
Alice (French) Brown who were natives of New 
Hampsiiirc and of Irish descent. The fatlier of 
Ezekiel, our suliject, bought one hundred and five 
acres of wild land when he came to Michigan in 
1853. Both he and his good wife are living on 
their beautiful farm at quite an advanced age, .as 
the father was born May 28, 1817, and the mother 
November 3, 1818. The}' reared a family of nine 
children, six of whom are now living: Betsey A. 
was married to George Smith, and died leaving 
one child. Horace was born April 5, 1840, and 
died February 20, 1859. Sarah M. was born Aug- 
ust 8, 1844, and is now Mrs. George M. Dayton, 
of Lansing, this State. Isaac M. was born July 
13, 184G, married Mary A. McMillan and re- 
sides at Lansing. Pha'be A., born January 20, 
1851, is the widow of John T. Backus, and 
now resides with her parents. Hiram E., born 
Januar}' 20, 1856, and married Rena Navtzber. 
George II., born February 16, 1859, married 
Myra Smith and resides at Grand Ledge. The 
father of tliis family gave to all his children the 
advantages of a good education and to our subject 
and his brother Hiram training which fitted them 
for teaching which they both pursued for some 
time. Our subject is a member of Lodge No. 179, 
F. & A. M. at Grand Ledge and is a man in good 
circumstances, having been prosperous in all his 



undertakings. 






^^ 



^ WIGHT C. CLAPP, a popular citizen and 
Alderman of Owosso who has made his 
mark as Superintendent and designer at the 
Estey Manufacturing Company, at Owosso, had his 
birthplace in IMadison, Lake County, Ohio, August 
23, 1844. When four years old his parents took 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



617 



him back to Massacluisetls, their former home, 
where they settled in Montague. His fatlier, 
Cyrus Clapp, was born in 1811 and was the son of 
Joseph Clapp, who was descended from English 
blood on his father's side and on his mother's sidcwas 
of Scotch descent. The great-great-grandfather was 
a native of Solcombe Regis, Devonshire, England, 
and came from I'l^-mouth to New England in IC^O, 
arriving at Nantasket on May 30, 1630. The 
father of our subject was a carpenter and joiner 
and engaged in the manufacture of plow handles 
and scythe snaths. He died in 1885 in Montague 
Mass. His wife, .Sophia (Brown) Clapp is still liv- 
ing in her sevent}--fiftli year and was the mother of 
nine children. 

Dwight C. Clapp passed his earl^' school days in 
Montague, Mass., and left school at the age of 
fourteen j-ears to enter his father's manufacturing 
establishment. When seventeen years old he 
learned the business of sash, door and blind mak- 
ing. He then went to Providence, R. I., where he 
worked for the Providence Tool Company' and 
also made stock for the Springfield musket. In 
1865 he went to Springfield, Mass., and there 
worked at making sash, doors and blincis for some 
eight }-ears, and from there removed to Cleveland, 
Ohio, where for two years he was inspector of sew- 
ing machine cabinets for the Providence Tool 
Company and afterward filled the position for 
eighteen months of Su|)erintendent of the IHica 
Furniture Company, Utica, N. Y. 

In the spring of 1881 the subject of this brief 
sketch came to Owosso and took the position of 
Superintendent of the Estey Manuf.acturing Com- 
pany. He also designs for the company in which line 
of work he has great ability. lie is tiio inventor 
of the famous Ciapp patent bureau and lias secured 
a number of valuable patents on the same. This 
bureau is made without glue, blocks, or nails and 
overcomes the shrinking and swelling of the parts. 
The drawers are so constructed that they never 
slick or hind and are almost dust tight. For a fuller 
description of Mr. Clapp's invention and experi- 
ments the reader is referred to the sketch of Mr. 
D. M. Estey. 

In April, 1886, this gentleman was united in 
marriage with Miss Cora M. Holt, a native of Mas- 



sachusetts, and a lady of rare accomplishments. 
She is a sister of Chas. E. Higley of the Estey 
Manufacturing Companj'. Mr. Clapp is a member 
of Owosso Lodge No. 81 F. and A. M. and of 
Owosso, Chai)ter No. 89 and Junior Warden of 
the Corunna Coramandery No. 23 K. T. He is 
now serving as Alilerman for the First AVard. The 
home of Mr. and Mrs. Clapp is a fine structure 
handsomely finished and elegantly furnished. It 
is beautifully situated in extensive grounds which 
are adorned with shrnblwr}' and trees of various 
kinds. 



\' 7 SAAC M. DRYER, a prominent farmer and 
old settler of Clinton County, living in the 
ilJ outskirts of the village of Bath, w.as born in 
Cazenovia Township, Madison County, N. Y., 
July 13, 1833. His father David P. was a native 
of New York and born in 1807, and liis grand- 
father, Allen Dryer, was born in Massachusetts in 
1772. The great-great-great-grandfather of our 
subject was born in Holland in 1677 and bore the 
name of John VanDrier. He settled in London, 
England and was impressed into the English aimy 
ai)d brought to Boston on a British JIan-of-War. 
He there deserted and settled at Rehoboth, Mass., 
where he changed his name from Van Diyer to 
Dryer. For further account of the genealogy of 
this family, the reader will consult the biography 
of Dr. Newell A. Dryer which appears in this 
volume. 

The father of our subject was a farmer and in 
1836 came to White Owk Township, Ingham 
County, Mich., and took up eighty acres of land 
from the Government. He journcj-ed b}' water 
from his old home to Detroit and there purchased 
an ox-team which he drove the rest of the way. 
He lived u[)on his farm until 1849 and was friend- 
ly- with the Indians and received their friendship 
in return. He never cared for hunting although 
there were thousands of deer all about him. He 
moved to Bath Township. Clinton County, Febru- 
ary 1, 1850, having bought eighty acres here the 
previous year and built a log-house. All was an 



618 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



unbroken forest and there were no neighbors with- 
in three miles of the cabin. About the time of the 
close of the war Mr. Drj'er left his farm and went 
to Lausiiig where he lived a retired life for five 
years after which he returned to the village of Baih 
where he now resides. A sister, who makes her 
home with him, has reached the extreme old age of 
ninety-four years. 

The mother of our subject Philena Morse, was 
born in New York State in 1816. She had five 
children all of whom she reai^ed to man's and wo- 
man's estate. They are named Isaac M., Philena, 
Allen, Delia and Emma. She was a devout and 
earnest member of the Baptist Church and was 
called away from earth in 1852. The father of our 
subject is a Democrat in his political views and he 
has served his township in various offices among 
which is that of Township Treasurer. 

The subject of this sketch was but three years 
old when he came to Michigan and his earliest 
play-fellows were Indian children. He attended 
the rate bill school in the log school house, enjoyed 
the open fire-place, sat upon the slab benches sup- 
ported by pin legs and learned to write on the desk 
fastened to the wall, using quill pens. lie after- 
ward attended Union School at Lansing. He was 
reared on the farm and remained at home until he 
was twenty-five years of age. He was then married 
and established a home of his own, October 11, 
1857, choosing as his companion for life Rebecca 
McKay, who was born in Salem, Washtenaw 
County, on Christmas Day, 1833. 

To our subject and his good wife have been born 
ten children, seven of whom have grovvn to matur- 
ity. They are Susan C, the wife of G. S. Brower, 
a contractor and builder at Fresno, Cal. Ida A., 
who married L. H. Rush, who lives in Pomona, 
Cal. David who is married and carries on the 
business of a carpenter and joiner at Oakland, Cal.; 
Elbridge O., is a [ilumber at Larado, Tex.; Mc- 
Clellan J., who married Alice DeBar and works on 
the home farm; Ernest A., a furniture dealer who 
lives at Texarkana, and Fleta who married Charles 
Steadle, a farmer in Bath Township. 

Isaac Dryer bought eighty acres of land in 1852 
which constitutes his present farm. He found no 
improvements upon it and at once set to work to 



build a log-house which was 17x23 feet in dimen- 
sions. He lived in that until 1874 which burned 
three years later after which he erected the large 
brick house in which he now resides. He has made 
all the improvements which are to be seen on this 
fine farm and has added to it by purchase until he 
now owns one hundred and seventy-two acres, all 
but thirty- of which is under cultivation. He car- 
ries on mixed farming and is very successful there- 
in. Mrs. Dryer is an earnest and active member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject has long been an advocate of the 
principles of the Democratic party. He was elect- 
ed Supervisor of Bath Township in 1872 and held 
that office for eighteen years besides other minor 
offices. He has been a charter member since its 
organization in 1864 of Lodge No. 124 I. O. O. 
F. and has held all of the Chairs in that bod)'. On 
several occasions he was delegate to the Grand 
Lodge. He is also identified with the order of the 
Good Templars. He used to kill a good manj' 
deer in the early daj's and retains his fondness for 
that sport, being now a member of the Bath Hunt- 
ing Club which goes North every year in Nov- 
ember for hunting. He was the first president of 
that club when it was organized in 1873. He is a 
man whose intelligence, character and ability- will 
always make him prominent in any community 
where he may choose to reside. 



<^ SALTER C. De WITT, a well-known resi- 
\/\/// '■^^^^ of Middlebur}' Township, Shiawassee 
^^ County, first saw the light in Hope, War- 
ren County, N. J., June 8. 1815. He is a son of 
James and Anna (Coats) DeAVitt, and his father 
was born and brought up in Warren and Sussex 
Counties. N. J. He was by occupation a trader 
and was for thirty j-ears Justice of the Peace and 
Postmaster of Hope, while he was at the same time 
engaged in traffic. The son had few advantages 
for an education and received only the rudiments 
obtained in the common schools. He has always 
been a great reader and has kept himself well-in- 
formed. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



619 



The subject of this fketi-h made liis home with 
his parents till he reached the age of seventeen 
years, when he went to learn the trade of a tanner 
and currier in Warren County, N. J., and served 
an apprenticeship of four years and after this he 
worked as a journcj-man at his trade. He was 
engaged for fifteen years in New Jersey and finally 
established and took charge of a large tanner}' for 
James Hull & Bro., of Strausburg, Pa. For two 
and one-half years he carried on this establishment 
and then for one j-ear re-engaged in his trade of 
currying. 

The parents, brothers and sisters of young DeAVilt 
having come to Michigan and located in Oakland 
County, the father prevailed u|)on him to follow 
them hither, which he did in 1855. After engag- 
ing in farming for some six years in that count}' 
he decided to remove to Shiawassee Count}'. 
When he first came to the State he had brought 
with him very limited means and in consequence 
had taken a very small tract of land which he 
found insufficient for his plans. He therefore 
decided to dispose of that and go wheie land was 
cheaper. When became to this county in 1861 
he took up an eighty-acre tract which he pur- 
chased of Gideon Lees of New York. At the time 
of his coming to the West he had quite a family 
of his own, as he had married .July 4, 1840. His 
wife, Margaret Middlesworlh, of Hope, N. J., 
became the mother of seven children. Their eldest, 
Jacob A., was born March 'il, 1841, and died Feb- 
ruary IG, 1842. Theo F., born April 30, 1843; 
James, January 4, 1846; William M., February 
16, 1848; Maria I)., February 22, 1851; Anna, 
July 2, 1855; Peter, January 16, 1859. The 
youngest son died June 7, 1874. The mother of 
these children departed this life Deceriibei' 30, 1887, 
after having reached the age of seventy years. 
She was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church. 

When Mr. De Witt came to Shiawassee County 
he found his farm an unbroken wilderness and he 
and his boys went into the woods with their axes 
with right good will to clear land upon which to 
plant crops. He feels that Providence was with 
them in their struggles and can hardly realize that 
by tlieir unaided efforts they cleared and made the 



improvements which they did, but they at once 
felt that this was their place of aboile and made it 
their permanent home. He had hardly put his 
land into a condition to raise crops when he felt 
the call of duty to go to the defense of his coun- 
try's flag. He enlisted in Company B, Eleventh 
Michigan Cavalry, taking the position of a .Ser- 
geant. Tills was in August, 1863, and he served 
for two years. Neither he nor his son Theodore, 
of the same conii)aiiy, received any woun<l in the 
service. 

Walter De Witt and his son have a fine place of 
two hundred and fifty-four acres of highly culti- 
vated arable land. He finds his chief interest in his 
farm and his family and has never sought office, 
although he is an ardent Republican and his Anti- 
Slavery views were the impelling force which led 
him into the army for the purpose of putting down 
slavery. He is an earnestly religious man and has 
been a member of the Methodist Church for more 
than thirty years. His standing in the community 
is that of one whose self-respect and integrity have 
earned for him the esteem of all. 

" 'l^^- 



jf|_^ TRAM M. HIGH. This young gentleman 
|i is numbered among the professional men of 
Ovid and is engaged in the practice of law 
in partnership with Henry E. Walbridge. 
He is rapidly advancing in legal ranks and his 
future is looked forward to with interest by his 
friends and acquaintances, who believe that he has 
the qualities that will make themselves felt more 
and more as he advances in years. Already he 
has shown determination and amI)ition, and what 
he has accomplished in the way of mental culture 
and professional standing has been by his own 
well-divected efforts, unaided by capital or influ- 
ence. 

Mr. High is a son of James and Margaret High 
and was born in St. Croix County, Wis., April 11, 
1860. He was reared by his paternal grandparents 
and lived in Van Bureu County. Mich., until 1870. 
His guardians then removed to Missouri, resided 
in Shelby County two years, then located in Mont- 



620 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



gomeiy Count}', Kan. In that county the youno- 
man remained about nine years. He had been 
given some normal school training, attending pri- 
vate schools of that nature, and at the age of 
seventeen years began teaching in the Valle}' Dis- 
trict in Montgomery County. He continued his 
pedagogical work until the spring of 1882. then 
came to Ovid and attended Prof. Baker's Institnte 
six months. In the fall he went to the Territory 
of New Mexico and took charge of a boarding 
train between Wallace and Albuquerque, remaining 
about seven months. He then returned to Kansas 
and reentered tlie school-room, continuing to 
teach until the spring of 1884. 

Mr. High then came to Ovid, reaching here 
March 12, and at once began the study of law with 
A. D. Griswold. The following fall be became a 
partner of that gentleman and the connection con- 
tinued until dissolved by the death of Mr. Gris- 
wold, May 28, 1890. Mr. High then formed a 
business connection with his present associate. He 
is not engaged in political life, but keeps himself 
well informed and is ready to deposit a Republican 
vote when the ballot box is open. He is now fill- 
ing the office of Superintendent of the Poor. His 
happy home is presided over bj^ an intelligent, 
refined lady, who became his wife April 11, 1886, 
prior to which time she was known as Miss Lena 
Everett. She is a daughter of John W. Everett, 
whose name will be recognized by many of onr 
readers. Mr. and Mrs. High are the happ}- parents 
of a little daughter, Majie J., who was born March 
2, 1889. 




ARVIN BABCOCK. There is in a record 
of the laborious acquisition of a compet- 
ency, but little to attract the reader in 
search of a sensational chapter. It is to 
tliose who recognize the nobility of character which 
attains success in spite of obstacles, and to those 
who would emulate the excellence of such an ex- 
ample, that we address the following remarks. Mr. 
Babcock is of English ancestry, and belongs to a 
family whose name was originally' Badcock. His 



father, Samuel Babcock, was born in Windham 
County, Conn., August 9, 1779, and his mother, 
whose maiden name was Clarissa Brown, was also 
a native of Connecticut, and a cousin of Lorenzo 
Dow. Of the union of this worthy couple, which 
was solemnized September 8, 1800, eight children 
were born, of whom Marvin was the youngest, and 
is the onl}' one now living. His natal daj' was July 
2, 1817. 

The father of our subject w.is a merchant, and 
one of the founders of Hampton, now called West- 
moreland, in Oneida County, N. Y. When the 
War of 1812 was over, prices went down, and in 
consequence of this Mr. Babcock failed. The Sher- 
iff sold everything, and then according to the laws 
of the day put the debtor in jail at Whitesborough. 
Not being a criminal, he was put "on the limits" 
with the privilege of going home Saturdaj' night 
to spend the day of rest with his famil}'. But he 
was not permitted to have even a half-day during 
the week wherein to earn bread for his family. Our 
subject remembers when but three years old, going 
with his mother to the jail to see his father. This 
was just before the death of that parent, who died 
in 1820, of quick consumption, after being in jail 
six months. 

Mr. Babcock was not as strong and robust as 
his brothers, and could not work as hard as they, 
but he resolved he would not go to the poor house. 
He invested ten shillings ($1.25) his entire capital, 
in goods, and started out as a peddler, continuing at 
this work until he had gained $100. He then took 
a deck passage from Buffalo to Detroit, and located 
in the township of Webster, Washtenaw Count}', 
this State. He found a neighborhood of friendly 
and intelligent people, among whom was the farmer 
whose daughter became the wife of E. B. Winans, 
now Governor of Michigan. 

Mr. Babcock bought some land in the unbroken 
forest in 1837, and then returned to New York and 
continued peddling. In 1840 he started again for 
the West, and purchasing a drove of sheep in Ohio, 
drove them into Washtenaw County. This was 
probably the first drove that came within the 
bounds of the county. In 1860 he started for 
Texas with a drove of one thousand fine wool 
sheep, intending to go into the wool-growing busi- 







O?toacyy. ^hocM'^c^c.^'^^^J^o-c^ . 






r. 



s«> 




'a^ 



*^'_2B 





^.Iru^^Ti^ j/V^^^^ 



^y^ ^£^'^0 0^-^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



625 



iiess llierc. but on account of Ibe war he disposed 
of them in Iowa. He was married March 19, 1841, 
at the Goodrich House, Ann Arbor, by Esquire 
Clark, to Miss Mary M. Kniglit. Bridal tours were 
not much in vogue in that day, and the young cou- 
ple, who were both practical farmers, settled down 
to manage and cultivate their farm. 

Mr. Babcock has never belonged to any church, 
nor to any secret societ}' but one, which he aban- 
doned after attending two meetings. He h.as never 
run for any. political office, but is an enthusiastic 
and stanch Democrat, and has made some rousing 
Democratic speeches. He s.iys that the grand old 
Democratic party outlives all others. He is not a 
believer in Christianity, as taught by the clergy of 
to-day, but believes that all good works in this 
world will receiTc credit in the world to come. He 
has published a number of tracts expressing his 
views on religion, especially- one which he called an 
open letter to the St. .John's School Board, in which 
he protested against the teaching of sectarianism in 
the public schools. This tract has been translated 
into some languages (jf India, under the auspices 
of the Colombo Theosophical Society. 

]Mr. Babcock is a Spiritualist, and is widely 
known on account of his opposition to the teacli- 
ing of religion in the public school. The following 
article entitled "A Better Religion Wanted," is 
taken from the Clinton Independent, and gives 
some of his ideas on the subject: 

"There are over one thousand religions and the 
best one of all is the one that h.as the most human- 
ity, that most loves justice, that has more respect 
for good works than faith, and that is possessed 
with a disposition to sometimes be willing tojnake 
a little sacrifice for tiif sake of peace and the grati- 
fication of others. But when a man reads the Pro- 
testant Bible in school every day for ten j'ears, he 
is unjust, selfish, and not willing to do by a Catho- 
lic as he would have a Catholic do hy him if he 
was a Catholic, and the Catholic was him. The 
Catholics are or ought to be entitled to some con- 
sideration. I sometimes feel that even I, as bad as 
I am, am entitled to some rights, in a school that 
costs me more than #100 a year." 

"We will now hear from Judge Kilbrelh, of the 
Court of Special Sessions of New York. He slates: 



. 'In 1888 the number of arrests in this cit^' was 
j 83,617, and the number of arrests in 1874 was 84,- 
821, a decrease of nearly one and one-half per cent, 
in fourteen years. So according to official record 
there were more than one million of arrests in a 
single cit3' in those fourteen years. And all the 
while when this wickedness was going on the church 
bells were ringing, and the preachers were preach- 
ing, but not one among them all tried to encourage 
those bad people to be good by telling them that 
good works in this worhl will be rewarded in the 
next.' 

"We want a better religion; a religion that will 
reward an honest man in the next world for his 
good works while living in this world. Our pris- 
ons are full of robbers, thieves and murderers, and 
our cities full of gin and hell holes for gambling. 
And I don't wonder that the Chinese heathen pre- 
fers the religion of his country to the religion of 
our country. There must be something wrong 
somewhere. I am sure that the church never can 
win the respect of unconverted tax-payers b}- over- 
riding their constitutional rights, or hy preaching 
that the chances are that the good will bo damned 
unless they shall conclude 1o believe and agree 
with the church, and the awftd record of crime in 
this country shows the absurdity of our Protestant 
friends, supposing that notwithstanding the law is 
against them, they are so much better than the law, 
and so much better than the Catholics and all oth- 
ers, as to give them the right to trample iqion the 
rights of all others by running our school in the 
interest of Prolcslantism. We want a belter relig- 
ion, one that will show some respect for the rights 
of others and practice the religion of good works." 
After leaving the business of a jieddler, Mr. Bab- 
cock sold goods at Albion and at Otisco, this State, 
and after running a jeweby store at St. John's 
some years, retired from business. He and his 
wife, whose sketch follows this, recently celebrated 
their golden wedding, in which they were .assisted 
bj' their two surviving cliildren. The son, Charles 
T., has been a trader among the Crow Indians in 
Montana for twelve years, and the daughter, Sarah 
Catherine, is now Mrs. Dr. Siovenson, of Morenci. 
Mr. Babcock was seized with the gold fever in 
18.")2. He went by the overland Fremont route to 



626 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



California, dug sixty-five cents worth of gold with 
his own hands, had the ague, and bought twelve 
bottles of ague medicine, (which would have cost 
a shilling in the East) at $3 a piece, stayed four 
weeks and came home b}' the way of Panama. Af- 
ter reaching home he was robbed of his gold. 




ARY MARTECIA BABCOCK, who bore 
the maiden name of Knight, was born Oc- 
tober 17, 1822, in Verona, Oneida County, 
N. Y. She is the oldest daughter of Levi 
Knight, whose ancestors were of English stock, set- 
tled in Windham Count}-, Yt. The greatgrandfa- 
ther, Jonathan Knight, was an officer in the Revo- 
lutionary War. About the time of the War of 
1812, his son Levi removed with his family to 
Oneida County, where in 1819 his son, Levi, Jr., 
was married to Mrs. Catherine Sivers, whose maiden 
name was Near. Tiiis ladj's father, Conrad Near, 
was taken prisoner b}' the Indians when a boy of 
ten years, and taken to Quebec, where he was kept 
until the close of the war. 

Mrs. Babcock is the oldest child of Levi and 
Catherine Knight. She had an early love for books 
which has never left her. Her youthful school 
days were marked bj' diligence, promptitude and 
efficiency, a love of system and a desire for im- 
provement. Her parents came to Michigan in 
1835, and settled in Livingston County, where 
there were no schools, and she was obliged to slu<l3- 
by herself with such poor text books as she could 
get. She commenced to teach wlien fifteen years 
old, and continued in this work until the death of 
her mother, when slie assumed the responsibility of 
managing the family until her father married a 
second time. 

On the 18th of March, 1811, Miss Knight became 
the wife of Marvin Babcock, and commenced 
housekeeping on the farm. She became tlie mother 
of four children, two of whom are still living: 
Sarah Catherine, now Mrs. Dr. Stevenson, born in 
1842; and diaries, in 1850. The deceased are 
Albert B., born in 1844, and died in 1867; George 
M., born in 1850, and died in 1853. Wherever 



Mrs. Babcock has made her home, she has been 
prominent in all literary and progressive societies, 
and was one of the founders of the Ladies' Library 
of St. John's, being its President for over ten j^ears 
and is still one of the Executive Committee. She 
has been active in Chautauqua circles, temperance, 
church and aid societies, and has collected a fine 
library for herself and family. She also has the 
best collection of Indian curiosities in the State. 
She is devoted to the solid improvement of society 
and her aim is to do good to those with whom she 
comes in contact. 

The attention of the reader is invited to the litho- 
graphic portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock pre- 
sented elsewhere in this volume. By their united 
efforts they have arisen from a ver}' small begin- 
ning to a competency, sufficient to support them 
in ease, and are now in their old age enjoying all 
the comforts and even luxuries of life. 

^EORGE W. REED, whose fine farm is situ- 
ated on section 17, ^'ernon Township, Shia- 
^^^41 wassee Countj', was born in Tompkins 
County, N. Y., in Dr3'den Township, September 
20, 1832. He is the sixth son and eighth child of 
William K. and Minerva (Walcott) Reed, whose 
i biographies will be found elsewhere in this volume, 
1 under the name of their son, John Reed. 
j Our subject was three years old when he came 
to Michigan with his parents, and his first school 
days were passed in the log schoolhonse, and his 
later ones in District No. 2 ^'eruon Township. 
When twenty-one years old he began independent 
work on shares for his father. He wooed and won 
for his wife Ellen L. Randolph who was born in 
Litchfield Township, Bradford County, Pa., Octo- 
ber 30, 1807, and their marriage took place on 
New Year's Day, 1861. 

Mrs. Reed is the second daughte'- of Peter and 
Emily (Walcott) Randolph. The mother was a 
native of New York, and the father of Pennsylva- 
nia. He was a farmer and came to Michigan in 
1838. He went on to Cliicago when there were 
only a few houses in that little village, and returned 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



62? 



to Pcnnsj'lvania, and after a sliort staj' there and 
in New York decided to make Miohij^an his home, 
and located in Vernon Township, Shiawassee 
County-, on section 7. There lie bought an im- 
proved farm, but after seven j'cars sold it and 
bought on section 8, where he now lives. He is 
now in his eighlj'-third j'ear, a devout and consist- 
ent member of the Free Methodist Church, and a 
citizen who is highl3' respected by the j'ounger 
members of the comraunity. In his younger days 
be espoused the principles of the Democratic party. 
When in Pennsylvania he filled the offices of Asses- 
sor and School Oflicer. He was bereaved of his 
faithful companion in 1889. 

When Mrs. Reed was eleven years old she re- 
moved from Pennsylvania to New York, and she 
was a j'oung lady of seventeen wlicn she came witli 
her parents to Jlichigan. Immediately after mar- 
riage she and Mr. Reed made their home where 
they now live. There was on the place a log 
house, 18x20 feet, with a frame addition 12x18 
feet, and the farm was partially improved. They 
have a family of four children, Frances, Albert, 
Minerva and Jessie. Mr. Reed has a farm of 
eighty acres, sixty-Bve of which are under cultiva- 
tion, and he is doing a general farming business. 
His residence, where they now live, cost him $1,300, 
and he has thoroughly drained his farm, placing in 
it some thirteen hundred rods of tiling. He keeps 
about ninety head of siioop, and otlier stock in 
proportion. His first Presidential vote was for 
John C. Fremont in 18r)6, and from tiiat day to 
tliis lie has been a consistent adlierent of the Re- 
publican party. He takes an earnest interest in 
educational affairs and acted as Sciiool Director for 
seventeen years. 



ylLLIAM R. Sl'TTON. The gentleman 
whose name heads our sketch, and who is 
the owner of tlie largest livery, sale and 
feed stable in Bancroft, was born in Genesee 
County, N. Y., January 20, 1827. His father wos 
Jnmes H. Sutton, a native of New Jersey, but was 
brought up in New York. His grandfather, Jere- 



miah Sutton, was the son of a Baptist minister and 
was of Irish descent. Our suhjeut's mother w.is 
Adelia (Dowd) Sutton and was born in Norfolk, 
Conn. She belonged to an old Englisli famil}'. 
Her father, Capt. Joseph Dowd, was an old sea 
captain. When the little girl was but ten j'ears 
old her family moved to Genesee County, N. Y. 
Our subject came to Ray Township, Macomb 
Count}', in the spring of 1838, with iiis parents. 

The family of Mr. Sutton settled on a farm 
which was very new land, and here the motiicr 
died in 1847. The father died in 1884 in Rich- 
mond, Macomb County, at the age of seventy-nine 
years. He had lived in Macomb County since 
1838 and was a man who had seen quite a good 
deal of public life, having held many minor ollices. 
Our subject, AVilliain R. Sutton, remained at home 
until he had reached his majority. He learned the 
coopers' trade and worked at it three or four years 
when be secured a farm in Ray Township, and en- 
gaged in general merchandising at Richmond and 
New Haven about 18C5-G6. He returned to his 
farm where he lived a retired life until coming to 
Bancroft in June, 1879, and purchased a restaurant, 
grocery and boarding house. 

Mr. Sutton also at this time puivhased much 
land, upon which he built a number of residences 
for sale. He then engaged in the general merchan- 
dising business for two years. Farm life airain 
allured him and he purchased a number of acres 
which he has improved, especially in its buildings. 
Here he remained for three years and then returned 
to Bancroft. For the List seventeen years our sub- 
ject has been traveling for leldenfritz & Son, nurs- 
erymen of Monroe, this State, formerly as salesman, 
more recently as collector ami for the last few 
years as local agent. For tliree j'ears he has con- 
ducted the liverj' business. He owns a very good 
residence and has one which he rents, and will soon 
build a barn of his own. He owns from seven to 
ten carriages. He has been Justice of the Pe.ace 
one term here and also elsewhere, and is at present 
City Treasurer. 

Mr. Sutton was formerly a Republican in poli- 
tics, but since the formation of the Prohibition 
party he casts his vote with theiii. He lias also 
been Constable of the town and Coronei'. Mr. 



628 



rORTKAIT AJSID BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



Sutton was married at the age of twenty one to 
Fidelia Eton, a cousin of ex-Lieutenant rJovcrnor 
Sessons; she lived only fourteen months after her 
marriage. Marcli IG, 18.36. he took as his second 
wife Charlotte L. Bump, who was born at Mendon, 
N. Y., March 16, 1831; she had been a teacher for 
a number of years. Their family comprises only 
one son, Adalbert T. .Sutton, born October 1, 1857. 
He is the editor and proprietor of the Review^ of 
Richmond, this State, and is in Government em- 
play as mail agent on the Michigan Air Line. Mr. 
.Sutton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and botii he and his wife are active in 
church work. 



I 



-•wz*- 



-Jg^* 



-*r»- 



EZRA L. .SMITH, LL. B., a prominent .attor- 
ney of Clinton Countj', and Deputy Prose- 
,«_—./ cuting Attorney, is a gentleman of no little 
legal ability and a thorough understanding of pro- 
fessional matters. He has for some years made 
his home in St. John's. His father, William Bur- 
roughs Smith, was a native of Romulus, Seneca 
County, N. Y., and his grandfather, Jonathan, who 
was a wagonniaker, was born in New Jersey, and 
after his removal to Romulus worked at the trade 
of a carpenter. He came to Michigan in 1844 
and made his home in Genesee Count}', near Fen- 
ton, in the woods. Here he engaged at his trade 
and spent the remainder of his days. He brought 
up his son William to learn the carpenter's trade. 
The father of our subject was married in 1841 
to Miss Sarah Hoagland, a daughter of John Hoag- 
land, who was born in New Jersey and was an 
early settler of Romulus, New York. After mar- 
riage he engaged in carpenter and joiner work and 
in 1843 came to Michigan. He journeyed by boat 
to Monroe and thence by train to Lenawee 
Count}', where he worked at his trade and carried 
on the business of a contractor and builder. In 
1869 he moved to this county and bougiit land, 
on which he lived till 1878, when he removed to 
the cit}' of St. John's to educate his children. 
He here has carried on his former business and in 
addition has managed the foundry for Mr. Hicks 



and also at one time for Cross & Weller. In 
1 889 he became pattern maker for the Cooper 
Boiler and Engine Works. He was Trustee of the 
village for two years and when he lived in P^ssex 
Township was Commissioner of Highways for two 
years. The three children who were granted unto 
him arc Wilhelmina, now Mrs. Root, of Walker 
County, Ala.; Cyrus, a resident of tliis place, and 
Ezra Lawson Smith, our subject. 

William Smith was Supervisor in Lenawee 
County for three years and was enrolling officer 
and Deputy Provost Marshal during the war. He 
was also State Recruiting Commissioner, appointed 
by Gov. Blair, during the war, and was in De- 
troit during most of the period of contliet. For 
eight j'ears he was Justice of the Pe.ace. He is 
now Financial Secretary of the Royal Templars. 
He has been a Republican, and a thorough one, 
since 1854, and a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church for forty j'ears. His mother, Eliza 
Burroughs, was from New Jersey, and her father, 
William, was one of the first settlers in Romulus, 
N. Y. 

Ezra L. Smith was born at Ridgeway, Lenawee 
Count}', Mich., July 13, 1862. When nine years 
old he removerl with his parents to KIssex Town- 
ship, and after attending the common schools 
studied at St. John's High School, where he gradu- 
ated in 1883. After teaching for one year he en- 
tered the law department of the University of 
Michigan and after a course of two years took 
his diploma in 1886, with the degree of Bachelor 
of Laws. He then engaged in the practice of 
law at East Tawas, with Judge Probata, of Iosco 
County. After that he removed to Mio, Oscoda 
County, where he was appointed by Gov. Luce 
as Prosecuting Attorney. After two years in this 
office he traveled through the lumber districts of 
tiie South, spending one year in Mississippi, Ala- 
bama, Georgia and Florida. 

.St. John's became the permanent home of this 
gentleman in 1889, and in January, 1891, he was 
appointed Dc|)uty Prosecuting Attorney in this 
city, which office he fills admirably and also car- 
ries on the practice of law in the courts. His 
marriage, which took place October 21, 1889, in 
this city, united him with Cora Brainard, a daugh- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



629 



tLT of W. \V. Brainani, an old settler of St. John's. 
>^he is a laily of line intelligence and excellent 
education and was a tcaclier previous to her raar- 
riaire. Mr. Smith is a true-blue Republican and 
at the time of his election to the oUicc of Justice 
of the Peace he received the largest majority of 
any man on the ticket. lie is identified with the 
Knights of Pythias on<l his wife is an earnest and 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



rp^'RED II. GOl'LI). Tiiis young gentleman 
J^|g\> is a well-known capitalist and real-estate 
1^ dealer in Owosso, Shiawassee County, in 

which city he was born Octol)er 11, 1837. He is 
the fifth of the six children comprising the family 
of Amos and Louisa (Peck) Gould, the latter of 
whom is still living and occupying the well-known 
Gould mansion. She is a native of the Empire 
Stale, and daughter of Ira Peck, who came to 
Owosso late iu life. She is now in her declining 
years the object of the loving devotion of the chil- 
dren to whom she devoted herself in their early 
years, and whom she has guided in paths of use- 
fulness and honor. Of lier husljand and iiis career 
the reader may learn by reference to his biogra- 
ph}' on another page. 

The gentleman whose name introduces these par- 
agraphs began his educational work in the Owosso 
schools, and when his course of study here was 
finished entered the military- acadcm)' at Chester, 
Pa. He was graduated from that institution when 
in his nineteenth year, and returning to his home 
soon matriculated in the law department of the 
State Iniversit}'. After two years of diligent study 
and careful research in lej'al tomes, he received his 
diploma in 1878. lie theii entered the First Na- 
tional Bank with his father, and soon became assis- 
tant Cashier, retaining the ])osition until his parent 
died, when the business of the institution was 
closed up together with the affairs of the estate. 
The young man was one of the executors of an es- 
tate computed at <!250,000, a great part of thai 
value being included in tracts of land in this and 
other Stales, some of which con)|irisud as high as 



twelve hundred and fifty acres. In the settlement 
of this estate, business tact and keen judgment were 
required, and the fact that young Mr. Gould has 
been called upon to look after similar work in 
other cases shows that he did his work well. 

A large trad of land adjoining the city of 
Owosso, was one of the valuable purls of the estate. 
A i)orlion of this has been plalied and laid out in 
city lots and is now for sale. Mr. Gould handles 
real-estate quite largely, and in looking after his 
general interests, both in .and out of the city, and 
settling up other estates placed in his hands, he 
fully occupies his time. He was one of the stock- 
holders and a Director in the First National Bank 
until it went into liquidation. He owns a good 
farm of two hundred and sixty acres, well stocked 
with horses, sheep and cattle, and considerable at- 
tention is given by him to the stock business. He 
is raising slandard-brcd horses of the Ilambelto- 
ian strain and thorough-bred cattle. 

In June, 1883, Mr. Gould was united in marriage 
to Jliss Josephine Fletcher, a charming young lady 
well known in Owosso sociel}'. The happy union 
has been blest by the birth of three children, the 
bright group consisting of Fletcher A., Lena M., 
and Frederick E. Mr. Gould is a very well in- 
formed gentleman, whose ambition it is to keep 
abreast of the times in his knowledge of affairs, and 
to advance his individual interests, and add to the 
worth of the city in whose prospects he lakes pride. 
Politically he is a standi Republican. 



^l<^ ICHOLAS O. SMITH. After spending some 
J; 3'ears on a farm not far distant from Ovid, 
iLj Clinton County. Mr. Smith removed to the 
village iu the fall of 1890, for the two-fold object 
of being nearer good schools in which to pl.ace his 
younger children, and of giving his wife rest which 
her health demanded. He still owns his farm, which 
consists of two hundred acres, and is one of the 
finest tracts of land in the county, being in a high 
stale of cultivation, well stocked and supplied with 
numerous and am|)le buildings. A model barn, 



630 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRiiPHJCAL ALBUM. 



36x60 feet, is in process of construction on the site 
of one that was destroyed by fire August 10, 1890. 
It is to Lave a neat, substantial foundation and be 
light, airy and conveniently arranged. In the old 
structure when it was burned there was a large 
quantity of grain and considerable machinery. Mr. 
Smith has been extensively engaged in sheep-breed- 
ing and takes great interest in horses. 

Mr. Smith was born in Wayne County, Ohio, 
October 20, 1837, and is the son of Jonathan G. 
and Elizabeth (McDougal) Smith. The father was 
born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1794, and was a 
farmer l)y occupation. The mother was of Irish 
extraction and was born on the ocean while her 
parents were en route lo America. She died when 
hor son Nicholas was but five months old, and the 
father marrying again the child was reared by a 
stepmother. His educational privileges were limited 
to the common schools which he attended mainly 
during the winter months. He remained on the 
homestead until he was twenty-three years old, 
then set up his own home, and from Ihat time un- 
til the spring of 1883 ho carried on farming in 
Knox and Richland Counties, Ohio. He was also 
engaged in the sale of agricultural implements and 
in veterinary surgery, and since he came to this 
State he has followed the latter to some extent, 
but only as an accommodation. In December, 
1882, he bought land in Clinton County, one hun- 
dred and sixty acres kuown as the B. M. Shephard 
farm and forty acres from Jonathan Cox, and 
moved upon it February 22, 1883. There he lived 
until he thought best to move into Ovid, in the 
High School of which place his younger son will 
graduate in June, 1891. 

In Knox County, Ohio, March 17, 1861, Mr. 
Smith was married to Miss Ellen Hoke, a native of 
that county, she being a daughter of Peter and 
Sarah (McDaniel) Hoke, who was well fitted for 
the position she assumed. Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
have had six children, one of whom died in infancy, 
and Vanorah Belle, who was born January 3, 1869, 
passed away October 14, 1890. The surviving 
children arc George F., born February 10,1863; 
Alverda M., August 3, 1865; Spurgcou R., Decem- 
ber 29, 1871, and ElecU E., October 6, 1876. The 
older son is married to Edna Taft and they are liv- 



ing on the home place. Alverda is the wife of 
Robert Hazel and their home too is in Clinton 
Count3'. 

While he lived in Ohio Mr. Smith held several 
offices, such as School Trustee, President of the 
graded School Board, Constable and Justice of the 
Peace. He held the position of Justice several 
terms, and acted as Administrator of several estates. 
He has been a member of the School Board in this 
State, and is now serving as Justice of the Peace. 
Politically he is a Republican, and he has been 
faithful to the part}' since the days of Abraham 
Lincoln. He is a peaceable, law abiding cilizen, 
intelligent and public spirited, and is highly- re- 
garded liy his acquaintances. Mrs. Smith, who is 
an estimable woman, has also many friends and 
well-wishers. 

OHN FEDEWA. This gentleman is num- 
bered among the successful agriculturists of 
Clinton Count}', in which he has resided 
/ since 1818. His long residence has given 
him an extended acquaintance and he has been 
very useful in advancing the interests of the 
county and particularly of Dallas Township, by im- 
proving land and gathering around him the evi- 
dences of prosperity and civilization. Every well- 
directed effort is of benefit in furthering the general 
good and the man who succeeds in doing well for 
himself and his family, also does well for mankind 
in general. The home of Mr. Fedewa is on section 
32, of the township named and his estate now con- 
sists of one hundred and sixt}' acres. He has had 
other land, but has given to his children tracts on 
which to establish their homes and begin their work 
as householders. 

The grandfather of Mr. Fedewa bore the name 
of Morris and spent his entire life in Germany, 
rearing five sons and four daughters. In this 
household band was a son, Adam, who was born in 
1795 and when he had grown lo manhood married 
Mary K. Miller. To them were born the following 
children: John, Malhias, George, Maggie and Eva. 
The entire family emigrated in company in 1841, 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G3I 



and coming at once to Micliijifan located in Wt-sl- 
pbalia Township, Clinton Count}-. Tiiere the 
father died in 1861, and the mother in 1879. The 
father had bought forty acres of land and afterward 
added to his estate until he had an entire quarter 
section. Wild animals abounded in the neighbor- 
hood and bear often carried off the hogs. IMr. and 
Mrs. Fedewa passed through the usual experiences 
of those who developed wild laud, but lived to see 
what had been nn almost trackless forest converted 
into fruitful fields. Both were members of the 
Catholic Church. 

John Fedewa, eldest child of the couple above 
mentioned, was born December 15, 1820, and left 
his native land iu bis twentieth year. After the 
family was established in this .State he found em- 
plo3'ment in the saleratus works in Lj-ons, Ionia 
County. In 1848 he married and set up his home 
ou land that he still occupies, first securing forty 
acres and afterward adding to his real-estate as he 
was prospered. He built the substantial farm house 
and other structures in which he lives and houses 
his stock and crops, and not only kept his famil\' 
in comfort, but was able to give his children a 
much belter start in life than is sometimes the case. 
AVliile looking earnestly after his own interests he 
has served his fellow-citizens in several public 
capacities, es|)ecially in that of Road Commissioner 
— an office he held fifteen years. He was Town- 
shi[) Treasurer one term, Justice of the Peace about 
three years and School Inspector during a long 
period. In politics he is a Demociat, and in reli- 
gion a Catholic, as is his wife. Before he left his 
native land he had become a mason — a trade in 
which his father and grandfather were engageil. 

The marriage of Mr. Fedewa was solemnized in 
Westphalia Township, Clinton County, in 1848. 
His bride was Anna Schafifer, a woman of domestic 
skill and amiable disposition, who was a native of 
Germany. The union has been blest by the birth 
of seven children, named respectively, Mathias. 
John J., Mary, Catherine, Annie, Stephen and 
Lizzie. All are living in Dallas Township, except 
Mary, who is the wife of Nicholas Shaffer and re- 
sides in Westphalia Township. The father of Mrs. 
Fedewa was Theodore Shaffer and her mother was 
Catherine (Taylor) Shaffer. They emigrated from 



(iermany to America in 184G and made their home 
in Clinton County-. Mr. Shaffer was a shoemaker 
and farmer. His children besides Mrs. Fedewa, 
were John, Anna Mary, Catherine, Mary and 
Stephen. 




ARSON JEFFERYS. This genllenuiu is 
one of the prominent and most venerable 
men of Clinton County, and we take great 
pleasure in presenting a biographical 
sketch of this worthy and intelligent citizen. He 
was born in Sussex County, N. J., December 1, 
1818. He was a son of Parson and Sarah (Dicker- 
son) Jefferys. The grandfather Jofferys, was an 
Englishman who settled in New Jersey at an early 
day. When about five years old our. subject re- 
moved with his parents from the old home to 
Knox County, Ohio, where they took up pioneer 
work. Here the bo}' was reared until he reached 
his majorit}'. He receivetl but a limited education 
and had few advantages for thorough and syste- 
matic schooling, but has tiioroughly improved 
every opportunity to augment his knowledge and 
broaden his understanding of public affairs. After 
reaching his m.ajority he followed the business of 
carpentering at different times for some years. 

The first marriage of our subject took place in 
Ohio, in 1841. His bride who had borne the 
maiden name of Sarah E. Carter, became the mother 
of five children, three of whom are now living, 
namely: Melinda (Mrs. Norinan IIulsc); James 
(who was a soldier iu the Civil War) and Ruth H. 
In the fall of 1818 our subject migrated to Clinton 
County, Mich., and bought eighty acres of land 
from the Government, at |;1.25 per acre, making 
his home where he now resides in Greenbush Town- 
ship. Here he settled in the woods and did much 
brave pioneer work, transforming the wilderness 
into a prosperous farm. 

The second marriage of Mr. Jefferys united him 
with Mrs. L. A. Tinklepaugh, widow of Lewis 
Tinklepaugh of Clinton County. This lady is a 
daughter of Nelson and Sallie A. Daggett, late of 
Clinton County. Our subject has served as Town- 
shi[) Treasurer for several years and has also been 



632 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



on the School Board for his district. He is a pub- 
lic spirited and enterprising man and inclines to 
Democratic principles in politics. He and his wife 
are highij- esteemed members of societ3- and are 
now enjoying the fruits of their -pioneer work, of 
which probably none of their neighbors have done 
more. Parson Jefiferys is known far and wide for 
his integrity, intelligence and true manly character 
and is highly respected by the rising generation. 



E^^ 




LEMENT XETHAWAY. Of late years 
the attention that farmers have paid to stock 
raising has led to the improvement, not 
only of blooded animals, but also the stock that 
finds so ready a market in large cities. It is a most 
lucrative field of business and one that has not been 
full}- developed as yet. It promises rich reward 
to such farmers as perfect it. Among the agricul- 
turists in Shiawassee Countj- who have given much 
attention to introducing a fine grade of stock is 
Clement Nethaway, who resides on section 34, 
Fairfield Township, Shiawassee County. A view 
of liis pleasant homestead is presented on another 
page. 

The original of our sketch was born thirty miles 
frouj New York City in Cornwall C'ount\', on Long 
Island, and is the son of Thomas Nethaway. His 
mother having died when he was but a babe and 
his moiher's familj' being so scattered that no care 
could be expected from that source, our subject was 
adopted into the family of a Mr. Howell near 
Ithaca, N. Y. He received but a limited education, 
it being deemed necessary that he should be so 
provided that he could take care of himself. He 
learned the cooper's trade, at which he worked 
some forty years, partly in New York and partly 
in Ohio. 

Mr. Netbawaj- is now sevent^'-nine 5-ears of 
age, having been born February 7, 1812. His 
wife, who is still living, was born July 13, 1810, 
near Lansing, N. Y., and is a daughter of .Smith 
and Mary (Dow) Head. Her father was a native 
of Massachusetts and her mother of New Jersej-. 
Our subject lived in Me<Uoa County, Ohio, for a 



period of about nine years. He moved to his 
present location in 1855, and thus may be counted 
among the pioneers. He followed his occupation 
as a cooper and invested his earnings in laud which 
improved boih in value and condition. Mr. 
Nethaway has seen this country change from a 
howling wilderness to a beautiful garden and many 
are the experiences and adventures that might be 
chronicled of his early days in this State. 

The subject of our sketch and his wife have been 
blest with seven children, as follows: Melvina, 
Ebeaezer, Smith, Christopher, Mary and Sara 
who are twins, and Thomas. The eldest daughter, 
now deceased, became the wife of William Scott 
and left four children. Ebenezer lives in Fairfield 
as does his brother. Smith. Christopher is still at 
home with his parents. Of the twins .Sara married 
Samuel Vincent and died leaving one child; Mary 
married John Choate and has three children. The 
30ungest son is married and lives at home with 
his wife and three children. Our subject cast 
his first vote after reaching majority for Gen. 
Jackson and has been a stanch and consistent Demo- 
crat all his life. Although frequently nominated 
to various positions, he has always refused to run 
for office. 



AMES W. ROSE, a prominent young farmer 
residing on section 22, Batli Township, 
Clinton County, was born Ai)ril 4, 1853, on 
the pleasant farm which he now o<-cupies. 
His father, Robert Rose, was born in Steuben 
County, N. Y. His grandfather, Sil.is W. Rose, 
was born in the same county, Aprd 27, 1802, and 
his great-grandfather bearing the same name and 
having the same nativity was a farmer of German 
descent. The grandfather was a merchant at Bath, 
N. Y.,and came to Michigan in 1836, traveling by 
Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Detroit. Here he 
bought an ox-team and journeyed to ^A^ashtenaw 
County, where he kept hotel for two years on the 
Detroit and Chicago stage route. He came to 
Bath Township. Clinton County, in 1838, when 
that township and DcAYitt were in one. He helped 




RESIDENCE OF CLEMEfJT NETH AWAY, SEC .5-^., FAI RF! ELD T R, S^-, :AV;mS5EE CO.,MlCH. 



# « $ 4- 









■ V 




RESIDENCE OF MR.JAMES WHEELER ROSE, sec. 22.. BATH TP. CLINTON CO. MICH. 



id^.7:l 




_:_:—' r; -, 



■s;^ f 






J^ 






r-yVV^- 



I__Tyl. 



RFSIDLNCE Of SAMUEL N1. KERBY, 5EC.2A.,CALt"D0UIA TP.,5HIAWA5Sf L .CO. 

MICH 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL ALUUM. 



635 



organize Bath Township, and named it for his old 
home. 

The grandfather of o\ir subject entered from the 
Government and bought, in all, about six hundred 
acres of land. He was a great hunter and kdled 
scores of deer and wolves and was on very friendly 
terms with the Indians. lie had to go to Pontiac 
to mill and to trade and found the roads almost 
impassable and the streams difficult to ford. lie 
laid out man}' roads in the townshii) and took an 
ever active interest in political matters, being Vx 
Democrat in politics. Myrtle Rose, the grand- 
mother of our subject, was born in Steuben County, 
N. Y., December 17, 1802. She is still living and 
makes her home with the Hon. William H. Rose, 
the uncle of our subject. She roared to man's and 
woman s estate nine children, namely: Robert. 
Louisa, Selvina, Susan, Marilda, Silas, Angeline, 
Caroline, and William H. 

The father of our subject was a mere lad when 
he came to Michigan in 1836, having been born 
April 27, 1820. He played with the Indian chil- 
dren, studied in the old log schooUiouse and hunted 
deer and other game. His passion for hunting re- 
mained with him through life and in later years he 
used to go North to hunt deer. He settled on the 
farm now occupied by our subject when it was all 
wild wood, and building a log house set to work 
to clear the land. A second log liouse succeeded 
the Grst and be finally built a large frame house 
suitable to the prosperity which he .Tchievcd. At 
the time of his death. May 15, 1880, he had ac- 
quired a large and handsome property. He w.as 
accidentally' killed at a barn-raising. He was a 
liberal contributor to the Bai)tist Church with 
which he has long been identifiod. He was a Dem- 
ocrat in politics and a member of the Masonic 
order and also of the Sons of Temperance. His 
marriage with Martha Smith, who was born in 
Steuben County, N. V., November 1, 1829, united 
him with a lady of great worth and excellence of 
character. She survived him and makes her home 
with our subject. She has ever taken a deep in- 
terest in church matters. Our subject is the only 
one of her four children now living. They were: 
Bensley, our subject, Lizzie and Mary. Both of 
the daughters died when young. 



After studying in the district schools, James 
Rose attended one term in the I'nion School at 
Lansing. When only twentj* years old he took to 
himself a wife in the person of Alinira J. Murray, 
who was born in Ohio. February 7, 1852. This 
union was solemnized October 31, 1873, and has 
been blest by the birth of two children, .lady, and 
Kdna F. His accomiilished wife and interesting 
children form with him a household of more than 
ordinaiy ha[>piness and intelligence. His wife is 
an earnest and active member of the Baptist (liurcll. 
Mr. Rose is a Republican in his political views and 
has held the ollice of Road Commissioner for two 
terms. He belongs to the Lodge No. 121, I. O. O. 
F. at Bath. He carries on mixed farming, not 
only upon his own tract of eighty acres but also 
upon . forty more belonging to his mother. His 
homestead, a view of which appears on another 
page of this voliiuie, is one of the finest in the 
community, and is embellished with all modern 
improvements. 




AMUEL M. KKRBY. The gentleman who 
lives on the farm on section 24, Caledonia 
Township, Shiawassee County, is a native 
of Canada and was born February 4, 1818, 
in Lnndy's Lane. His father was George P. Kerby, 
also a native of Canada and a farmer. His mother 
was Mary (Merrill) Kerb}', a native of Canada. 
There they were married and have always resided. 
The mother passed aw.iy from this life in 1821, the 
fathe:' in 1881. He was three times married and 
survived all his wives. The mother of our subject 
w.as his first wife. By his first marriage he had four 
children, by the second three, and there was no 
fruit of the third marriage. Of the second mar- 
riage only one child survives and of the first, two 
are now living — our subject and a sister, Mrs. 
Emma Mills, who lives in Florence, Canada, and 
who has a family of five children. 

Our subject's parents were members of the 
Episcopal Church. The father was Justice of the 
Peace for many years and iield the position of 
Postmaster at Florence for thirty years. He was u 



636 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



soldier in the AVar of 1812, being an ensign of his 
regiment, and participating in the battle of Lundy's 
Lane and Queenstowu Height. Our subject re- 
mained in Canada until he had arrived at man- 
hood. There he received a good English educa 
tion and remained at home until twenty-five years 
of age, helping liis fatlier who was in poor health. 
At the age of twenty-five lie began teaching school 
wliich he continued for four years, spending part 
of that time among tlie Indians at Muucie, Canada. 
In August, 1845, he was united in marriage with 
Elizabeth Wood, daughter of James A. aud Nancy 
(Toll) Wood, both natives of Canada and farmers. 
He was a soldier in the Patriot AV'ar and distin- 
guished himself in several engagements. 

Mrs. Kerby's parents removed to the United 
States aud settled in Pontiac, this State, where they 
remained for two years and then returned to 
Canada. There the father died .lanuary 20, 1890, 
at the age of ninety -one years; she died February 
6, 1891, at the age of eighty-nine years. They 
were the parents of six children, five of whom are 
now living. Mrs. Kerby was born in October, 1823 
in Canada, and there she received a common-school 
education. After marriage our subject and wife 
continued living in Canada, where he carried on a 
farm. He was also engaged in the mercliandise 
business at Ridgetown, Canada, where he continued 
for several years. He was a Lieutenant in the In- 
fantry Regiment in the Patriot War. 

In 1860 Mr. Kerby came to the United States, 
locating immediately' in this State, where he settled 
at Pontiac, following the business of farming. He 
afterward removed to a farm in Commerce Town- 
ship, Oakland County, where he remained for two 
years and then located on a farm half way between 
Commerce and Walled Lake, where he remained 
for four years. In 1870 he came to Shiawassee 
County and purchased eighty acres, which is part 
of his present farm. It wns all perfectlj- new land 
and he built his house and cleared his farm mostly 
by his own individual effort. He has given forty 
acres of his original farm to his son and leased the 
coal privilege for a limited number of years to the 
Ohio Coal Company, a good quality of bituminous 
coal being found on the farm. He still carries on 
the farm, managing it entirely to his own satisfac- 



tion. A view of his homestead, which is considered 
one of the best in the coramunitj-, appears else- 
where in this volume. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kerby are the parents of twelve 
children, nine of whom are now living. One son. 
Samuel M., Jr., remains at home; Hannah lives in 
this county and is the mother of eight eliildren ; 
Eancy Winters lives in Vernon Township, Siiiawas- 
see Countj' and is the mother of seven children; 
Mrs. Edwin Goddcll lives in Oakland County; 
John F., w.as married to Lillian Crandall; .Tames 
R. was unite<l in marriage with Mary Alchin and is 
the father of five children; George P. is the hus- 
band of l\Lary Aver}' and has two children; Will- 
iam H. married Luci' Bergen and has one child; 
Edwin I), married Jessie Kinney and is the father 
of two children. 

Both onr subject and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcoi>al Church. He is and has 
been for man}' years a local preacher in that de- 
nomination. In Canada he was a member of the 
Weslej'an Church but in Pontine theie was no such 
denomination. He has prcaclieil for a period of 
forty -seven years and has been Superintendent of 
Sunday-school for nearly as long a time. Formnuj' 
3'ears he was an adherent of the Republican party 
but now he votes the straight Prohibition ticket, 
being a hearty su|iporter of temperance principles 
which he has inculcated in his own familj', for of 
his six sons not one uses stimulants of any nature. 
Although Mr. Kerby enjoys excellent heallli and is 
hale and hearty, he has retired from active life and 
is enjoying the fruits of his earl}- labors. The 
post-offlce station has been given Mr. Kerb3-'s name 
and is known far and near. 



----^'^^^iJ^^^t^^ 



ON. NATHANIEL GROSVENOR PHIL- 
LIPS, deceased. When a man of mark in 
character, standing, aud ability is taken 
aw.aj' from a community it is the universal 
feeling that his memory should be cherished and 
his example perpetuallv pointed out,that his fellow- 
citizens may benefit b}' it and that the young maj' 
learn to emulate his example and aspire to like hon- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



637 



orable distinction. Among such names we count 
tliat wbicb stands at the head of this sketch. This 
gentleman was born in Preston, New London 
County. Conn., November 20, 1825. His parents 
were Grosvenor and Abbie 15. (Kimball) Pliillips, 
both natives of Connecticut. The mother was a 
descendant in the seventh generation from the 
Rev. William Brewster who came over to this 
country in the "Mayflower." Siie is still living and 
is now the widow of Lucius W. Beach, of Owosso 
and has reached the advanced age of eighty-eight 
years. 

The subject of this sketch was tiie only child of 
his father as that parent died before his birth. 
When he was about four years old his mother mar- 
ried Mr. Beach and when the boy was ten years 
old the}- moved to Norwalk, Ohio, where Mr. 
Beach entered the mercantile business, and the 
boy had the privilege of attending the Norwalk 
Academy-. When he was thirteen 3'ears old in the 
year 1838 the family removed to Shiawassee where 
Mr. Beach had charge of a hotel. They continued 
in this line of work until 1853, the greater part of 
that time at this place, althougii Mr. Phillips had 
in the meanwhile spent two years in California 
where he had successfully engaged in mining. He 
now purchased eight hundred acres lying near the 
old home. Mr. Beach was blind the last twelve 
years of his life and this was a great drawback to 
the family happiness. 

Nathaniel Phillips was married February 23, 
1859. to Lois K. Barnard, a daughter of Pardon 
Barnard and Eliza Ann Curtis, who were natives 
of Madison Count}', N. Y., and made their Iiome 
in Genoa, Livingston County, Mich., as early as 
1837, where their daughter Lois was born, March 
3, of that year. The children born to this couple 
were Nathaniel Grosvenor who died in infancy: 
Winthrop Barnard who passed away at the age of 
twenty-eight; John Beach and Frank Kimball who 
both died in infancy; Abbie Kliza, now Mrs. Rob- 
ert Campbell, of Detroit; Moses Kimball, a travel- 
ing salesman; Helen Elizabeth, in school at Ann 
Arbor; Nathiuiiel Grosvenor second, who is learn- 
ing the watchmaker's and jeweler's trade at LaPorte, 
Ind., and Lois Catherine who is a student in the 
Detroit Home and Day School. The son Winthrop 



was killed by an accident on a railway' in Kansas 
where he was seeking a new home. He hod re- 
sided in Dakota for six years. His wife was 
Georgiana LaFrancc of Dunesilh, N. Dak., and she 
is now with Mrs. Phillips al the old home. 

The gentleman of whom we write was an ar<lent 
patriot during the Civil War and a strong sup- 
porter of the administration, and gave freely his 
share of means and influence to forward the sup- 
pression of the rebellion. In 1865 he was elected 
to the legislature for one terra, but refused further 
renominatiou on account of press of business. He 
had been for a number of terms Township Super- 
visor, and was active in building up the village of 
Bancroft, as he laid out that place and erected two 
stores. One of liiese burned and he rebuilt it in 
better style as a double brick store. Tliis is now 
occupied bj' the Post-office and Opera House and 
also by a family. He also erected the Phillips 
Hotel which is still owned bj* his widow. He was 
active in bringing the railway through Bancroft 
and helped to secure the right of wa}'. He was 
also interested in agricultural affairs, and ever ac- 
tive in promoting the interests of the agricultural 
community. He was also helpful to churches al- 
though not a member of any one, and donated land 
for the building of each church as it was organ- 
ized. 

Mr. Phillip's took great interest in school mat- 
ters and for many years tilled the office of Director. 
By his intelligence and business judgment ho was 
very helpful in promoting the prosperity of the pub- 
lic schools. Some ten jears ago he was strongly 
spoken of as a candidate for Congress but declined 
to let his name be used in this wa}'. He had an un- 
usually good practical education anil was a great 
reader and was always in close sympath} with the 
advanced movements of the day. 

Mr. Phillips passed one winter, t.vo years pre- 
vious to his death, in Florida and Cuba, :iiid in 
traveling through the South. He also traveled in 
the Northwest during the following spring. Ho had 
throat trouble and his health was failing for some 
eight months before his demise which took place 
June C, 1888. He anticii)ited his death and placed 
his business in good slia|)e so that the affliction of 
losing the husband and father might not be sup- 



638 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



pleraented by business anxieties for the widow and 
oii)han. He was a man measuring six feet one and 
one-lialf incli, and weighing two hundred and 
twenty-five pounds. 

The old homestead adjoins the village of Ban- 
croft, and is a delightful plane. The farm contains 
one Imndred and sixty acres and there is another 
farm of four hundred acres at a distance of two 
miles, and a third tract of one hundred acres. Mr. 
Phillips was a Mason and a Knight Templar at 
Corunna for tvventy years. The family stands 
foremost in the social life of Bancroft and is highly 
respecteiL They are possessed of more than or- 
dinary culture and signs of refinement are abun- 
dant in the home. 

11^ ONROE W. WHITMORE. The late Mr. 

I iW Whitmore belonged to the great arnij- of 
I i£> men who devoted some of the best years 
^ of their lives to the maintenance of the 

Republic, ami who were content to endure hard- 
ship and privation and enter into dangers seen and 
unseen in order to preserve every star upon the old 
flag. In private life he was a farmer, enterprising 
and progressive, and the work that he accomplished 
enabled him to leave to his widow and children a 
competence, while at the same time adding to the 
value of land arountl him by the good improve- 
ment of his own. His death occurred January 14, 
1881. and he left a widow and two sons to honor 
his meunorj', and continue the work he had been 
carrying on. 

Mr. Whitmore was born in New York April 10, 
1823, and was thrown upon his own resources at an 
early age, by the death of his father, Caleb Whit- 
more. When the gold excitement broke out he 
joined the band of mineral seekers, who were mak- 
ing their way to the coast, and drove across the 
plains to California. He reached the scene of the 
Mountain Meadow massacre the da}' after the das- 
tardly deed was done, and assisted in burying the 
dead. He spent ten years on the Pacific Coast, en- 
gaging in mining and such other work as was then 
going on, but giving his attention principally to 



tiie search for gold. When the decade had elapsed 
he returned to the East, and soon after the break- 
ing out of the Rebellion, he took up arms, enlist- 
ing October 24, 1861. 

In Comi)any B, Second United States Sharpshoot- 
ers, the name of Monroe W- Whitmore was en- 
rolled, and as an integral part of the Army of the 
Potomac he took part in seventy-four engagements. 
The rosier of the regiment shows that it was organ- 
ized in October, 1861, and disbanded in February, 
18G5. The total number of men enrolled was eleven 
hundred and eighty-two, and the number killed 
and wounded, five hundred and thirty. The regi- 
ment took more prisoners than they ever had men, 
and are believed to have killed in action at least 
j twice their own number. After the term for which 
Mr. Whitmore had enlisted had expired, he re-en- 
tered the service in January, 1863, and remained 
with his regiment until it was disbanded as before 
stated. 

The lady who became the wife of Mr. Whitmore 
July 3, 1867, bore the maiden name of Eliza Scad- 
dan. Her father, John Scaddan, was born in ^'er- 
mout, and came to Michigan when a young man. 
To this State had also come, but from Maryland, 
Miss Eliza Stowell, and in 1834 this couple were 
married at Ann Arbor. The wife died in 1838, 
leaving two children: Nanc}', born Januaiy 17, 
\ 1836; and Eliza, October 15, 1838. The latter had 
I the advantage of good schooling, completing her 
studies in Ann Arbor, where she attended the Union 
school three years; she was graduated with the 
honors of her class, and has in her mature years 
kept up her mental culture by reading, and an in- 
terest in that which was going on in the educational 
world. In 1848 the father of Mrs. Whitmore came 
to Clinton County, and this has since been her 
home; she is now living on section 17, Eagle Town- 
ship, where she has a beautiful farm of one hundred 
and forty-five acres, finely imiiroved. 

Mrs. Whitmore is cheered in her loneliness by 
the presence of her two sons: Carl E., born March 
81, 1868, and Monroe, January 20, 1871. The 
elder is now taking a course of instruction in the 
commercial college at Lansing. The mother is 
giving both good advantages in the way of secur- 
ing knovvlcdi^e, and so fitting them for honorable 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



639 



and useful cnrecrs in life. She is a woman of strong 
business ability and good judgment, and is carr3-- 
ing on her financial affairs most satisfaetorilj-. 
From the United Slates Government she draws a 
widow's pension of *!12 per month. Slie is a mem- 
ber of the Ladies' Aid Society of Eagle, .snd is in- 
terested in various movements which will elevate 
the status of the community. Her father was born 
July 22, 1802, and his father, in turn, Hewlett 
Scaddan, February 27, 1762. The wife of llic lat- 
ter was born F'ebruarj' 12, 1767. 



►^4^^ 



SHERMAN L. RICHMOND. For more than 
ifjl four decades this gentleman has been iden- 
/•^^ tiSed with the work that has been going on 
(^ in Clinton County, in removing from its 
soil the wild growths of its primitive days and re- 
placing thera with orciiards and fields, which sup- 
ply the necessities of man. He is located on 
section 29, Grcenbush Township, where he first 
bought eiglitv acres of Government land, receiving 
a patent therefor signed by President Zachary Tay- 
lor. He paid for this tract the customarj' price of 
$1.25 per acre and his first effort here was to pre- 
pare for and erect a log cabin. His rude dwelling 
was a mile and a half south of the village of Eu- 
reka and ill it he livcil a number of'years. during 
which time he endured self-denials and hardships 
to which all early settlers are subjected. 

Mr. Richmond was born in Genesee County, N. 
Y., September 21, 1827, and was reared to manhood 
in his native State. His parents were Adam and 
Sarah (Farley) Richmond, natives of Rliotle Island 
and New York respectively. Amid the surround- 
ings of farm life Herman developed a vigorous, 
self-reliant cliaraeter and in the schools of the 
neighborhood he pursued the branches then taught, 
diligently seeking knowledge and preparing tu 
carry on a man's work in the world. In 181'J he 
made the journey to Michigan, which then seemed 
far distant from his native State. For a number 
of years lie lived on the land he first secured here, 
gradually bringing it under thorough cultivation, 
but lie finally removed to another eighty-acre 



tract, on which he is now living. This second 
piece of property is under good cultivation and 
supplied with buildings which accommodate the 
stock and the crops which he desires to store, and 
a dwelling in which he and his honored wife arc 
spending their declining j'ears in peace and com- 
fort. 

The labors of Mr. Richmond have long been 
shared by one who was previously known as Miss 
Caroline L. Drake. She was born in the town of 
Newhaven, Oswego County, N. Y., and was one of 
a family of Setli and Sophronia (Castle) Drake, who 
were numbered among the early settlers of Green- 
bush Township and came here when Mrs. Richmond 
was thirteen years old. Her marriage with our 
subject was solemnized at her home here in 1850 
and the happiness that resulted was inceased by the 
birth of three children — Howard L., Alice J. and 
Emma Gertrude, who died in infanc}'. The daugh- 
ter is now the wife of C. E. Mathews. 

Mv. and Mrs. Richmond are representatives of 
the class which has brought Greenbush Township 
to its present position among the divisions of the 
county and among the time-honored citizens none 
command the respect of the people in a larger de- 
gree. Many years ago Mr. Richmond worked at 
grading on the Michigan Central Railroad and 
more than one night was spent in Lansing when 
there were but two houses on the site of that city. 
Firmly- believing in the principles laid down in the 
Republican platform, Mr. Richmond votes to sus- 
tain them. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond are members 
of the Seventh-day Adventists' Church, holding 
membership in Greenbush Township. 




«^LBERT L. CHANDLER, a well-known 
S£i|j and successful lawyer of Corunna, Shia- 
'' wassee Count}', was born in Saratoga, 
N. Y., November 26, 1854. His father, 
Enos, was a hoot and shoe merchant at Troy, and 
the son of a Connecticut man who was a commis- 
sioned officer in the regular army and died soon 
after his retirement from the service. His son 
Enos, died at Greenwich, N. V. The iiiothcr Zilpha 



640 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Tallman, was born in Rhode Island and now re- 
sides in Lansingburg, N. Y. She is an earnest and 
devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and was the mother of nine children. 

Albert when a b03' twelve years old came to this 
State and went to work for himself on a farm. He 
saved the money which he earned in his first 3'ear's 
work and went to school in Sturgis. He worked his 
waj^ through and graduated in the High School in 
1872. He was the leader of the class and his boy- 
ish historj' was written up in the St. Joseph Counts- 
History. He nest went to Hillsdale and by teach- 
ing and other work during vacations was enabled 
to keep himself in tiie college for six years. While 
still a student in 1877, he came to Corunna while 
Prof. Bagley was sick and relieved him temporarilj' 
of the charge of the High School during the spring 
term. In 1878 he went East and read law and 
pursued his studies, spending some time in the law 
library' of Syracuse, N. Y. 

After returning to Shiawassee County Mr. Chan- 
dler became principal of the Yernon Higli School for 
two years and in 1881 he was admitted to the bar 
of Michigan at Corunna. His first year of practice 
was in company with Frank Watson and after that 
he formed a partnership with Long i Gold. Mr. 
Charles Long is now on the Supreme Bench. This 
partnership was not of long duration and after 
practicing for awhile, Mr. Chandler went into 
partnership with Sumner Howard, but this gentle- 
man survived onlj- one year and our subject has not 
thought best since that to join his forces with those 
of any other of his professional brethren, but in 
his practice alone he has been more than ordiuarilj' 
successful. In 1885 he was admitted to the United 
States bar and he now practices in any of the courts 
of the State and of the nation. 

His marriage with Stella Booth, a niece of ex- 
Gov. Luce, in 1878, was an event of prime impor- 
tance in the life of the young man. This lad}' isa 
daughter of Samuel Booth, a retired farmer of 
Cold water. She was born in Gilead, Branch County, 
Mich., and was educated in Hillsdale County. One 
child onl}' has blessed their home a daughter — 
Abbie. Mr. Chandler is much more interested in 
scientific researches and literary pursuits than in 
politics and enjoys greatly the quiet pursuit of 



agricultural afi'airs, as he owns over two hundred 
acies, having one farm in North Star Township, 
Gratiot County, and one in Rush Township, Shia- 
wassee County, both of which he superintends and 
operates himself. He delights in fine stock and is 
raising full-blooded registered Jei-sey cattle, and 
thoroughbred Berkshire and Poland-China hogs. 
He lias control and charge of the Shiawassee Paper 
Mill in Shiawassee Township, which he manages for 
Godfrey & Clark, of Pittsburg, Pa. He has been 
special correspondent for the last ten years for dif- 
ferent papers in the State. During one year he held 
the office of City Attorney' and is Deput}' Master 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 
Corunna and a member of the Encampment. His 
political view-s are in accord with the platform of 
the Republican party and he is sometimes sent to 
represent the county in State conventions. Mra. 
Chandler is a Presbyterian in her religious views 
and is a valued member of the church in this city. 



.'■^^^ai.^^ 



— ^ 

THMAN W. LOWELL is a farmer residing 
on section 23, Watertowu Township, Clin- 
ton County, where lie has one hundred and 
thirtj- acres of finely improved land. Mr. Lowell 
bought this tract twenty-two j'cars ago, when it 
was all covered with a heavy growth of timber, 
which he has since cleared, with the exception of 
twenty acres. Upon this land he has built two 
dwelling houses and two good sets of farm build- 
ings. 

The subject of this sketch is a son of Josiah and 
Johaunah (Harris) Lowell. The father was a native 
of Massachusetts, where the family first settled af- 
ter coming to America, and where the}' foundeil 
the city of Lowell, that noted manufacturing town 
which bears their name. The father was born Jan- 
uary 18, 1791, and the mother December 12, 1793, 
and thej' were married in 1814. Previous to tliis 
event Josiah Lowell had served for one year in the 
American Arm}-, in liie War of 1812, and after he 
was married, and had removed to the State of New 
York, he was called out again at the time the Brit- 
ish invaded Plattsburg, and participated in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



641 



battle at that point. He was a man of patriotic im- 
pulses and principles, and gladi^v served bis coun- 
try in the hour of need. 

The marriage of the parents of our subject was 
blessed with the birth of ten children, and all grew 
up to man's and woman's estate. The father came 
to Michigan in 1840, and located on section 21, 
Watertown Township, where he bought forty acres 
of wild land, which is now owned b^' Benjamin 
King. ^Ir. Lowell was very poor when he came to 
Michigan, and had not the means wherewith to pay 
for his purchase of land, but he went aliead bravely' 
and earnestly to make a home for bis children, and 
b}- chopping the timber off of eighty acres, he 
earned the mone}- to pay for the forty acres, and 
to provide at the same time for his large family of 
little ones. He came to this section alone six 
monilis before bringing on his family, and lived 
alone and worked as we have said during that first 
season. He then went back to New York on foot 
and arranged to bring bis family to the new home 
in the wilderness. 

Tiie subject of this sketch w.-is born in Orleans 
County, N. Y., August 6, 1838, and was only two 
years of age when he came with his parents to the 
new West. Their home was in the dense timber, 
and was far from any schoolbonsc, the nearest 
being four miles from his home if be went 
around by the road, and there was much of the j-ear 
when it was necessary to go in that waj'; conse- 
quently the boy received very little schooling, and 
grew up among the trees as stunJy and as near to 
mature as thej'. He worked for bis fatlier until he 
was twent3'-one years of age. 

Utiiman Lowell took to wife Jennette Master, in 
August, 1859. This lady was a daughter of George 
Master, who was a native of New York. Her union 
with our subject b.as been one of unusual happiness 
and domestic comfort, and has been blessed by the 
birth of eight children, all but two of whom are now 
living; Kdith,wbo was boi n August 29, 18G0, is mar- 
ried and makes her home in Watertown Township; 
Herbert, who married UrsuUa Green, lives on the 
farm with bis father; Clark lives at homo'; E. G. 
is married and resides at Lansing; Jennie is attend- 
ing school at Lansing: and Mattie is living at home 
and attending the tlistrict school. Mr. Lowell is a 



Democrat in polities, and has been honored bj' be- 
ing placed in several positions of trust and respon- 
sibility. For nine years he has held the office of 
Highway Commissioner, and that of Drain.age Com- 
missioner for two years. He belongs to the Grange 
and is nctivelj^ interested in every movement 
which tends to the welfare and elevation of the 
farming community. 




EVI C. BIRD, one of the most highly es- 
teemed and popular citizens of De Witt, 
^; Clinton County, resides in an elegant brick 
bouse, furnished and finished most tastefully and 
luxuriantly, upon bis fine farm in Olive Township. 
Here with his wife, a lady of rare intelligence, and 
his two lovely and intelligent daughters, he has a 
home of which any man may well be proud. He 
was born in Washtenaw County, Mich., September 
23, 1837. 

The father of our subject, Samuel D. Bird, of 
New Jersey, came to Michigan in 1831 and settled 
in Washtenaw County, where he took up land and 
cleared it of timber and bad it in fine condition be- 
fore his death, which occurred in 1877, when he 
was seventy-two vears old. He w.as a man of 
prominence in the community and held the offices 
of Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. He was a 
Presbyterian in bis religious belief, in which he was 
also joined b^' his good wife, Rachel Drake, of New 
Jersey, who is still living, in her seventy-ninth 
year. All of their si.v children are still living. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm 
and studied in the log school-hou.se when he could 
get time from farm duties to attend, which was 
generally in the winter. He remained at home 
until he was twenty-two years old and in 1859 
made a trip to California by water. Here be re- 
mained for nearly seven years and engagetl in min- 
ing. He returned by water in 1866 and farmed 
the old homestead in Washtenaw County for four 
years. 

Mr. Bird came to Clinton County in 1872 and 
purchased the farm on which he now resides, on sec- 
tion 35, Olive Township. This farm is an old set- 



642 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tied place, beino; located on the Grand River road, 
which riius from Detroit to Grand Rapids. He has 
lived here continuously to the present date and has 
added greatly to the improvements upon it. His 
marriage with Miss Helen Cliubb, in Livingston 
County, Mich., took place in 1869. Her parents, 
Major S. and Axie (Bennett) Chubb, came from 
New York to Michigan at an earl}- da}' and took 
up Government land. 

Two children have blessed the home of Mr. Bird, 
Mary and Jessie. Mary is a teacher of music and 
Jessie is attending school. Mr. Bird is a Democrat 
in his political views but pays little attention to 
politics, devoting himself mostly to the interests of 
his land, of which he has one hundred and twenty 
acres. He has been very successful, as he began 
life with limited means and has now a handsome 
property. He built a fine brick house in 1880, 
which is an ornament to the neighborhood. 



i]SRAKL M. BRAY. When a traveler goes in- 
I to the country to visit he likes nothing better 
il than to sit down side by side with some genuine, 
wbolesouled old settler and hear stories of the 
early days. It is delightful indeed to listen to 
stories of adventure, when told by one who has 
seen it all and been a part himself of those stirring 
scenes. When with this entertainment is mingled 
a genial sense of comradeship and friendship, the 
time passes swiftly indeed. Such an enjoyable time 
did the writer of tiiis sketch have in visiting Israel 
M. Bray. 

This gentleman was born April 17, 1830 in Brant 
County, Canada. His father, John Bra}-, was a 
native of Warren County. N. J. and was a tanner 
by trade although he followed farming to some 
extent. He died in Canada, in 1867, at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-four years having been born 
in 1783. He was a British soldier in the War of 
1812. His wife was Joanna Swayzeof New Jersey, 
died in 1854 at the age of sixty -one years. Both 
she and her worthy husband had been for many 



years active members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Their three children still survive them. 

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the 
parental familj'. A district school and education 
and training in farm duties occupied his boyhood 
and earl}' manhood. Having remained at home 
until he reached his majority, he began ftirming 
for himself in 18.52, and remained in Canada for 
three or four years. It was in 1857 that he came 
to Clinton County, this State, and bought the farm 
where he now resides on section 27, Bengal Town- 
ship. About twenty acres of this land had been 
cleared, but it was still so near to nature's heart 
that from the window he could see deer and wild 
turkeys, straying fearlessly about the farm. Genu- 
ine pioneer work has been done upon this place 
and the old log house has been long since replaced 
by an attractive and commodious farm house, while 
the land shows marks of a skillful farmer's hand 
and systematic manager. 

The marriage of Israel Bray in March, 1854 uni- 
ted him with Charlotte Wood of Canada, a daughter 
of Lewis and Asenath (Smith) Wood, who removed 
to Canada from New York, and are still residing 
in our sister Dominion. Seven children were the 
result of this union, namely: Joanna, deceased; 
Asenath, Sarah, Cassius M., Lewis W., Harriet and 
Charlotte. The mother of these children passed 
away from earth in 1866. 

The second marriage of our subject took pl.nce in 
1867 when he married Marj' Nelson a lady of Eng- 
lish birth who came to America with her parents 
when about eight years old. She became the mother 
of three children ; Edith, Alice and one who died 
in early infancy. Mr. Bray is proud to relate that 
he cast his first ballot for "Old Abe", and he is a 
stanch and sterling Republican of the old fashioned 
sort. He is frequently solicited to fill offices of 
trust in this township. He was Supervisor in 1860 
and has been Treasurer fo'' one term. He is an 
earnest and devoted member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal C'hurch. His home farm comprises one hun- 
dred and fifty acres and he has twenty more in 
Olive Township. I'pon these he raises all kinds 
of stock. He began life with *1,000 and has made 
a fine advance in his possessions. He is very nat- 
urally an<l properly proud of his ancestry, liis 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



645 



great grandfather having coine from Yorkshire, 
England before the time of the Revolutionarj' War. 
Richard, the grandfather of our subject, was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier and died in New Jerse3'. 



"Alexander rawson ball, m. d. 

There are great numbers of earnest, 
ii thoughtful |)hvsicians throughout this 

broad land who have devoted much time 
to scientific research and who have won an honor- 
able name among those to whom thej- have been 
benefactors. One who seeks b^- studj* and patient 
research the means of alleviating the miseries to 
which all flesh is heir is entitled to the grateful 
thanks of mankind, and such an one is Dr. Ball, of 
Corunna. We are pleased to invite the attention 
of the reader to his i)ortrait, presented on the op- 
posite page, and to the following brief outline of 
his life record. 

A native of the State of New York, Dr. Ball was 
born in Rutland Township, Jefiferson County, Oc- 
tober 10, 1822. Ilis paternal grandfather, Nehe- 
miah Ball, was a blacksmith at Elizabeth, N. J., af- 
terward at Whitestown and in Jefferson County, N. 
Y. Later he removed to Poultney, Steuben County, 
N. Y., where he died. The family is of English de- 
scent. The father of our subject, also named 
Nehemiah. was a carpenter .".nd farmer in Jefferson 
Count}', whither he had come with his parents in 
1811, when quite young. Tie died in Rutland, that 
count}-, in 1833, when only thirty-three j-ears of 
age. 

Eunice, the mother of our subject, w.as a daugh- 
ter of Dr. Ozia Holmes Rawson, a native of East 
Haddam, Conn., who practiced medicine at Whites- 
ville, Jefferson Countj-, and died at the early age 
of thirty years. He traced his ancestry back 
through many generations to Edward Rawson, of 
England, who was a minister for a time in Kent, 
England, and was a member of the nobility. In 
1696 he came to New England and settled in New- 
bury, JIass. Following him in a direct line were 
Grindall Rawson, who w:i3 graduated from Har- 



vard in 1678, and Edmund Grindall, a graduate of 
Yale College and a minister of the Gospel. 

Two children blessed the home of the parents of 
our subject, the sister of our subject being Man- 
dana R., now Mrs. Hultz, of Ithaca, Gratiot County, 
Mich. The devoted mother was taken from earth 
in 1829, when still (juite young. Young Alexan- 
der was only eleven years old when he was doubly 
orphaned by the death of his remaining parent, and 
he then went to Poultney, Steuben County, N. Y., 
where he was reared by an uncle, Nathaniel Ball, 
a blacksmith. With him he remained until he was 
sixteen years old, when he went to Prattsburg, the 
same county, and attended an acadeni}-. While 
there he began the study of medicine liUfler Dr. A. 
D. Vorhees, teaching school at the same time. 

In 1844 Dr. Ball came to Michigan and taught 
at Niles, but three years later returned to Steuben 
County, N. Y., to take to himself a wife. This 
lady. Miss Delilah Weld, was born in Delaware 
County, N. Y. The first home of the newl}-- 
wedded pair was in Rochester, that State, where the 
young doctor engaged in the practice of medicine 
until 1853, when he came to Eaton County and lo- 
cated in Oneida Township, near Grand Ledge. 
There he purchased a farm and while cultivating it 
continued the practice of medicine for eight years. 
After this he attended lectures at the Cleveland 
Homeopathic IMcdical College, taking the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine in 1862. 

After practicing in Grand Ledge nine years, Dr. 
Ball, in 18G2, moved to Marshall, Mich., where he 
practiced his profession nine years; thence he re- 
turned to Grand Ledge, remaining until 1874, and 
goit)g from there to M.ason, Ingham County. 
Four years later he came to Corunna, where he has 
lately made a specialt}' of rectal disesises .along with 
his general practice. Me was at one time iirofcssor 
in the Michigan Homeopathic College at Lansing, 
which was in a flourishing condition from 1872 to 
1875. 

Ten children have blessed the home of Dr. nn<l 
Mrs. Ball, as follows: Warren W., who died at the 
age of seventeen; Eunice, now Mrs. Archibald 
Wrigley, of Shiawassee Township; Hannah Bell, 
M. D., a graduate of the Michigan Homeopathic 
College and a practicing (jhysician at .lackson; 



646 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Alexander R., Jr., deceased; Delilah, now Mrs. 6. 
Homer Jones, residing in Lansing; Mary, who died 

in Lexington, N. C, in 1888; Aaron E., who re- 
sides in Demorest, Ga. ; Marllia, now Mrs. E. W. 
Ellis, who resides in Brooklyn, Jackson County, 
Mich.; Kannj' Estella, now Mrs. S. B. Lyman, of 
Corunua; Maude, a graduate of the high school of 
Corunna, of the class of 1881, and of the Michigan 
State Normal School, in 1884, taught school four 
years in Charlotte, two j-ears in (irand Rapids and 
is now attending tlie New England Conservatory of 
Music at Bocton. 

.Since 1864 Dr. Ball has been identified witli the 
Masonic fraternity and is a Royal Templar of Tem- 
perance, being Select Counselor in that organiza- 
tion. He has belonged to the Prohibition party 
since 1872 and was Ciiairman of the Count}' Com- 
mittee for four years and a member of other im- 
portant committees. He was a delegate to the 
National Convention at Indianapolis, Ind.,in 1888, 
and in every State Convention since 1872. He has 
hold various offices in the Homeopathic State Med- 
ical Association and when connected with the Med- 
ical College at Lansing was Registrar and one of 
the Trustees of that institution, besides holding the 
Ciiair of Theory and Practice. 

ST^ ZEKIEL I)E CAMP. In looking back over 
IW| his past life this gentleman recalls a varied 
/J I — ^ experience, which includes many interest- 
ing incidents and some which were less agreeable 
to participate in than thej- are to remember after 
the lapse of years. He was early thrown upon 
liis own resources and was not too proud to eng.age 
in any iionest work by which he could add to his 
means, and thus he saw life under phases not al- 
ways known to lads. His early experiences in- 
clude ditching, chopping, logging and sawmilling, 
as well as the more common eraiiloyments of boy- 
hood, and after he began a business life he carried 
on different kinds of work as he saw an opening 
for good returns from an investment. The town 
of Ovid, Clinton County, has been the center of 
his operations for some 'years past, and his home 



is on a fine farm of one hundred and forty-five 
acres adjoining the vdlage. He is well known in 
the place as a financier and as a man largelj' in- 
terested in real estate, who has bought and im- 
proved both residence and business property. 

The parents of our subject were Enoch and Eliza 
(Austin) DeCamp. natives of New Jersey and New 
York respcctivel}'. The father lived upon a farm 
and taught school considerably, but devoted his 
attention quite largelj' to inventions. Like most 
men of inventive genius, his means were limited, 
as the surplus was generally used in perfecting 
some implement or machine which he felt a moral 
obligation to give to the world. The son has 
carefull}' preserved goods made by the father on 
a machine that he invented for the use of two and 
three warps. The family was living in Steuben 
County, N. Y., when Ezekiel was born, Jidj' 31, 
1831. The educational advantages of the lad were 
limited to the common schools of those days, and 
soon after he entered his teens he began to ca/e 
for himself. He did much farm work, together 
with other things before mentioned, and when but 
eighteen }'ears old had charge of a lot of men in 
the lumber woods, and prior to his twentj'-fourth 
year was foreman for a large lumber firm in New 
York. He came West when there was but twenty' 
miles of railroad west of Lake Michigan and went 
to Watertown and Madison, Wis., and to Chicago, 
111., and engaged in a hardware store when it was 
necessary to haul goods to those places with teams. 

After varied experiences Mr. DeCamp came to 
Clinton County in the spring of 1853, and settled 
in Victor Township. After remaining there a year 
he removed to Ovid Township and opened up a farm 
six miles southwest of the village of Ovid. Tiiere 
he remained until the fall of 1863, at which time 
he had about one hundred acres cleared and im- 
proved, supplied with good buildings anil well 
stocked. He next established himself in the vil- 
lage and for a year was book-keeper for W. C. 
Bennett, who was eng.aged in general mercantile 
business. He next formed a partnership with E. 
M. and John A. Potter, under the firm name of 
DeCamp, Potter & Co., the object being to carry 
on a general mercantile business and handle pro- 
duce and lumber. The connection lasted about 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



64? 



eight years and when the firm was dissolved Mr. 
DeCamp formed a partnership with Joiin Andrews 
and George AV. Stici<nej' in the hardware business, 
the style being DeCanip. .Stickuey & Co. This 
firm also liandled agricultural implements. The 
co-partnership continued about ten 3-ears and was 
dissolved by the death of Mr. Sticknc}', which 
occurred about 1880. 

In 1882 Mr. DeCamp organized the banking 
house of DeCamp, Upton & Co., which carried 
on its work until November, 1884, when it was 
merged into the First National Bank, of Ovid, 
Mr. DeCamp becoming Vice-President and still 
holding that office. During his residence in Ovid 
he has built a substantial brick block here and has 
improved several farms, doing much of the work 
personally. He was at one time engaged in the 
nursery' business here and once carried on the 
manufacture of lumber and sliingles in Saginaw. 
He has extensive farming interests and takes great 
pride in improving outlying land and in keeping 
high grades of stock. He has an ardent love for 
fine animals, and the horses, cattle and sheep 
upon his farm are notable among the herds in the 
localit}'. His favorite cattle are Short-horns and 
he breeds American Merino sheep. Mr. DeCamp 
refers with a smile to the fact that when he came 
to Ovid the main street was but an Imlian trail 
and the present thriving village was onlj' a vision. 

The estimable woman to whom Mr. DeCamp 
owes the comfort of his home w.is formerly Miss 
Poll}' E. Cross. She is a daughter of .Tolin L. and 
Louise Cross, pioneers of Ovid, and at their home 
she was married to our subject February 18, 1857. 
Mr. and Mrs. DeCamp have three children, of 
whom we note the following: Charles C. is en- 
gaged in the general hardware business in Durand, 
Midi., and is also a meml)er of the Durand Land 
Company; Albert is a manufacturer in St. Louis, 
Mo.; Antha E. Is the wife of H. N. Keys and lives 
in Ovid. 

In politics Mr. DeCamp is a Republican. He 
was a warm sympathizer witli the North during 
the Civil War and gave much toward the cause, 
although he did not enter tiie army. While pre- 
paring to go to the front he opened his house to 
tlie disabled and sick, and hospitably entertained 



and relieved ihem. He has been President of the vil- 
lage of Ovid and is now a member of the Council. 
In schools he h;;s alw.a3's been much interested and 
for twelve }'ears he was a member of the Board of 
Education. He has probably done fully as much 
as any man in the township to advance the cause 
of education and all agricultural interests, but 
whenever it was possible he has kept out of oHice. 
He has been President of the Agricultural Society 
of Clinton and Shiawassee Counties, and with 
his taste for agriculture has been efficient in that 
position. 

Mr. DeCamp has a Revolutionary relic that he 
values ver}- highly. It is a musket which was car- 
ried by his paternal grandfather, who came to 
America with Gen. LaF.iyette, and the weapon 
has additional value from the fact that the father 
of our subject carried it during the War of 1812. 
The maternal grandfather of Mr. DeCamp lived 
in Boston in Colonial days and was one of the 
Tea Party so famous on the pages of history. 






=^^^ 




iiHOMAS V. CLANDENING. Among the 
young farmers of Watertown Township, we 
find the young man whose name appears at 
head of this sketch. He is the son of Thomas E. 
and Eliza (Morgan) Clandening, who were natives 
of Ireland. The father was born in County Cavau 
and the mother in County Longford. He is the 
grandson of Tiioinas Clandening on his fatlier's 
side and Thomas Morgan on his mother's side, be- 
ing thus a double heir to his Christian name. Both 
the Clandonin£,8 and the .Morgans have long been 
prominent in militar}- circles of Great Britain, and 
at one time there were seven members of the Clan- 
dening family members of the Royal Army at the 
militar}' barracks of Dublin. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was born 
about the year 1807, and was married .lanuaiy 1.5, 
1838, about three 3-ears previous to his coming to 
America. Upon arriving in this country he lo- 
cated in New York Cit}-, where his son, Thomas 
V. was l)orn October 18, 1842. When Thomas was 
five years of age his parents moved to Albany 



648 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



County, N. Y. where he grew to manhood. He 
had only a district school education and early began 
the efiforts for his own support. For some time 
he worked in a store as clerk and then hired him- 
self as an employe in a hotel. 

At the time the war broke out the young man 
felt the patriotic impulse to enter the army for the 
defense of his native countr3', but he was effectually 
prevented by circumstances over which he had no 
control. He, however, was not content to remaiu 
idle when his country needed help and he finally 
enlisted in the State service, as a member of Com- 
pany p], Eighty-second Regiment, Seymour Guards, 
in which he was fourth Sergeant. 

In 1867 this young man came with his parents 
to Eaton Count}', Mich., where he assisted his 
father on the farm, until the death of that parent^ 
January 27, 1889, after which sad event he took 
charge of the properly, as he was the eldest. The 
family consisted of seven children, three of whom 
are still living. Anna E. is married to George 
M^-rick, and resides in Buell County, Kan. Rich- 
ard II. married M.iggie Crommie, and resides in 
Bennington, this State. In politics Mr. Clenden- 
ing is a stalwart Republican and he is intelligent 
and alive in regard to the political issues of the 
day. His mother is still living with him and pre- 
sides over his household, in which worksiie is capa- 
ble and efticient, although she has reached the age 
of seventy-eight j-ears. He is a devout and ear- 
nest member of the Church of England. 



-^ft ICHAEL REIDY, one of 
I \\\ business men of Corunna 
J * Count}', is a practical pliarm 



the prominent 
la, Shiawasseee 
rmacist and drug- 
''' gist and also bandies a line of salt, gro- 

ceries and lime. He was born in Albany, N. Y., 
fifty-seven years ago. His father Thomas, was a 
native of County Limerick, Ireland, and came to 
America at the .age of twenty years making his 
home in Albany. In 1830 he removed to Ann 
Arbor, this State, where he engaged in work, and 
was for years the j.initor in the University building. 



His wife, Catherine Sheehey, was a native of the 
same county as himself. He died at the age of 
of about sevent3'-five years. The mother is still 
living at Ann Arbor, about seventy-eight years old. 
The}' were both members of the Catholic Church, 
in which faith they brought up their children, two 
of whom grew to maturity, namely, our subject 
and Mary A., who became Mrs. Gaffney, of Cale- 
donia. 

Being but a little one of two years and a half 
when his parents came to Ann Arbor, Michael 
Reidy grew up in the shadow of the university, 
and after taking an academic course, he was 
apprenticed at the age of seventeen, to the trade of 
a machinist with Ch&pin & Loomis. After being 
with them three years, he was with Nichols & Shep- 
herd, of Battle Creek, for eighteen months. He 
then went to St. Louis, Mo., and worked in the 
the largest machine shop in that State, but in 1856 
went to New Orleans, ^'icksburg, Mobile and other 
points until the breaking out of the war, and re- 
mained in the South until the war was over. After 
the war he returned to New Orleans in charge of 
refitting steamship plants. He went back and 
forth as he could find the best opportunity to work 
between New Orleans, Vicksburg, Mobile and Jack- 
son, Miss. He frequently found work on the gun- 
boats, and helped in putting in proper shape, the 
rams "Arkansas" and ''Tennessee," He con- 
tinued in th's occupation in the South all 
through the war and received large wages, as he 
was an excellent mechanic. He was captured at 
Pilot Town at the mouth of the Mississippi and 
brought before Gen. Canby, by whom he was 
was placed in New Orleans prison for three months. 
After his release he worked for the United States 
Government on the steamship "Planet." 

After the close of the war, Mr. Reidy returned 
to Michigan and in 1866, eng.aged in the grocery 
business, going into partnership with Mr. Gaffney, 
a connection which lasted two years. After the 
dissolution of that partnership, our subject bought 
a fine stock of groceries and continued in that line 
exclusively until 1870, after which he combined 
that business with the drug trade. He has also at 
same time handled lime, salt, shingles and cement. 
He owns the store in which he carries on his busi- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



649 



ness and another store where Ihnc is handled, and 
carries altogether the lar>;est stock of these coinuio- 
dities in town. 

The marriajre of Mr. Reidy to Miss Kmma Cahell 
look place in Flint, this State, Feb. 28, 1870. This 
lady was born in Canada, and they are both devont 
members of the Catholic Churcli which they helj) 
to support by their means and inlUienee. Mr. 
Reldy is a strong Democrat in his |)olitical views, 
and has been made Alderman for one term in Co- 
runna. He is identified with the Knights of Honor 
and is a well known member of the State Pharma- 
ceutical Association. 




ROF. REUBEN M. WINSTON, Secretary 
of the Clinton County Board of School Ex- 
^' aminers, is a self-made man, having begun 
life empty-handed and by his own exer- 
tions procured a fine education in first-class insti- 
tutions of learning. He was born in the town of 
Green, Chenango County, N. Y., January 31, 
18G0. His father, Adouiram .1. Winston, was born 
in Albany County at Westcrlo. The grandfather, 
George, was also a native of Westcrlo, Albany 
County', that State, anil became a farmer at 
Greene, and later in Coventry Township, Che- 
nango County. He afterward disposed of his 
projierty and removed to Waj'ne County, but is 
now retired from active life and makes his home 
in Palmyra. He has been a Deacon in tiie Bai)tist 
Church for over (ifty years and a member for over 
seventy years, and a man whose religious life and 
strict integrity entitled him to the esteem which 
he received in a large measure. The great-grand- 
father, David, was a native of Albany County, 
where he was a prominent farmer and lived to ex- 
ceed the age of ninety-four years. Isaac, the 
father of David, was a patriot and fought through 
the Revolutionary War. The ancestry' is traced 
to Wales. 

The father of our subject was a notable Sunday- 
school worker in his da^' and was prominent in 
nearly every good work, although he died at the 
age of thirty three years. In his earlier days he 



mingled teaching with farming and ever forwarded 
the interests of education. He was an earnest 
Abolitionist and joined the Republican party soon 
after its formation. He volunteered as a soldier 
in the Civil War, but w:is rejected by the phys- 
icians. His wife, Nancy Merrill, daughter of 
p]benczer Merrill, was born in Chenango County, 
N. Y. Her father was born near ^'ictor, in that 
Stale, and was a pioneer of his part of the coun- 
try. The mother of our subject passed away from 
earth in 1863. Her children were early orphaned 
b}' the death of their father, her son, Reuben M., 
being onl}- live years old at that time, after which 
he went to live with his grandfather. In 1866 he 
removed to Wayne County, N. Y., and divided 
his lime between school and work on the farm, 
having onl^' the advant.'iges at that time of the 
common district school. When fourteen years old 
he worked out dnrinn' the summers bj' the mcuith. 
He afterward attended Walworth's Academy at 
different times, working his own way. He also 
attended the Palmj'ra Classical Union School, 
which prepares its graduates thoroughly for a 
future classical coiirse. 

AVhen eighteen years ol<l the young man en- 
gaged in teaching school, and in 1881 he came to 
Michigan, where he taught the district schools and 
in the village of Durand for some three years. 
He then took the position of principal of the 
graded schools of Maple Rapids, this county, for 
four years, and was elected for the fifth year, but 
owing to the fact that he had been appointed Sec- 
retary of the County Board of School Examiners, 
he resigned his [josition at Maple Rapids. At that 
place he succeeded Prof. H. 11. E. Terr^', a gradu- 
ate of Ann Arbor, and his notable success in the 
management of those schools established his repu- 
tation as an educator and led to his appointment 
as Secretary' of the Board of Examiners. On 
account of a change in the law he was elected 
County Commissioner of Schools by the Board of 
Supervisors June 25, 1891. 

Prof. Winston is a stirring member of the board 
and a hard fighter for every measure which he 
considers necessary to the educational progress of 
the county. His work in this direction occupies 
all his attention, and his best efforts are given to 



650 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



X 



uphold the common schools of his county. He 
takes an active part in institute work and has been 
instructor in State institutes and teachers always 
feel the impress of bis work. He was married at 
Walworth, N. Y., in 1884, toMiss Josie M. Briggs, 
a native of Sodus, Wayne County, N. Y. She is 
a daughter of Caleb and Helen Briggs, her fa- 
ther being a jeweler of considerable note. His 
daughter was educated at Walworth Academy. 
Three children bless the home of our subject — 
Glenn M., Nina L. and Stanton. Mr. Winston is 
identified with the Free and Accepted Masons and 
is a stanch Republican in politics. He also be- 
longs to tiie Knights of the Maccabees, of wiiich 
he is Commander. He is a well-known and highly 
honored member of the State Secretary's Associ- 
ation and a member of the State Teachers' Asso- 
ciation and bears a high reputation throughout 
the commonwealth in educational circles, being a 
mnn beloved and respected b}' all. 



r/OHN F. BIISfGHAM. Prominent in politi- 
cal, religious and agricultural circles is the 
gentleman wiinse name heads this biogra- 
phical sketch. His fine farm and pleasant 
home are located on section 14, Rush Township, 
Shiawassee County. He is a native of the 
Wolverine State and was born in 1853. His father, 
Lorenzo Biijgham, w.as a Vermont farmer and had 
his nativity in October, 1818. In 1840 he married 
Sarah Ililler, a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Frank) Ililler, who were natives of New York and 
became the parents of ten children. 

The father of our subject came to Michigan in 
1839 .and settled in Flint, buying forty acres of 
land and cutting from it the timber. In 1846 God 
called him to preach His word and he remained 
faithful until death. He lived there for twelve 
years and then moved to Oakland County, making 
his home for about eleven years in Independence 
Township. His wife's mother had died in 1834 
and a few years later Mr. Ililler came to Michigan 
and made his home with his son, Jacob Ililler, until 
his death in 1863. The father removed, in 1869, 



to Shiawassee County and bought eighty acres of 
land in Burns Township. In this home they re- 
mained until the deaih of Lorenzo Bingham, Octo- 
ber 1, 1870. 

John Bingham is one of a family of four sons 
and two daughters born to his parents. He was 
married in 1878 to Sarah Beals, eldest daughter of 
Philip and Catherine (Epley) Beals. Mr. and Mrs. 
Beal were Ohio people and had a family of two 
sons and throe daughters. In 1880 Mr. and Mrs. 
John Bingham moved to Rush Township, where 
they bought eighty acres of land, to which they 
have since added five acres more. They have three 
bright and interesting children — Cora May, Ella C. 
and Philip J. 

Our subject's political views led him toall3' him- 
self to the Republican party until about the year 
1886, since which time he has cast his vote for Pro- 
hibition. He and his earnest Christian wife arc con- 
sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in which Mr. Bingham is Class-Leader and Steward 
and he is also Superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
The family feels a just pride in the records 
of past generations of worthy ancestors. James 
Bingham, the grandfather of our subject, was a far- 
mer and a native of Vermont, being born about 
1770. B3' his first marriage he had several chil- 
dren and the second marriage, in 1817, with Polly 
Baker, gave him one daughter and four sons, of 
whom Lorenzo, the father of our subject, was the 
eldest. The father of James was Jeremiah, an Eng- 
lishman by birth, who liad several sons and many 
grandsons, some of whom became missionaries of 
the Cross. Bingharapton, N. Y., was named after 
a brother of Jeremiah. Mrs. Lorenzo Bingham is 
a very intelligent and deligiitful woman and is 
spending her declining j'ears witii her son John. 



•^^ 



,,.., LMON B. CLARK. Among the able 
!OI financiers of Shiawassee County, who have 
done much to build up the commercial 
life and industries of the county, we are 
pleased to note the name which stands at the head 
of this brief sketch. Mr. Clark is a banker at 




rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



651 



Morrice, and a iimn liiglily esteemed I)Otli for char- 
acter and social quaiilies. There is probaldy no 
man who has done so inucli as he to buiUi up the 
business interests of his town. He is sole owner 
of the bank and of the furniture store which is in 
connection with it ai:d is a partner in a hardware 
store with tlie son-in-law. He is proud to count 
himself a native of the county in which he has 
spent his life, as lit- was born in Vernon Township, 
Shiawassee County, September 10, 1837. 

Our subject's father, John 15. Clark, was a native 
of Pennsylvania and his grandfather a native of 
Massachusetts, of English descent. He was both a 
weaver and farmer, and died in Penns3'lvania, after 
completing a century of upright and worthy living. 
The father added to his agricultural pursuits the 
trade of a tanner and currier, which line of work 
he followed until he removed to this State in 18.'3(j. 
He had lived in New York State a few years pre- 
vious to his emigration to the West, and made his 
journey in tiie good old-fashioned way by team to 
Buffalo, and thence by boat to Detroit, taking team 
again from that city to tiiis county. There were 
llieu but few families here and the eighty acres 
which he bought needed hard and [)Pr3evcring la- 
bor to subdue them from their wild condition to 
that of a farm. 

John B. Clark built a log house and established 
his home. Indians abounded but were friendly 
and helpful and he found them good neighbors. 
He hunted considerably and killed a good many 
deer. Detroit and Pontiac were his two tr.ading 
points and it took a week to go to cither and re- 
turn in those early days. He vyas a stanch Demo- 
crat in i)olitics. He passed away from earth in 
1842. 

The lady who for so many years faithfully 
walked side by side with John B. Clark in his 
journey of life, bore the maiden name of Lois 
Smedley. She was a native of Massachusetts and 
died at the age of sixty-nine, leaving four chil- 
dren, j\laria, Charles S., Almon and Judson. The 
mother's father was a farmer and died in Pennsyl- 
vania. Her family was of English and Welsh 
extraction. 

In the early days of our subject Indians were 
more plentiful than white people and he remem- 



I 



bers with great zest his boyish encounters with 
deer, and his visit to the Indian camps, for their 
reservation was only two miles away. He was 
early left fatherless as that parent was taken from 
his family by death wiien Almon was only live 
years old. The mother married a second time, 
becoming Jlrs. Alanson Horton, and removed to 
Bemiington Township iu 1816, being accompanied 
in her removal by our subject. The common dis- 
trict school and the pioneer log school'iouse were 
the seats of learning in which he took his early 
education, and the3' were carried on under the rate 
bill system, three months in the summer and three 
mouths in the winter constituting the school year. 

When eighteen years of age the youth began 
teaching and exercised his powers in this direction 
in Burns, Perry and Bennington Townships, the 
schools in which he taught being also carried on 
under the rate-bill system. He made an ar- 
rangement to buy the homestead on condition 
of taking care of his mother and stepfather 
during their declining years. To this land he 
added by purchase and at one time owned two hun- 
dred and fifty acres, more than two hundred of it 
being under cultivation. He had a fine orchard, 
consisting of five hundred apple trees and he car- 
ried on mixed farming. 

Mr. Clark moved to Morrice and buying an ele- 
vator went into the grain trade. But this was not 
exactly in his line of work and he disposed of it 
and established a bank later in the same year. He 
subsequently added the furniture business to his 
enterprise and went into the hardtvare trade; with 
his son-in-law, Edward Allen. He holds stock in 
the Detroit Loan Company of which he is the 
local Treasurer and Attorney. His marriage with 
Minerva Whitford, April 30, 1850, has resulted in 
the birth of one ciiild — Lois. Mrs. Clark was 
l)orn in Perry Townsliij), this county, in Ma}', 1838. 
Her daughter, Mrs. Lois Allen, has one child, Ar- 
thur. Mr. and Mra. Clark contribute liberally to 
the support of the Methodist Church with which 
that lady is connected as a member. 

Mr. Clark is connected with a number of the 
social orders and has also been i)laced by his fellow- 
citizens in various positions of trust and responsi- 
bilil}'. For one term he was Supervisor of Ben- 



652 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



nington Townsliip and lie has been President and 
Trustee of the village of Morrice. He was nom- 
inated in 1871 on the Democratic ticket for State 
Senator, but was defeated although he ran largely 
ahead of his ticket. He is a member of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Shiawaseee Lodge. 
He was instrumental with John A. Jlorrice, in rais- 
ing a subscription of $3,000 to secure tlie location 
of a town at this point. He buih the beautiful 
home in which he now resides in 188.3, and after 
buying the two-story brick building in which the 
hardware store is located, enlarged it by an addi- 
tion of one hundred feet to its length. This brief 
sketch docs not adequately detail the broad influ- 
ence and sterling character of the gentleman of 
whom it speaks. 



'^^m- 



"iY^OHN MIKAN. Every steamer that crosses 
the broad Atlantic freighted with precious 
souls, bears to our country hundred of citi- 
zens of other lands, the m.ajority of whom 
have no ca|)ital except energy' ai'd perseverance. 
From Castle Garden they scatter through different 
States, but wherever they locate they become an 
integral part of the communit}-, and as a rule are a 
very desirable class of residents. Of none is this 
more true than of our German-American citizens, 
who bring to their adopted home those traits of 
character which enable them to become identified 
with any given section, and contribute their quota 
to its improvement. 

Certainly the growth of Shiawassee County has 
been promoted in no inconsiderable degree by the 
labors therein of Mr. Mikan, whose name intro- 
duces this brief biographical outline. Side by side 
with his brother, V. Mikan, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this volume, he has labored for their 
common weal. He was born in Bohemia, Germany, 
June 19, 1835, and was reared in his native place, 
early learning those lessons of thrift and industry 
which have stood him in such good stead in his 
later career as an agriculturist. His parents, V. 
Mikan, Sr., and Anna (Saka) Mikan, were natives 
of Bohemia, whence with their children they emi- 
grated to the New World in the year 1854. The 



mother passed away some years ago, leaving 
her husband in the care of his affectionate sons, 
who cherish him in his declining years. They 
have made their home in Vernon Township, Shia- 
wassee County, since 1857, at which time they re- 
moved to this State from Wisconsin, where they 
had first located. 

Both brothers are hard working men who live on 
the same section, with their homes only one-half 
mile apart, John's house being east of his broth- 
er's. They scarce!}' know what it is to have any 
separate interests, for they have always worked in 
such harmonj', and with such similar aspirations, 
that the}' have not allowed self-interest to divide 
them. Their original purchase has been so increased 
that they now own six hundred and fort}- acres in 
partnership, part of it in Shiawassee County, and 
part in Genesee County. 

John Mikan was married in 1875, to Kate Barka, 
and they have two daughters, Anna and Milla. It 
was in 1887 that he erected the house where his 
family now resides, and a view of which appears on 
another page. It is a two-story frame building, and 
cost $2,000, its fine appearance attracting universal 
admiration. His barn, which is 40x70 feet on the 
ground, with a heighth of twenty feet at the 
side, cost $1,200. It is with great pleasure that we 
make note of this (ileasant family circle, and of the 
prosperity which has attended the efforts of the 
brothers. 



-5-H^^>g4^-^ 



I^ANIEL RIDENOUR, a well-known citi- 
I JJJ zen of St. John's, was born in Richland 
(^^ County, Ohio, September 12, 1819. His 
father, Jacob, was a Mar3lander, and came 
when a young man from State to Pennsylvania, 
thence to Ohio about the j'car 1818. There he set- 
tled upon a farm when the country was still new 
and full of wild game, such as deer, wild turkeys, 
etc. He left Ohio in 1852, and coming to Clinton 
County, Mich., located in Essex Township, where 
he continued to live until his death, which trans- 
pired when he was about ninety j-cars old. He 
was one of the honored veterans of the War of 




I -^i-L 4"A jy - .-^J gy g i ^^g^ ' '} 



SSJ.-|^gwW^iL^^^^ 




RESIDENCE or DAt'JIEL RIDENQU R.SEC.G., Bl NGH Af/1 TR^CLMITON C0.,M1CH. 




RE5IDEhiCE OF JOHN M I K AN , 5IC. 13.,VFR N ON TP., 3H I AWAS.SLL CO., M ICH . 



POPwTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



655 



1812. His good wife, Nanc}- Brown, wlio was tlie 
niotlier of ten diildrcn, also lived to an advanccl 
age. and died just previous to the demise of her 
husband. 

Our subject is one of the three children of the 
parental famil}- now living, and was reared upon 
the farm and received his education there and in 
the log schoolhouse. When he could get time to 
attend it, he went to school, but had to work at 
home most of the time. One employment to whic'. 
the hoj'S were put in those da3's was acting the part 
of animated threshing machines, bj- tramping out 
the grain upon the floor of the log barn. He re- 
mained at home until he reached the age of twenty- 
four years, and in 1843 went to Richland County, 
whore he farmed on shares for several years. In 
his early daj's as now, he was marked as unusually 
industrious ami enterprising, and a man for whom 
he was farming on shares, was so well satisfied with 
his endeavors as to regret greatly to have him 
leave. He made him a liberal offer, promising not 
only to give him one-half of all he could raise, but 
also to build him a house. 

In 1852 Mr. Ridenour came by team lo Clinton 
County, this State, and settled on section G, liiiig- 
ham Township. He bought part of his land from 
the Government and part from a farmer. It was 
an unbroken forest, and he went to work with his 
ax to cut down logs with which to build his house. 
The country was full of game, and he killed many 
fine specimens of the deer, and three bears. In- 
dian neighbors were abundant and friendly, some- 
times aiding him in his work. He proceeded to 
clear and improve his entire farm, and it was not 
long before he had fine crops of grain. There was 
no market for his grain short of Detroit, to which 
it must be drawn by team. But,he readily found 
sale for all he could raise among his neighbors who 
had not been able to get in a harvest. 

Mr. Ridenour has been three times married. His 
first wedding was in 1 843, when he was united with 
Alpheta Munson, of Medina Count}-, Ohio. .She 
died in 1845, leaving one daughter, Mary. Her 
sister Almyra became his second wife in 1840, and 
died in 1874. She was the mother of seven chil- 
dren — Alpheta, Frank, Jane, Daniel, Edward, Ad- 
die, and one who died in infancy. His third mar- 



riage took place in 1875, when lie was joined in 
wedlock with Ladema Kentfiehl, of New York. 

The political views of our subject are in accord 
with the utterances of the Democratic part)-, and 
he is conscientious in casting his ballot, but does 
not take an active part in political matters. He 
has three hundred and eighty-eight acres in his 
home farm, and in addition has two hundred acres 
in Isabella Countj-, and besides this he has given lo 
each of his children a handsome tract of land. He 
began life with nothing, and says that he was so 
poor he could not afford to buy a plow, although 
he could get a good one for *5. He has been a 
hard w-orker and is a successful man. His residence, 
a view of which will be found elsewhere in this 
volume, is an ornament to the township, and he 
has just completed a commodious and capacious 
barn to replace one that was destroyed by light- 
ning last year. 



r*>~- 



■i»^>£^^^^^tT^Zf<^ 



<A )»; I L L I A M HECK. A visitor to Essex 
\r\j// Township, Clinton County, would not long 
\V/ V/ be ignorant of the name and fame of Wil- 
liam Heck, as he is one of the most prominent 
farmers in the localitj'. He is one of those upon 
whom Dame Fortune has been showering her 
favors, led to do so by his persistent industry, 
good judgment and upright dealing with others. 
When he came to this State he liad but limiteil 
means, but a wise use of his small fund And perse- 
vering toil have resulted in making uim one of the 
well-to-do agriculturists of the township. He 
occupies a line farm on section IjJ, where substan- 
tial buildings may be seen, together with good 
stock and a full supply of modern machinery. The 
dwelling he now occupies is one of the mos'. attrac- 
tive in the county, being large, of pleasing design 
and evidently sub.slantially and well arranged. It 
was erected in 1874 and is surrounded with the 
adornments that befit a rural home. 

Mr. Heck was born near Geneva, Seneca County, 
N. Y., September 23, 1830, and his father, George 
Heck, was born in the same locality in 1808. The 
latter has always been engaged in farming and has 



056 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



been so successful that he now combines monej'- 
loaning with thiit occupation. He belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in which he has been 
Class-Leader for more than forty years. His wife, 
the mother of our subject, who was known in her 
maidenhood as Margaret Hofstoter, was born in 
New York and died in 1878 when tiireescore and 
ten years old. She was a woman of strong religious 
convictions and for many years belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The family of which 
our subject is the eldest, consists of seven children, 
all living but one. 

The gentleman of whom we'write spent his early 
years in the manner customar}- to farmers' sous, 
attending the district school and doing various 
kinds of work on the estate until he liad grown 
nearlv to manhood. When about twenty- years old 
he became a high school student, first at Prattsburg 
and then at Lima, and when of age he began teach- 
ing, a VFork which he continued during six terms. 
In 1854 he became clerk in a grocery store in 
Penn Yan, where he was employed three years. 
At the expiration of that time he came to this 
State and selected a location in Clinton Couuty, a 
short distance north of St. John's. He bought 
eighty acres of land in the woods tiial had a 12x14 
shanty on it, and taking possession of the little 
residence, he cleared about thirty acres around it 
and made other improvements. He made that his 
home some seven years then sold it and bougiit 
land in Essex Township, on which he has since 
resided. His first jjurchase liere was of one hundred 
and forty acres which was but partly improved. 
To this he has added and he now owns two hun- 
dred and forty acres which have been placed in fine 
condition. He has always taken delight in horses, 
and Percheron, Ilambletonian and Morgan are the 
breeds for which he manifests a preference. For 
years Mr. Heck has been a strong believer that the 
road to wealth was mixed farming, and by dili- 
gence and dint of labor all men could succeed. 

September 6, 1859, was the day on which Wil- 
liam Heck and Caroline Van Scoy were united in 
marriage. The bride vi'as born in De Witt Town- 
ship, Clinton Couuty, and fo the biographical 
sketch of her father, the Hon. Rowland S. Van 
Scoy, the reader is referred for her ancestral his- 



tor}'. She possesses a rare degree of intelligence 
and capability, having had her faculties developed 
by careful training, and she fills a place of honor 
not only in her own home but in the society of the 
neighborhood. She is an humble, earnest Chris- 
tian, holding membership in the Congregational 
Cliurch. From her father's estate she inherited 
two hundred and sixt}' acres of land in De Witt 
Township and four hundred and tliirty acres in 
Essex Township. Slie has borne her husband two 
sons: Seldon M., born January 2, 18Gl,and George 
R., Marci! 18, 1864. The elder is a pro9]>erous 
farmer in De AVitt Township and the younger is 
preparing to enter upon the practice of law some- 
where in the State. George is an exceedingly 
bright young man, with a promising future before 
him, and has every assurance of success in his 
chosen profession. He is a graduate of the law 
department of the college at Valparaiso, Ind. 

Mr. Heck has advanced the interest of the trav- 
eling public while serving as Commissioner of 
Highwaj's and he has held other local offices to 
the general satisfaction. As Justice of the Peace, an 
office he has held four jears, he has decided wisely 
and justly and has done much to jiromote law and 
order in his locality. In politics he is a Republi- 
can. An honorable, trustworthy citizen, a first-class 
farmer and a social, friendly man, Mr. Heck is 
held in good repute b^' his acquaintances and 
among tiiose who know him best he has many 
warm friends and admirers. 



■■"'•'0^t"^t'" 



"ifiOSEPlUTS. WOODHULL. a fine old gentle- 
man of marked ability and noble character, 
who was the first settler in W^oodhuU Town- 
sliip of Shiawassee Count}', which is named 
after him, was Ijorn in Phelps, Ontario Count}', N. 
Y., September 19, 1815. His father, Joseph, was 
born on Long Island. N. Y., in 1761, as was also 
his grandfather Zebulon WoodhuU, whose natal 
year was 1737. 

The family is of English descent and springs 
from two brothers who came over to this country 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G57 



during llic times of the French and Indinn Wars. 
The grandfather was a fanner aii<l died in 178".). 
The father was reared on tlie farm Mnd :dso learned 
the Uiilor's trade but did not follow it to any con- 
siderable extent. He owned two iuindrcd acres of 
land in Ontario County, N. V., but came West to 
live with his children in November, 18;5G, dyin^ 
here in 1811, when seventy-seven years old. He 
was a member of the Baptist Church and in politics 
was iu earl}' life a Democrat and later a Whig. 

Catry Robison AVoodhull, the mother of our 
subject, was a native of New York and was born 
January 9, 1774. She reared nine children to ma- 
turit}', namely: John, Betsey, Lena, Nancy, 
Reaves, Almira, Louisana. \'icnna and Josephus. 
Of all this number our subject and Ezra R., are 
the only ones living. Their mother jiasscd awaj' 
from earth September 9, 18.59. Like her husband 
she was a member of the Baptist Church. Her 
family bore an honorable record for patriotism, 
and her father, John D. Robison, a native of New 
York, where he was born in 1744, was a carpenter 
and joiner by trade and also a farmer. But he 
joined the army as a Commissary during the Revo- 
lutionarj' War and was also a soldier in the French 
War with the English. He was the first settler of 
Phelps, Ontario County, where he made his home 
in 1788. He was of Scotch descent and a man of 
sterling char.icler. He died in Phelps, after hav- 
ing reached the advanced age of eight3'-fivc years. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in the 
district schools and trained upon the farm, where 
he remained until he reached his twcnly-lirst year. 
He then, in September, 1836, came to Michigan, 
making the trip by water accompanied by his 
mother and sister while his father and brother 
John came by Canada driving the team. He first 
settled on section 4, Woodhull Township, which 
was then, of course, unnamed, and built the lirst 
bouse within its bounds. The nearest neighbor 
was at Laingsburg, three miles north. The Indians 
were very neighborly and ver}- numerous and fre- 
quent visitors to his log house. He caught a few 
deer with the help of his dog but he never shot at 
one. Wolves and bears also abounded. In those 
days it was a serious matter to go marketing or 
even to go for the mail as the former took a m.an 



to Detroit and the lallor to Howell in Livingston 
County. Mr. Woodhull ma>'.e a trip to Detroit in 
1837 with two yokes of oxen and a covered wagon 
to secure a supply of Hour niul provisions. He had 
to follow Indian I rails and to ford streams and the 
trip consumed fifteen days. He remained in that 
carl}' home for si.xteen years and [)iit the farm in 
an improved condition. 

Mr. Woodhull's health failing he concluded that 
his days of hard work were over and moved to 
Lansing where he lived for seven years. His health 
became decidedly improved and he decided that 
he would .again go into the countr}-, so he bought 
the farm where he now resides, a fine tract of one 
hundred acres and moved upon it. Three-fourths 
of this land was then improved and had upon it a 
log house. His marriage November 20, 1845, 
uniteil him with Phfebe A. Laing, who was born 
in Saratoga, N. Y., March 27, 1822. Her parents, 
Peter and Mary (Calkins) Laing, natives of New 
York State, came to Michigan in 1833, and settled 
in Saline Townsiiip, Washtenaw County, and later 
removed to Shiawassee County. Mr. Laing was 
the first settler at Laingsburg which bears his name. 
He kept hotel there for a number of 3"cars and 
passed away from earth April 13, 1865. His wife, 
who was the mother of eight children, preceded 
hiin to the other world, lliirt}' years before 
his death. 

The subject of this sketch has had three children 
one only now living, the others having been 
snatched from their parents arms before reaching 
the age of two j'cars. The son, Charles, married 
Katie Corcoran, who died Februaiy 8, 1891. They 
were the parents of three children two of whom are 
living. 

Mr. Woodhull has two hundred and forty acres 
of land but gave his son one hundred acres. He 
built the house in which he now lives in 1871 and 
erected his large barn in 1868. He carries on 
mixed fanning, raising both stock and grain. He 
is a Bai)tist in religion and w.as Deacon for a long 
term of years at both Laingsburg and Lansing, and 
was for many years a Republican in politics but of 
late calls himself an li)dei)eii(leiit. He served as 
Supervisor of this township a number of terms and 
was elected County Treasurer during the war, but 



658 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



as the soldier vote was thro>vn out he had to give 
lip the oHice after one month's incumbenc}'. For 
fourteen j'ears he lias held the office of Justice of 
the Peace, and lias also lield other offices in the 
township. As an agriculturist he is deeply inter- 
ested in all movements wliicii tend to the improve- 
ment of the farmers and is identified with the 
Grange, believing that tiiat is helpful toward their 
social and financial prospcrit}'. 



-I 



-^ 



^^EORGE T. MASON. Among the pioneer 
III ,— -, families of Shiawassee County none arc more 
^^J|l prominent than the Masons, who for half a 
century have been identified with eveiy interest of 
tills section. Several of its members are now among 
the more active and progres3ivc citizens and one of 
these is the subject of this biographical sketch. His 
home is on section 17, Owosso Township, and is 
one of the pleasautest in the county, being supplied 
with every comfort heart can wish and presided 
over b3' a lady of excellent taste and housewifely 
skill. 

In September, 1839, Ezra L. and Albert B. Ma- 
son, with their families, came to Ov^osso Town- 
ship in the ohl lumbering stage wagon. The}' were 
given accomodations bj- the Stimson family, who 
allowed them the use of one room in au out kitchen 
for a few days, until the land which had been [lur- 
chased the 3'ear before could be located by com- 
pass, a trail cut through the timber and a small log 
house built. Into the little cabin the two families 
moved and the elders began to carve out tlieir for- 
tunes. Lumber was so scarce that not enough 
could be obtained to make a door and quilts were 
substituted and used for months. Ezra Mason was 
born in Rochester, N. Y., October 17, 1813, and 
was the son of Ezra Mason, 8r., a native of Ver- 
mont. The father of that gentleman had emigrated 
from Ireland early in the eighteenth century'. 

Ezra M.ason was married in early life to Harriet 
Mason of Ohio, who died iu 1818. He subse- 
quently married Sarah Whaley, who is still living, 
her present liome being in Ovid, Clinton Count}', 
and she being the wife of William Wood worth. 



Mr. Mason died in Owosso December 15, 1885, a 
few J'ears after he had removed to that place. His 
family consisted of seven children — Esther, wife of 
Isaac Whaley of Kent (-'ounty; Wealthy, formerly 
the wife of R. Dotj' of Oakland Count}', who died 
in April, 1889: Ezra, ex-County Treasurer and 
now operating a farm in Shiawassee County; George 
T., the subject of this sketch; William H., a lum- 
ber dealer in Owosso; David, who died in boyhood, 
and Lyman, who breathed his last in 1881. 

When the Masons settled here they were upon 
the extreme verge of civilization, there being no 
known settlements north of them and none to the 
west for scores of miles. What is now Owosso 
Township contained but two families outside of the 
little hamlet of Owosso, where not more than a 
dozen shanties stood. The Griggs and Wilkinsons 
had been here a short time and made a small clear- 
ing two miles from the land of the Masons. ■ Ezra 
Mason was a practical surveyor and was soon 
called far and near to locate the lands of the new- 
comers, and mucii of his time was thus occupied, 
llis brother Albert gave his attention to clearing 
and developing a farm and encountered difficulties 
so great that he was at times on the point of aban- 
doning his ert'orts and returning to New York, es- 
pecially when ill health combined with other disad- 
vantages to darken his pathway. Time after time 
the brothers had to renew their courage by noting 
the greater misery of others and strengthen their 
resolve to continue their struggle. 

Success finally came to them and in addition to 
securing a competence and a desirable home they 
gained the unlimited respect and confidence of 
neighbors and friends. Thoir homes became tiie 
headquarters of social gatherings, and their inter- 
est was sought in every important movement, and 
not iu vain. They lived to see the forest trans- 
formed into cultivated lands where hundreds of in- 
telligent and industrious people found sustenance; 
in place of the elk, bear and antelope once hunted 
by the aborigines whose trail crossed their farms, 
they saw herds of domestic animals. 

The name of the gentleman whose name intro- 
duces these paragraphs took place February 2, 1842, 
and his life was spent in the usual w.ay until the 
breaking out of the Civil War. He then shared iu 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



659 



the excitement attendant upon the hostilities and 
was not content until in 1863 he was able to enter 
the service as a private in Company H. Klevenlli 
Michigan Cavahy. He served two years, less fifteen 
days, when the close of the war released him from 
a soldier's duties and he resumed farm work. Dur- 
ing the most of the time that he was at the front 
he was in the command of Gcu. Stoneman, and he 
participated iu nearly all of the (ifly-uine engage- 
ments that are credited to the regiment. He was 
Orderly to Gen. Oillam during a raid of eighty 
days, and was frequently on guar<l duty. When he 
returned home he took up farm work in Middle- 
bnr}- Township, but in 18C8, after visiting Mis- 
souri and Iowa on a prospecting tour, he bought 
the farm he now occupies. 

The marriage of Mr. Mason and Hannah A. 
Shepard, daughter of Samuel Shepard, was solemn- 
ized November 25, 1869. The bride was born in 
Owosso Township, March 11, 1845, and belongs to 
a well-known and highly respected family. She 
has had two children — Myrtie A., born June 26, 
1878, and Bertha A., who was born October 10, 1871, 
but lived only to tlic age of four and a half 3'cars. 
Mr. Mason is one of those who believe it the duty 
of every citizen to exercise the right of suflfrage 
unfailingly, !iiid he is alwaj's found at the polls on 
election day depositing a Republican ballot. He 
is an active supporter of llie Methodist Protestant 
Church, of which he is a meralier, and works with 
the society iu all the benevolent and progressive 
enterprises. He also lakes an active part in the 
promotion of educational iutcresl.s, and has done 
much to advance the general welfare of the agri- 
cultural coninumity of which he is an inlluenlial 
and soli<l member. 



- f^" 



-St=5- 



'^x R. D. C. HOLLKY, a prominent phvsician 
I Jl) of Shiawassee County, and engaged in 
(^3^ practice in Vernon, was born in Seneca 
Count}-, N. Y., on the 9th of August, 
1826. He is descended from one of the early New 
England families, which during Colonial d.ays was 
established in America. His grandfather, Gideon 



Holley, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and 
his father. Ransom W. Holley, was a native of Del- 
aware Count}-, N. Y., born in February, 1797. At 
the age of six years he was taken to Seneca County, 
whore he was reared to manhood. In his youth he 
learned the carpenter and joiner's trade and be- 
came an extensive contractor. While living in 
Ovid, Seneca County, he built a fine Methodist 
Church, was the architect of a Presbyterian Cluirch 
in Aurora, N. Y., also built the Dutch Reformed 
Church of Farmer, the Masonic Hall of Ovi<l, and 
a great man}- elegant residences. He married Sarah 
Clark, who was born in Providence, R. I., October 
4, 1799, and was the youngest child of B. and 
Sarah Clark. When a maiden of fifteen summers 
she went to Seneca County, N. Y., where she be- 
came the wife of Ransom W. Holle}-, at the age 
of twenty-one years. Unto them were born nine 
children, four sons and live daughters, of whom 
three are now living — Monroe, a resident of Kent 
County, Mich.; Mrs. Harriet HulT of Kent County; 
and the Doctor. 

In 1831, Mr. Ransom W. Holley, with his family 
emigrated to Jlichigan, going ilirect to Detroit, 
from whence he went to Saline and later to North- 
ville, Wayne County. Soon afterward he located 
upon a farm in Novi Township, Oakland County, 
where he made his home until coming to Shiawassee 
County, in 1836. He entered land from the Gov- 
ernment where the village of A'ernon now stands 
and built the second log house in the place, there 
making his home until his death. He took a i)iom- 
iiieiit part in public affairs during the early histor}- 
of the county. He attended the first township 
meeting in Vernon Township, was the first Super- 
visor of the town and one of the first Justices of 
the Peace. He held the office of County Commis- 
sioner in 1837, and in 1856, was elected County 
Treasurer, a position which he held two years. In 
politics he was first a Whig, but on the organiza- 
tion of the Ropulilican |)arly j(>incd its ranks. So- 
cially, he was a Royal Arch Mason and attended the 
convention of thai lodge in Albany during the time 
of the Morgan trouble. He was one o' live persons 
who organized the first Presbyterian Church in 
this count}' and continued his connection with it 
until the Congregational churcli was organized wlicn 



660 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



he joined tliat body and served as Deacon or Elder 
until his death. He was appointed a single com- 
missioner to build the Court House in the County 
and drew the plans and superintended the work. 
He departed this life in Sei)tembcr, 1860. Ran- 
som W. HoUey was one of nature's noblemen, a 
friend to the poor, a valued citizen and a trusted 
companion. His loss was deeply regretted by a 
large circle of acquaintances and lie is still cher- 
ished in the memory of many friends. 

Dr. HoUey, whose name heads this sivetch, was 
the fourth cliild and third son of that honored pi- 
oneer. He began his school life in Nortiiville, 
Oakland County, and attended the common schools 
until the age of eighteen, when he began teaching. 
A year later he entered upon the stud}' of medicine 
and after two years' private study entered the 
Michigan University in the autumn of 1850, grad- 
uating in March, 1853. He also was a student in the 
NewYork College of Surger}' and tlie Jefferson Med- 
cal College of Philadelphia, Pa. He has practiced 
his profession for two j'ears in Detroit, for four 
years in Grand Rapids and about thirty-six years 
in Vernon, where he has built up an excellent prac- 
tice and won for himself a reputation as one of the 
leading physicians of the county. 

In 1853, Dr. Holley was united in marriage with 
Miss Rachel Y., the second daughter and fourth 
child of Stephen and Nancy (Madden) Rogers, 
natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hollj' was born in 
Oakland County, Mich., September 1, 1832, and 
there grew to maturity. Both of her parents have 
now passed away. Unto the Doctor and liis wife 
have been born five children — Milton R., a resident 
of Mecosta County, Midi., married Margaret 
Young and to them have been born six children, 
four sons and two daughters. Florence Irene is 
the wife of George B. Clarke,of Vernon, and unto 
them have been born six children, four of whom 
are now living. Lillian May is the wife of John 
Y. INIartin, a resident of Caledonia Township, this 
county, and Clarence M. comi)leles the family. 

liotli the Doctor anil Mrs. Holley are members 
of the Congregational Church, of which he has 
served both as Trustee and Deacon, and while liv- 
ing in Grand Rapids, Mich., he also served as 
Deacon of the church in that city. Socially, he is 




a member of the Masonic fraternity and is con- 
nected with several medical societies. He was 
President of the Grand Rapids AeadecDy of Medi- 
cine in 188G, and President of the Owosso Medi- 
cal Society for two j'ears and of the Union Medi- 
cal Society of Waj'ne, Oakland and Washtenaw 
Counties. 

Doctor Holley- hag made of his profession a life 
study, each year adding to his rich store of knowl- 
edge concerning the science. His skill and ability 
have long been recognized by the people of this 
countj' and have won him a liberal and lucrative 
practice. He ranks high among his professional 
brethren and his reputation is justly deserved. 

SA D. WEHPPLE, Cashier of the Owosso 
Savings Bank, is one of the most popu- 
lar citizens of that thriving young city. 
,^^ This bank was organized January 13, 

1891, as a successor to the Second National Bank. 
He was born at Plymouth, 'Wa3'ne County, Mieli., 
October 10, 1857, an(1 is the only son of Thomas 
S. and Emily J. (Snell) AVhipple, both of whom 
are natives of New York, whence, about 1840, 
they removed to Michigan witli their parents, who 
settled near Plymouth. The mother of our sub- 
ject was a daughter of Anson Snell, who lives at 
Shearer, Mich. His father, Thomas S. Whipple, 
was the son of Calvin Whijiple, whose ancestors 
came from England. 

The boyhood and early school days of our sub- 
ject were passed in Plymouth and vicinity'. At 
the age of seventeen he entered the high school 
at Ann Arbor. After pursuing his studies there 
two years he entered Michigan Universit}', from 
which he was gradu:ited as M. A. in 1881. After 
graduation he went to Constantine, St. Joseph 
Count}', Mich., where, for two years, he acted as 
Teller of tiie Farmers' National Bank. In 1884 
he removed to Owosso, entering the First National 
Bank as book-keeper, and was soon after made 
Cashier, in which capacitj' he continued until the 
bank went into voluntary liquidation, and wound 
up its affairs. He then took the position of 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G61 



Cashier in the City Bank at Battle Creelt and re- 
mained tiiere for three years. In January, 1889, 
lie returned to Owosso to talie ciiarge of the Sec- 
ond iS'alional Bank. 

Here Mr. Whipple acted as Cashier until tlie 
Second National Bank was re-organized as the 
Owosso Savings Hank, when he was made Cashier 
of the new institution, which is considered one of 
the solid enterprises of the city. The Owosso 
Savings IJank carries on a general hanking business 
and has in connection with that a savings depart- 
ment, including a Nickle Savings Stamp .System 
for small deposits. The bank has a paid-up capi- 
tal of *100,000. Mr. Whipple and David .M. Es- 
tey are also owners of the Queen Cart Compan}- at 
Owosso. 

Mr. Whipple was married in 1887 to Miss Elsie 
M. Collier, of Owosso, a daughter of George W. 
and Aurelia M. Collier. This lady was born, 
reared and educated in Owosso and her parents 
were pioneers of this city. Oni; son, .Joseph C, 
has blessed the home of this intelligent couiile. 
Mr. Whipple is a Knight Templar and a Knight 
of the Maccabees. He is a Republican in his 
political views and warmly interested in the future 
of his party. His beautiful residence on West 
Oliver Street is surrounded by attractive grounds 
and is in .<» delightful neighborhood. 



y;ILLlAM RUSSELL, a venerable and rep- 
resentative pioneer of (Treenbush Town- 
W^/ ship, Clinton County, is a native of Oswe- 
go County, N, Y.. and was born .hily 1.3, 1815. 
He is a son of .Toseph and Jane (Xeal) Russell, 
both natives of New York. The ancestry on his 
father's side was English and on his mother's side 
Welsh and Irish. The father was a soldier in the 
War of 1812. in which he did good service for his 
country. Four of his children now survive: 
James, William, Thomas and Alfred. 'I'lie first 
three live in Grecnbush Township and the fourth 
in Gratiot County. Our subject received a log- 
cabin education in New York State and had but 
limited advantages in his childhood and 3'outh,but 



he has made the most of them and has given him- 
self opportunities, :is he could make Ihera through 
life, for self-improvement. 

Our subject emigrated with his parents to Len- 
awee County, this Slate, in 1H3(), and lived there 
several years before coming to Clinton County, 
where he .arrived in 1811. Here his parents also 
came and spent the remainder of their days and 
here he has made his home continuously to this 
diiy. His marriage took place in Lenawee County 
in 1838, Jul}' 13. His bride, Annis Clymer, a na- 
tive of New York, was born February 18. 1820. 
Her parents were Isaac and Mary Havens Clymer, 
natives of New York and New Jersey, respect- 
ively, and her paternal ancestry was German. 
When about seventeen years old she came with 
her parents to Lenawee County, this State, where 
she remained until she came to Clinton County 
with her husband. Of the large family of chil- 
dren in her parental home the following are liv- 
ing: Mrs. Russell; Henry, who lives in Gratiot 
County; Jane, Mrs. Bailey, now a widow, in the same 
count}-; Ebenezer, in Saginaw County; William, 
in .Saginaw; Emma, wife of Lucian Cias, in Gratiot 
Count}'; Loretta, the wife of .Tosejjh Hawkins, 
living in the Southwest; and Caroline, wife of 
Cornelius Doty, of Gratiot County. 

To Ml-, and Mrs. Russell eight children have 
been born, all but two of whom are now living. 
The}' are named, Philetta, wife of George Andrus, 
in Gratiot County; Amanda, Mrs. Abram Spayd, 
living in St. John's; Mortimer, in tirecnbush 
Township; Melvin, in Gratiot County; Eva, wife 
of Lorenzo White; and Emma, wife of I'^rank 
Hyde, of Gratiot County. 

The subject of this sketch settled in Greenbush 
Township nearly half a century ago and came to 
his present home in 18.54. He anrl his good wife 
made their home for a number of years in a log 
cabin and endured the usual hardships of pioneer 
life and he has atlaineil his present success by 
the unaided efforts of himself and his noble com- 
panion, wiio has abl}' assisted him both by hand 
and b}' her sound counsel through all the dilli- 
culties of their struggling jears. When they first 
came to the township they were about five miles 
distant from the nearest neighbor and life would 



662 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



indeed have been lonely had there not been a 
cheerful home inside the rough walls of the log 
cabin, for at night the wolves howled about their 
home and were more neighborly by far than 
could be desired. 

For eight years Mr. Russell served as .Justice 
of the Peace and also as Highway Commissioner, 
and has also been one of the School Directors. 
Both he and his good wife are members of the 
Disciples' Church and are well known throughout 
the township as representative pioneers and peo- 
ple of sterling Christian char.acter. The honesty 
and integrity which has marked his career gives 
him the universal confidence of the business com- 
munity. 



^ 



<4l I^ILLIAM JI. STEVENS. Too much stress 
\/\/// ^'''^ scarcely be given to the labors of those 
V5^ wlio did the initial work of developing the 
physical resources of Clinton Count}*, and the pub- 
lishers of this volume are glad to be able to lay 
before their readers an account of the share borne 
by the gentleman above named. He was eighteen 
years old when he came hither tvith his parents, and 
for nearly forty 3'ears he has toiled and planned in 
Essex Township. An eye-witness of many changes, 
he rejoices in the prosperity of this region, and is 
gl.ad that his own hands have helped to bring about 
the present state of affairs. 

The parents of our subject were Benjamin and 
Louisa Stevens, natives of New England, and they 
were living in Worcester Countj', Mass., when the 
son was born, Januarj^ 24, 1836. He was a mere 
infant when they removed to Ohio, and in that 
State they remained until he was fourteen years 
old. They then returned to the old Ba}' State, but 
after a short sojourn went again to Ohio, and set- 
tled in Summit County. AVhen our subject was 
about eighteen years old, parents and son came to 
Michigan and established their home in Essex 
Townshii), Clinton County. Here the parents died 
some time since, leaving to their desccjndants an 
honored name. The education of William Stevens 
was obtained in the common schools, and by con- I 



tact with men, and a judicious use of the public 
press. 

The lady of Mi-. Stevens" choice was Miss Ann 
Washington, a native of Michigan, with whom he 
was united in marriage December 24, 1859. Hav- 
ing made his home in an unbroken region, he has 
had to toil haril and deny himself of some of the 
pleasures and comforts of life, but he has had his 
reward in securing a good home and becoming the 
possessor of eighty acres of well-cultivated land. 
For many years he has been engaged more or less 
as a veterinai'y surgeon, and he has frequent calls 
for his services in this line. In exercising the right 
of suffrage he uses a Democratic ballot, and when 
affairs are on foot that will advance the interest of 
the community he is ready to bear a part. Self- 
made in finances, and largely self -informed, he 
enjoys the confidence of his acquaintances and 
ranks among the prominent agriculturists of the 
neighborhood. 



\f/ ESLIE R. TAYLOR, L. D. S. The original 
of this sketch, who is a dentist, was born in 
I; Picton, Prince Edward County, Ontario, 
March 17, 1855. His parents were .Tames and Maria 
( Wyckott) Taylor. His father, a hardware merchant 
at Park Hill, was a son of Capt. Robert Taylor, a 
soldier of the War of 1812, who was promoted on 
the field for bravery. Capt. Robert Taylor w.as the 
son of Col. Robert who came to Canada with (ion. 
Wolf and was killed on the Plains of Abraham at 
the taking of (Quebec. Dr. Taylor, himself, was a 
soldier under her m.ajesty, tjueen Victoria, and 
served five years in the regular service and was at 
the exi)iration of his service a ca[)tain, promoted 
from a private for meritorious service. Dr. T.aylor 
attended the Royal College of dental surgery at 
Toronto, Canada, and in the interims of study 
worked in his father's store. He was graduated at 
the head of his class in 1877 and began practice 
at Park Hill, where he remained for one year_thcn 
moving to Michigan has continued his practice of 
dentistry ever since. 

Dr. Taylor is an enthusiastic fancier of the canine 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



665 



species and for ten years has paid niucli attention 
to the breeding of Bne dogs, having been connected 
with C. II. Corbett, Governor of Goals, Kingston, 
Ontario, in the ownersliip of the Kingston and 
Bancroft Kennels. The breed that he has partic- 
ularly favored is that of the English Setter. He 
has had and has now many valuable English 
Pointers and Irish Water Spaniels and Ifinglish and 
Irish Setters. He exhibits at bench shows and at 
all field trials of speed. He has obtained many 
prizes for his dogs. He advertises in several sport- 
ing papers and his average sale amounts to J:2,000 
per year. He bred the celebrated "Gruse" which 
sold for $500, and several dogs sired by "Grouse" 
for $"200 apiece. He now has some setters and 
pointers tiiat are valued at $1,000 apiece. 

Dr. Taylor was married May 17, 1881, in Dash- 
wood, Canada, to a lady whose maiden name was 
Miss Laura Fried. They have a small family of two 
children — Warde and Maude. In politics Dr. Tay- 
lor is a Democrat. 

. OOP - 




-oSS- 



ON. EDGAR B. WARD, M. D., a practicing 
physician of Laingsburg, claims New York 
as the State of his nativity'. He was born 
in Ontario County, September 27, 1835, 
and is the son of Owen I. and Paulina (Tallman) 
Ward. His parents were also natives of the 
Empire .Stale and became pioneers of Michigan in 
18.3G, settling in Lodi, Washtenaw County, where 
the father spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. 
Ward, after her husband's death, came to I^aings- 
burg and spent her last days in the home of the 
Doctor. 

In early life Owen Ward was a merchant but in 
later years followed farming. Ho gave his su|)- 
port first to the Whig party und afterward to the 
Republican party. He and his wife in religious 
belief were Presbyterians during their earlier years 
but later in life united with the Congregational 
Chuich. Of their family our subject, who is the 
second in order of birth, is the only survivor. The 
other four, Thomas O., Frances, Harriet and Mil- 
ton, are deceased. 

Dr. Ward spent the days of his boyhood and 



youth in Lodi, Mich., whither he had been brought 
bj' his parents during his infancy. He had the 
advantage of an academic education and when 
twenty years of age he began reading medicine 
with Dr. D. A. Post of Ypsilanti, having decided 
to follow a professional career rather than farming, 
the jnirsuit to which he had been reared. With 
Dr. Post he continued his studies for a time and 
subsequently was graduated from the medical 
department of the University of Michigan at Ann 
Arbor in the spring of 1858. Immediately there- 
after he located at Centerville, Iowa, where he 
practiced for two years, coming thence to Shiawas- 
see County, Mich., and in 18G2 locatf^d in Laings- 
burg, where he has practiced continuously since, 
with the exception of two years, 1875 and 1876, 
which he spent in Jackson. It is said that every 
person is fitted for a special work and if they 
engage in that line will meet with success. Grant- 
ing this to be true we would say that Dr. Ward 
lias found his special work if success i)C the rule by 
which to judge. He has worked hard, been a con- 
stant student of the profession and as a result has 
built up an excellent and lucrative practice. 

On the 23d of September, 1857, Dr. AVard was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Allen, of 
Lodi, Mich., who was born in Freedom, Washtenaw 
County, in 1839, and is a daughter of John and 
Nancy (Wiltsie) Allen. Their union has been 
blessed with two children, a son and a daughter: 
Walter E., a practicing physician of Chicago, and 
Tlieo Josephine. The various members of the 
family hold a high position in the social world 
where thc3' are deservedly esteemed for their ster- 
ling worth. 

Socially the Doctor is a tliird degree Mason, and 
repeatedly has been honored with the oflice of 
Master of his lodge. He belongs to the Shiawassee 
County Medical Society, which he has served as 
President, and is a member of the American Medi- 
cal Association. A number of village offices he 
has filled, elected by the Republican party, and in 
1869, upon the Republican ticket, he was elected 
to the Legislature for one term. lie has been 
engaged in literary pursuits for a number of years, 
corresponding with many of the leading newsjia- 
pers besides contributing to different medical jour- 



666 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



nals. Ever}' public trust reposed in liiin has been 
faitiifully discliarged aud whether it be in business 
or social life he is held in high esteem by his many 
friends, who will l)e pleased to notice his portrait 
on another page of this volume. 



^^EORGE AV. SCOTT. We take pleasure 
fll __, in calling especial attention to the ancestr}' 
^^^^ of the subject of this sketch, as his grand- 
father was the first actual settler in Clinton County. 
That grandfather, Uavid Scott, was born at Litch- 
field, Conn., in November, 1779. Being left an 
orphan at an early age he soon began to work for 
himself and came to Michigan about 1825 and set- 
tled on a farm a mile and a half south of Ann Ar- 
bor. After living there eight years he came to 
Clinton County, October 4, 1833, and was the only 
settler within a radius of forty miles. 

Mr. .Scott took up land from the Government 
where the village of De Witt now stands, built a 
log cabin and cleared up the land. At one time 
he owned eight sections in the vicinity. He was 
a hard worker and farmed extensively and builtan 
hotel, the first one in the region, at which he enter- 
tained emigrants. This building was a double log 
house. He was friendly with the Indians and could 
speak their language, and was constantly sur- 
rounded in those early days by wild animals, deer, 
bears and wolves being abundant. He died May 
7, 1851, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, 
Eunice Forbes, was born at Shoreham, Vt., January- 
14 1780, and having reared six of her eleven chil- 
dren passed away May 7, 1840. She and her 
husband were both of the Universalist faith in re- 
ligion. 

The father of our subject, Sylvester, was a na- 
tive of Genesee County, N. Y., where he was born 
August 29, 1806, and came with his parents to this 
State in 1825 and to this county in 1834. He set- 
tled on a farm a quarter of a mile west of De AVitt 
where he owned two hundred acres. He built a 
low house on the place and made some improve- 
ments, but was killed by accident, April 22, 1838, 
in his thirty-second year. This accident occurred in 



the first sawmill that was ever erected in Clinton 
County. He was a notable huntsman and killed 
many deer, wolves, foxes and turkeys. 

The mother of our subject, Sophronia Cooley by 
name, is a native of Massachusetts, where she was 
born in 1811. She reared thiee children — Sylves- 
ter E., Charles M. and George W., and now resides 
with her son, our subject. She is a Methodist in her 
religious belief, and was well known as a pioneer 
of courage and endurance throughout all the earl- 
ier years of history in this region. The early 
childhood of our subject, who was born in Wash- 
tenaw Count3-, .Jul}- 9, 1834, was spent among the 
Indian children and in the log schoolhouse, as he 
was three months old when he came here. AVhen 
twenty-one 3-ears old he spent one year at Olivet 
College, after which he farmed the home pl.ace un- 
til his marriage and then took a part of the home- 
stead and proceeded to improve it. 

Miss Jennie Webb, to whom he was married in 
1857, was born in Plymouth this State. March 16, 
1836. Two of their three children are still living. 
William died when nine years old; Frank C. was 
married to Ida Rob! son and lives with his father, 
and G. Earl is also at home. Our subject is inde- 
pendent in his politics, with prohibition proclivi- 
ties. He has been Treasurer of the township for 
three ^cars and is a member of the Grange. All 
but eight of his one hundred acres are under the 
plow, besides fort^'-five acres which he has given 
to his son. He has been carrying on mixed farm- 
ing but now devotes himself largely to keeping 
cows and selling milk to the condenser at Lansing. 
He has also dealt to some extent in Short-liorn 
cattle. 



■ ^^si-> ? 



M 



— ■- »<? '{- 



GEORGE J. SPITLER, a successful farmer, 
whose property is situated on section 10, 
Rush Township, and a brave veteran of the 
Civil War, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, 
February 1, 1831. His father, John Spitler, also 
operated as an iigriculluralist and was born in 
Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1799. His advant.ages 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



667 



for education were exceedingly meagre, but he 
cheerfull}- made the best of those given him. He 
was a son of Peter Spitler, a native of Virginia. 

John Spitler was married, in 1823, to Susannah 
Raub, a daughter of Henry Raub. Mrs. Spitler's 
parents had ten children, four sons and six daugh- 
ters, of whom she was the eldest daughter and 
third child. Mr. and Mrs. Spitler settled on a 
farm of fift^- acres, which belonged to Mrs. Spitler 
and made their home on that place until about 
1846, when they traded it for another farm in that 
vicinity and remained in the same county until the 
time of their death. They were the parents of six 
daughters and eight sons, of whom our subject is 
the fourth child and second son. 

The elder members of this large family were 
earlj' called upon to assist in carr3'ing on the fam- 
ily industries and our subject had but few oppor- 
tunities for gaining an education. At the age of 
twenty-three he began life for himself and in 1853 
he established a home of his own. At that time 
he was married to Miss Maria Martin, daughter 
of John and Elizabeth (Zedaker) Martin. Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin were the parents of seventeen chil- 
dren, of whom Maria was the ninth in order of 
birth, and she was born July 1, 1832. 

After sojourning for one year in Ohio the young 
couple moved to Pennsylvania, but later returned 
to Ohio and in 1876 came to Michigan, locating the 
following ye.ar in Rush Township, upon the farm 
where they now reside. At the time of their first 
coming here they bought eighty acres and about 
eight years afterward tliey purcliascd forty acres 
on section 15, and in 1889 bought thirty acres on 
section 11, making a total acreage of one hundred 
and fifty. 

The six children who have blessed this happy 
home are: .Sarah Jane, who died in 1861; .John P., 
who lives near his parents; Ciiarles W., who died 
in 1864; Miller M., who passed from earth in 1869; 
George W., an engineer in Buffalo, N. Y. ; Minnie 
A., the wife of Charles \V. Peters and living on the 
home farm. Mr. Spitler is a Republican in his po- 
litical views and li.os taken an active part in local 
politics. 

The war record of our subject is worthy of the 
higliest praise and ranks him among the bravest 



defenders of our nation's honor. In 1862 he en- 
listed in Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio 
Infantry and was ordered at once to Lexington, 
Ky. He was in the battle of Perry ville and also in 
those of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge and went 
with Sherman to Atlanta and on to the sea. In 
January, 1863, he was sent on a foraging expedition 
from Murfreesboro and was captured by John Mor- 
gan's band, but was released because Morgan said 
he was not so situated that he could send them to 
a rebel prison and he could not be "bothered" with 
them. Our hero was at Goldsboro and Raleigh, 
being at the latter point when Petersburg was 
taken. He came home by way of Richmond and 
Washington and was at the national capital at the 
time of the Grand Review. 



"^ AMES S. HARPER, one of the most thorough 
and systematic farmers in Woodhull Town- 
ship, was born in Wayne County, N. Y., 
July 12, 1827. His father, Robert Harper, 
a native of New York State, is of Scotch-Irish de- 
scent a number of generations back, and claims 
connection with the Harper Brothers, Publishers, 
of New York City. 

Robert Harper was a farmer and came to Michi- 
gan in 1835, making his way through Canada by 
team and wagon. He settled in Lodi Township, 
Washtenaw County, when wolves iiowled around 
the house at night .and deer were a thousand times 
more numerous than neighbors. He owned in all 
three hundred and sixty acres of land. He was 
not a man of great pliysical strength, but was an 
extensive reader and a man of more than ordinary 
intelligence. He held the ollice of Township Clerk 
for twenty years and was the best penman in the 
county in those earlier days. He was a member 
of the Methodist Cliurch and a man of exemplary 
Christian life and stricU}- temperate habits. He 
died at the age of sixty-five years. 

Berthana (Mason) Harper, the mother of our 
subject, was a native of New York State and like 
her husband was an earnest and conscientious Chris- 
tian and a member of the Methodist Church. .She 



668 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was the mother of seven sons and one daughter. 
She spent her last daj's with her son, the Hon. E. 
P. Harper, who was twice elected Representative 
from Washtenaw County to the State Legislature. 
She died at the age of eighty j'ears and both she 
and her husband are laid to rest in Saline Town- 
ship, Washtenaw Count}'. 

The subject of this sketch well remembers the 
long, dreary journey whicii he took from the East 
to the West when a little boy of nine years, for he 
was at that time sick and had to be brought on a 
bed all the way. He was educated in the pioneer 
schools, which were fitted up in pioneer fashion and 
he learned writing by the use of the quill pen. 
When a young man he used the gun with consider- 
able dexterity and occasional!}' brought down a 
deer for the family larder. He began life for him- 
self when twenty-one jears old. 

.James Harper came to WoodhuU Township with 
his wife and one child May 9, 1848, and bought 
eighty acres of wild land, upon which he lived in a 
log house for a good many years, but finally erected 
one of the handsomest farm houses in tlie township. 
His marriage with the woman of his choice took 
place October 31, 18-46. Her maiden name was 
Margaret A. Van Riper. She is a native of New 
York State, where she was born September 19, 
1830. Her three daughters and one son are named: 
Andrew J., who married Mary Marsh; they have 
one child and live on the old homestead farm which 
was given them by his father; Bertha H., who 
married Myron fierce; they have two children and 
live on a farm in Washtenaw County; Mary, who 
married Neal Dewer, a railroad man in Houston, 
Tex.; they have three children; Katie married 
Frank Kent, who is a farmer here. 

Mr. and IMrs. Harper left the old homestead farm 
in 1885 and moved onto the finely improved 
eighty-acre farm on section 23, which was a pres- 
ent from Mrs. Harper's father. Tiie homestead 
farm of Mr. Harper comprised two hundred and 
eighteen acres, all finely improved, having upon it 
an elegant frame residence which w.as built in 1875. 
He has a fine farm of eighty acres on section 27 and 
has always cairied on mixed farming, in which he 
has been eminently successful. He has a finely fur- 
nished house and his wife exercises a cultivated 



taste in adorning and arranging it and it is well 
supplied with unique hric-abrac. For forty-three 
years this faithful couple have been earnest and 
devoted adherents of Christianity and members of 
the Methodist Church. Mr. Harper is a Democrat 
in his political views and has held the office of 
Township Treasurer but does not care to meddle 
much with politics. He is a member of the Pat- 
rons of Industry and is identified with the Masons 
at Laingsburg and has ever been an active worker 
for temijcrauce. 

<17 EOXARD H. POST. Among the leading 
I (?S) industries in Clinton County is the Green- 
/JLj ^ busli Pump Works, which were established 
in 1864 by the gentleman whose name stands at 
the head of this sketch. This gentleman is the pro- 
prietor of this business, and manufactures wooden 
pumps as well as the rubber bucket chain pumps. 
He also places upon the market milk safes, easy 
chairs, cupboards, secretaries, washing machines, 
clothes bars, bob sleighs, land rollers, harrows, corn 
cultivators, wheelbarrows, wagon jacks and whif- 
fle-tree and neck-yoke woods. 

The postolBce address of this gentleman is at 
Union Home Michigan, where he can be addressed 
in regard to his business. The main building is 
20x40 feet in dimensions, with a south wing 16x25 
feet, and a biacksmitli sho)) adjoining 16x30 feet 
in size. The main shop is used for wood-working 
machinery, with a paint shop overhead. Wiien Mr. 
P(ist confined his business mainly to pumjis he put 
out about three hundred to five hundred pumps 
per annum and kept a salesman on the road. 
Now that he h.is added so many other specialties 
to the business he makes only about one hundred 
|)umps per annum and these are taken by the local 
trade. 

The proprietor of these works was born in Lower 
Canada, November 18, 1842. His parents, Hiram 
L. and Isabella Post, were natives of New York 
and Canada respectively. The boy grew u)) in 
Canada iinlil he reached the age of fourteen years, 
at whicli time he and his father came to (Jlinton 




/I ^ 




PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



671 



County, tliis Slnte, and Sftlle<l in fJreenhusli Town- 
ship. His father was a puinpmaiior before liini, 
an<l from early youtli our subject has been cm- 
ployed in this trade, and also in iniscellanoous 
wood workint; and biaeksniitiiijig. lie also does 
general repairing of agricultural implements, in- 
cluding wagons anil buggies. 

The marriage of Mr. Post with Mai'y A. Wells 
took place in September, 1868. She has been the 
mother of three cliihlren. Orpha A., wife of Frank 
Bower, Frank L. ami Ellie F. Mr. Post owns 
some sixty acres of excellent land besides his fine 
manufacturing establishment. lie is now serving 
as Justice of the Peace, and has proved himself a 
public-spirited and enterprising man. When he 
started in business here his capital was $3. '25, and 
considering this start, his success has been remark- 
able. Kc is a Republican in politics, and is intel- 
ligent in regard to matters of public interest, 
and commands the entire confidence of the busi- 
ness community for his thoroughness and integ- 
rity. 

^OIIN T. ABBOTT, MA). The calling of a 
physician is an arduous a;id responsible one 
and brings into play some of the most im- 
portant ciiaracteristics of man. A success- 
ful practitioner must have a broad knowledge of 
the construction and needs of the body, keen per- 
ceptions ami a thorough understanding of the prin- 
ciples ui)0!i which therapeutic science is based. 
The best success cannot lie attained without a 
generous sympathy' and lender regard for the suf- 
fering whom it is the province of the pli\sician to 
relieve. His extensive i)racticc and many friends 
attest to the professional skill of IJr. Abbott, of 
Ovid, Clinton Townshii). 

Near Plymouth, in Devonshire, England, Dr. 
Abbott was born February 21, 1830. His parents, 
John and Mary (Pekc) Abbott, were both born 
and reared about four miles from Cornwall, where 
are situated the famous ten mines of England. The 
father was by occupation a farmer and our subject 
remained at home with him until he was eighteen 
years olil, when he decided to emigrate to the 



New World. Leaving his home in England he 
crossed the broad Atlantic in I8.')7 and began in 
life for himself. He had received good educational 
advantages in the parish schools, and also attended 
for a j'ear or two the high-grade common schools. 
After arriving in America, he was for a time a stu- 
dent in the grammar school of Oakwood, Victoria 
County, Ontario. 

The excellent education which he had received, 
our subject utilized in tenching, following that pro- 
fession for eighteen months in Victoria County 
and later attending the Normal School of Toronto 
for an equal length of time. He then resumed 
teaching in the county of Ilaldimend, which he 
pursued for five j'ears. Returning to Tornoto, he 
took a medical course at Victoria University, where 
he passed three years. After completing his med- 
ical studies he was engaged for two j^ears in the 
General Hospital at Toronto, and thus gained a 
wide and thorough knowledge of many foinis of 
diseases and their treatment, as well as practice in 
surgery which has proved of incalculable value to 
him. 

In the fall of lcS73 Dr. Abbott came to this 
State, reaching Ovid October 2, and here be has 
since resi<lcd principally. The longest period in 
which he lias been absent from Ovid was a year 
which he spent in Pompeii, Gratiot County. In 
1879, he decided to establish a home of his own 
and on July 12, he was united in- marriage with 
Clara B. Harrington, of Ovid. This union has 
proved one of more than ordinary congeniality 
and prosperity and has been blest by the birlli of 
two children. Mary Anna, born June 23, 1881, and 
Grace, January 21, 1885. Both of these beautiful 
little girls have been spared to cheer the hearts and 
enliven the home of their parents. Mrs. Abbott 
is a lady of iutelligcnce and amiability of char.actcr 
and is universally' esteemed. 

Dr. Abbott dearly loves a fine liorse and pri<les 
himself upon the [Hjssession of a good animal. He 
carries on a general i)ractice and has an extensive 
country ride, besides a fair share of the patronage 
of the village. His practice has constantly in- 
creased since he first located here, and to-day his 
reputation as a phj'sician of learning and skill is 
unsurpr.ssed in I his county. He takes a great in- 



672 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



terest in the education of his children and believes 
strenuously in non-denominational schools in all 
branches of education. There is bright prospect 
ahead for his interesting famil}', for the children 
show every sign of native ability which will one 
day make their parents as proud of them as they 
•are now fond. 

A lithographic portrait of Dr. Abbott accom- 
panies this brief biographical notice. 



CD KINCAID, one of the prominent coal 
, dealers of Shiawassee Couutj% and a popular 




pf* citizen of Owosso, was born in Trumbull 
County, Ohio, near Youngstown, April 15, 1850. 
His father, Joseph Kincaid, was a native of Ohio, 
born in Youngstown in 1815, who pursued the 
calling of agriculture through life and at the same 
time attended to a great deal of business for his 
neighbors, making a specialty of settling up estates. 
He is the son of Robert Kincaid, of Scotch descent. 
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Cornelia Wilson. Her natal day was April 9, 
1820, and her birthplace was Y'oungstown. Her 
parents, Andrew and Harriet Wilson, were of Scotch 
descent. Her husband died in 1873, but she still 
makes her home at Corunna, in lids county. Of 
their seven children, three sons and four daughters, 
there are four now living. 

Our subject passed his early school days and 
boyhood at Girard, Ohio, when lie entered Oberlin 
College, taking a commercial course, and taught 
one winter, and tlien entered the employ of Pren- 
dle (fe Rosser at Vienna, Ohio, acting as weigh- 
master and book-keeper. After continuing liere 
two years he entered the Girard Stove Works as 
manager and book-keeper. Two years later he 
went to Cliurchill, Ohio, into tlie co.tI mines as 
assistant to other parties. Mr. Kincaid had the 
management of the business during the continuance 
of the firm of Kincaid, INIorris A Co., tiie owners of 
different mines. Tod Kincaid came to Corunna 
in 1877 and opened up the mines for the Corunna 
Coal Company, taking the man.igement of the 
company and also assuming an interest in the 



mines. The oflSce of the company is near the sta- 
tion on a branch of the Grand Haven & Milwaukee 
Railroad. An elevator has been built at the same 
point and the fiim handles all kinds of grain, em- 
ploying some seventy-five to one hundred and 
twent3'-five men in Shiawassee County. In JUI3', 
1891, he bought out all his partners in the coal 
mines and now assumes the business himself. 

In February, 1890, Mr. Kincaid located in 
Owosso, where he was united in marriage the same 
month to Mrs. McHardy, of Owosso. Mrs. Kin- 
caid is a native of Ohio, being born near Cleveland. 
This cou|)le make their home in a palatial brick 
residence surrounded by beautiful lawns, and there 
they dispense a graceful hospitality- to their friends. 
Mr. Kincaid is a Democrat in his political views, 
and while a resident of Corunna was three times 
elected Mayor. He is identified with the Corunna 
Lodge No. 21, F. & A. M., and with Corunua 
Chapter No. 115, R. A. M. He is also connected 
with Corunna Commaiideiy K. T., and is now Vice 
President of the Business Slen's Association of 
Owosso. 



•^ T « 



•J^^' 



■^i^EWTON McLOUTH. This gentleman is 
I j) numbered among the large landowners of 
/1\ -i^ Clinton County, and it is pleasing to note 
his prosperity and see that merit has won. Mr. 
McLouth attributes his success to his strict atten- 
tion to whatever business project be had in hand, 
whether great or small, and no doubt this was a 
potent factor in the result. Fair dealing, due con- 
sideration for others and wise ecouotu}- also aided 
in the matter, and the consequence is that our sub- 
ject has prospered exceedingly. At present the 
landed estate of Messrs. McLouth <fe Son comprises 
five hundred and sixty-two acres, divided into five 
farms and operated almost entirel}- by tenants. 
The residence of Mr. McLouth is on the outskirts 
of the town of DeWitt, and is a large, handsome 
house built in 1871. One of the substantial barns 
on the land surrounding the dwelling was built in 
1873, and another in 1888; there was one on the 
farm before the date first mentioned, but it has been 
repaired and remodeled. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



673 



Tbe great-grand father of our subject emigrated 
from Ireland to tlie Colonies and was the originator 
of tbe family in Amerien. His son I'eter was born 
in New England and was a Revolutionary soldier; 
he died when three-score and ten j-ears old. The 
next ic the direct line was William W., who was 
born in Massachusetts and after his marriage set- 
tled in Ontario County, N. Y. He was a farmer 
and a cooper. In 1835 he removed to this State, 
locating in Lenawee County and taking up Gov- 
ernment land. He had traveled on tbe Erie Canal 
to Buffalo, crossed the lake on a steamer and paid 
165 for having his household goods hauled from 
Toledo to bis destination. So poor weie the roa is 
that it took three d.ays to go thirty miles. He 
built a log cabin in a sparsely settled locality and 
with Indians and wild animals around him began 
to improve his land. He first secured eighty' 
acres and "later entered one hundred and twenty 
in another township. There were two stores in 
Adrian, where he traded, and many now flourishing 
towns were not even dreamed of by the most san- 
guine. 

William McLouth was a bard working, honest 
man and bis labors in the pioneer field are worthy 
of remembrance as being potent factors in the 
present prosperity of the coramonweallh. His 
political adherence was given to the Deniociatic 
party. While in New York, he taught school, and 
in this State did a good deal of surveying having 
a practical knowledge of that science. His wife 
was Betsey Ketcbem, a native of Massachusetts, 
whose early 3'ears were spent on a farm, and whose 
training in domestic arts fitted her for a place by 
the side of a sturdy pioneer. She proved a 
capable and courageous companion, and to her 
their children owed much for devoted care and 
wise instruction. Slie died when about seventy- 
four years old, and her husband was a year older 
when he was called hence. In their family there 
were twelve sons anci daugijters, whose respective 
names are Eleazer, Peter, Wells, Lavinia, Alvah, 
Newton, Rebecca, .lane, Cyrus, Orvillc, Angeline 
and Lawrence. 

The son of the couple above mentioned, whose 
life it is our purpose to sketch, was born in 
Ontario County, N. Y., July I'J, 1827, and W!\s 



eight years old when tbe removal to this State took 
place. He went to tbe log schoolbouse, where be 
sat upon a bench with pin legs and wrote copies at 
the desk by the wall, using a quill pen to form the 
characters. The services of a teacher were secured 
by a rate bill, umlcr which each parent paid a due 
proportion of the amount required for tbe expenses 
of tbe school. When not engaged in study and 
the healthful sports of tbe period and place, 3'oung 
McLouth was helping his father in farm work and 
gaining an insight into life's duties and cares, and 
laj-ing tbe foundation for his later prosperity b}' 
acquiring habits of industry and frugality. 

When he was of age Mr. McLouth began the 
battle of life as a farm laborer at from |il2 to $13 
per month, working in this way two seasons. He 
next became a section hand on the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern Railroad and in this way got 
bis first real start in life. He was in the emplo3' of 
the company tbrae years, and during tbe last two 
was a section boss. In July, 1856, be came to 
Clinton County, in which he had previously 
bought eightj' acres of land. It was in Rile^- 
Township, four miles north of his present location, 
and was his home eight years, during which period 
many improvements were made. Mr. McLouth 
then sold out and bought one hundred and ten 
acres in Delhi Township, making Iha*. bis i)lace of 
abode a year. He next, having sold that farm, 
came to tbe one be now occupies which consists 
of one hundred and fort^'-two acres. When he 
took possession the clearing consisted of one hun- 
dred acres, and the place presented a ilifferent 
appearance from that of to-day. Mr. McLouth 
has raised large numbers of boi'ses, cattle and 
sheep, and now lias thirteen bead of good road- 
sters. 

In the year 1H52 Jlr. McLouth was united in 
marriage with Miss Emily ilathaway, a New 
York lady, born in April, 1834. She is a not- 
able housekeei)er, a devoted mother and wife and 
a generous friend. She has had but two chil- 
ilren, and only one now shares in the eartblife. 
William W. died at the tender age of five \ears 
Tbe survivor is Willis, who married Josie Holmes 
and lives across the roa<l from bis parents, fie 
is a farmer and manufacturer, and with his father 



674 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



runs a water power gristmill, in which a good 
business is done. He is a very energetic, push- 
ing man and is rapidly rising to prominence in tlie 
section where his father is so influential and well 
known. 

Our subject is a Democrat and shows an interest 
in political (juestions, although not a politician in 
the ordinary usage of that terra. He has served 
as Supervisor and held other minor offices in the 
townsliip, and has always been zealous and earnest 
in positions of responsibility and public trust. 
His personal qualities are such as win friendship, 
and he has friends far and near, while his name is 
known and honored as that of an honest, reliable 
man of affairs. 



EUBEN H. B. MORRIS, whose fine farm is 
situated on sections 13 and 24, Shiawassee 
/iivll Township, was horn in Porter, Niagara 
\\^ County, N. Y., two miles from Youngs- 
town, September 27, 1827. His father, Josci)h 
Morris, of New Jersey, was born in Monmouth 
County, and was ihe son of Robert Morris. Jos- 
eph was bound out as an apprentice when eight 
years of age and learned the wagon maker's trade. 
He married Maria Shelly, who was born in Essex 
County, N. J., and they became among the first 
settlers on the Holland [jurchase in New York, and 
there they spent the remainder of their days. Jos- 
eph died about twenty-five years ago and his wife 
survived to the extreme old age of ninety-three 
years, passing away in August, 1889. She belonged 
to the long-lived family, as her father lived to 
complete one hundred two and one-half years. 
The family of Joseph and Maria Morris consisted 
of Levi, Ellen, Samuel, Sarah Jane, our subject, 
Mary, Lucy, Frank, .Joseph, Roxanna, James and 
Oscar. 

The subject of this sketch lived upon a farm 
with his parents until he reached the age of 
twentv-two, and then rented a farm for himself 
for two years and in the fall of 1851, came to Shia- 
wassee Township and carried on a rented farm 
three miles south of Bancroft. In the spring of 



1856, he rented the farm of Mrs. Hannah M. 
Wright, the widow of Edward Wright, who died 
in Navada, Cal., where he had been as a miner. In 
tlie fall the young farmer and tlie widow decided 
to unite their fortunes and were married October 
6, 1856. This lady's maiden name was Hannah M. 
Harder, and she is a daughter of Dr. Nicholas P. 
Harder, the pioneer pliysician of Shiawassee 
County. Tliey remained upon tlie farm which 
then contained one liundred and Sfty-six acres, 
forty of it being improved. He has put tlie land 
in splendid condition and made it what it is to-day. 
A view of his place which is an ornament to the 
township, is shown on another page. 

On account of failing health, Mr. Morris de- 
cided to leave tlie farm and at once built a bouse 
in Vernon and started a meat market, at the same 
time handling live stock and provisions. He took 
a load of sheep to Saginaw and afterward started 
with a load of flour, intending to take it to the 
same place. He had bought it at $6 a barrel, but 
at St. Charles found a man who wanted it at $12. 
a barrel and disposed of it. He also bought oats 
at thirty cents and found a market for them at 
eighty cents and thus paid for his house by teaming 
and dealing in the commodities which were so much 
needed in other localities. Mrs. Wright has two 
sons, Charles and Marion, both of whom are living 
in Owosso. 

Mr. Morris bought out the interest in the farm 
whicli belonged to these two young men and after 
his health improved lie spent considerable time there. 
He has built a good house on a comman<ling ele- 
vation and devotes considerable attention to buy- 
ing and shipping stock, making weekly shipments 
to Buffalo and managing his own sales there on 
the market, this making a financial success of this 
part of his business. 

Mrs. Morris was born in Sullivan County, N. Y. 
November 6, 1875. By her marriage with Mr. 
Morris she has the following children: Nellie, Mrs. 
Andrew Huff; Edward, living in Genesee County; 
Frank, who makes his home in Colorado; Denver, 
who lives at Newbcrg; Donabel, Mrs. Christopher 
Matthews of Paducah, Ky., and Maggie, Mrs. Mil- 
ton Eastwood, of Genesee County. The mother 
of these children canje to Michigan in 1837, and 



^C!^W^ o:f v.'-^^.-. -^-I-'mA**- ■iT'.">tfirt'*;-^ 




^-^ ^"^p^^ 



j^^^'^^p^^^f^^ri^^^s^^ 



RESIDENCE OF JOHN J. FEDEWA , SEC. 30., DALLAS TR, CLINTON CO.MICH. 




RESIDENCE OE R. H . B . i/l O K HIi , JlC.io.,5HIAV./\55LL I r,,o 



h ; (■■,v/\a'J5lL CO, ,v.,lh 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



677 



in 1845, was married at her father's home to Kd- 
ward M. Wright, a native of Oliio, wiio came here 
with his father, Kpiiraim Wri<i;iit about the year 
1835. He liad a larj^e tract of land upon which 
he settled, but died December 12, 1854, in Cali- 
fornia after two j'ears'' absence. Our subject is a 
Republican in his political convictions, and has 
been Constable for eleven years continuously. 
He is prominent in church circles, a supporter of 
the Gospel, and both he and his wife are active 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

J-^IOHN J. FEDEWA. This gentlemen h.as 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits since 
lie was old enough to take a part in the 
' affairs of life, and prior to leaving his 
father's home had become thorougldy conversant 
with farm work in every department. He is one 
of the native-born citizens of Clinton County and 
is now pleasantly located on section 30, Dallas 
Township, where he has one hundred and ten acres 
of (iroductive land, supplied with a complete line 
of substantial buildings, put up by himself. A 
view of this attractive homestead is presented on 
another i)age. 

The reader is referred to the sketch of .lolin 
Fedewa for information regarding the parents of 
our subject, and the circumstances by which he was 
surrounded and had his sterling qualities developed. 
Ho was born June I, 1852, and did not leave his 
father's house to make a home of his own until he 
was twenty-five years old. He was then given 
eighty acres of laud upon which he is now livingi 
and to this he has added, Increasing the tract to 
the amount before noted. He vividly remembers 
when his father's farm was covereil with forest 
trees, anil recalls with mingled feelings the work 
he himself did in hel[)ing to clear two hundred 
acres. 

The C0Z3' and attractive home of Mr. Fedewa is 
presided over by a lady who was known in her 
maidenhood as Miss Mary A. ]Martin. The rites 
of wedlock were solemnized at the bride's home 
November 7, 1878, and six children have been born 



to the happj' couple. The children are named re- 
spectivel}': George C, Sophie, Theodore, Lizzie, 
Hen and Arnold, none of whom j'et have left the 
hO'ne nest. Mrs. Fedewa is a daughter of Conrad 
Martin, a native of Germany and well known to 
man}' of our readers. 

For a number of ^ears Mr. Fedewa has been 
Director of his school district and he h.as ever man- 
ifested a deep interest in the progress of educa- 
tional matters. After giving due consideration to 
political issues he decided in favor of the princi- 
ples of Democracy. He and his wife belong to the 
Roman Catholic Church. They have a pleasant 
circle of acquaintences and are regarded with re- 
spect by those with whom they associate. 




'(^^ \V. SPITLER. The young man who re- 
des on section 12, New Haven Towashi|), 
awassee County, although but tliirt}'- 

lj|^ one yeai'S of .age has already attained a flat- 
tering degree of success that promises to land him 
at the head of the list of useful and i)rominent men 
in the county. He w.as born in Trumbull Count}', 
Ohio, February 17, 1860. His father «•.■)« Abraham 
W. Spitler whose business was that of an agricid- 
turist. He was a native of Ohio in which State he 
was born iu 1838. 

Our subject's father was joined in marriage to 
Lury Canon in 1851). She w.as a daughter of Ebe- 
nezer and Fanny (\'iets) Canon, of Shalerville, 
Ohio. They were natives of New England and had 
three sons and three daughters, of whom Lury was 
the fourth child, her natal day being December 2, 
1835. In 1873. A. W. Spitler and his wife came to 
Shiawassee County where he yet lives. He had three 
children of whom our subject is the eldest, the 
others two, Almon E. and Carrie L. Hillis are both 
residents of this county. The father was in the 
Civil War for two weeks and was captured by John 
Morgan's men, but being paroled, he went to John- 
son's Island where he guarded prisoners. Our 
subject's godfather was Absalom Spitler, a farmer 
whose native place was Virginia in which State he 
was born in 1802. He came to Ohio in 1827 where 



678 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



he purchased one hundred acres in Bristol Town- 
ship, Trumbull County. He was married in Virginia 
in 1825 to Sarah Bowers, a daughter of John and 
Anna (Miller) Bowers. Sarah was born in 1802. 
She and her husband were the parents of thirteen 
children, of whom our subject's father was the 
third son and ninth child. Sarah died in 1887 and 
Absalom died in 1889. 

The gentleman of whom we write enjoyed the 
advantages of a common-school education. He re- 
mained at home until 1883, when he started out 
for himself on a farm. In 1889 he settled here 
where he now lives purchasing a farm of eighty-two 
acres of which he has cleared a part. In 1883 he 
was joined in marriage to Alida B. Pray. She was 
a daughter of L. W. and Harriet (Brown) Pray, 
natives of New York. Mr. Pray was born in Her- 
kimer County, N. Y., in 1815; about the time he 
attained to his majority he moved with his father's 
family to Mt. Morris, Livingston County, N. Y. 
His education was obtained in the Lima and Wyom- 
ing Academies in the State of New York, and at 
the latter place he began the study of law. When 
admitted to practice at the bar he formed a part- 
nership with his preceptor, Judge John B. Skiimer, 
continuing with him until 1850, when he removed 
to Illinois. Locating at Belvidere he resumed the 
practice of his profession, liut in 1870 he moved to 
Michigan and settled on the farm where our sub- 
ject at present resides. 

In 1841 Mr. Pray was united in marriage with 
Miss Harriet Brown, who still survives her husband. 
Siie was a resident of Wheatland, Monroe County, 
N. Y. Two sons and six daughters were born to 
her and her husband, of whom Mrs. Spitler was the 
youngest she being born March 30, 1861, in Belvi- 
dere, 111. During Mr. Pray's residence in New 
Haven Townsiiip, he was for many years Justice of 
the Peace, also at various times held other minor 
offices, and was prominently identified with the 
growth and development of the county. Two 
children besides Mrs. Spitler were residents of this 
' county, Theron B., and Hattie F., now Mrs. E. 
C. Tagg, of Chicago. 

Mr. and Mrs. Spitler have two sons — Edwin 
P., born November 16, 1886, and Wesley T., 
August 25, 1888, The parents are members of the 



Christian Church, in which body they are both 
devoted workers, he having taken an especially 
prominent position in the Sunday-school. He is a 
Patron of Industr3', of which order he has been 
President. In politics he casts his vote with the 
Republican party. He lias been Township Clerk 
and Treasurer and is interested in every tiling that 
promises to improve the locality in which he re- 
sides. 

^^NTHONY SWARTHOUT is one of the 
( P^l business men of Ovid, Clinton County, 
//( l!i and carries on a good trade in dry-goods 
^J' and carpets. He entered upon a commer- 

cial life in 1870, selling a farm upon which he Iiad 
been living and forming a partnership with Messrs. 
Fnxon ife Potter for the sale of general merchan- 
dise. Tiie firm was ciianged two years later and 
our subject and Mr. Potter bought the interest of 
the retiring partner and continued the business un- 
der the style of Potter & Swarthout. During the 
year 1883 our subject took cliarge of the entire 
business and has continued it since that time, but 
has confined liimself to the sale of the articles be- 
fore mentioned. He built the first brick store put 
up in Ovid and the second brick residence, together 
with the two-story brick building now occupied 
as his place of business. He h.is prospered in his 
occupation and is deriving a satisfactory income 
therefrom. 

Tlie paternal grandfather of Mr. Swarthout was 
a Revolutionary patriot and v/as taken prisoner by 
the British soldiery and confined in what is known 
as the old sugar-house of New York. The direct 
progenitors of our subject were William S. and 
Betsey (Willett) Swathout, natives of New York 
and Pennsylvania respectively, but living in New 
York at the time of tlieir marriage. The father was 
a farmer and the son spent his early life amid rural 
scenes. During his childhood in 1837 his parents 
came to this State and took their place among the 
very first settlers- in Clinton County. They made 
their home in Ovid Townsiiip and began to de- 
velop a farm from the forest. Authonj-, who was 
born at Ovid, Seneca County, N. Y., February 21 



PORTKAl'l AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G79 



1 833, began to work on the farm as soon as he was 
strong enougli and continueil to spend the siiuiiuers 
in labor, while attending school in the winter. 
When nineteen years old he spent six months in 
attendance at the old seminar}- at Ypsilanti, after 
leaving which he taught six consecutive terms in 
Clinton County. He then began farming about 
four miles south of the village of Ovid and con- 
tinued his work there until the year before men- 
tioned when he took up commercial life. 

The recollections of Mr. Swarthout extend back 
to a time when Ovid Township was inhabited only 
bj' Indians. The first or second general election 
held in the county was at his father's liouse and at 
De Witt, one day at one, and the next day at the 
other to accommodate the six voters then in the 
county. Jlr. Swaithout says he did not attend 
school until lie was twelve years old, as prior to 
that time there were not enough settlers to pay for 
a teacher or [nipils to make U() a class. Having 
witnessed and participated in the improvement of 
this section in all that pertains to material good 
and social advancement he takes a just pride in the 
standing of Clinton Count}', among the divisions 
of the commonwealth. 

March 28, 1860, was a momentous day to Mr. 
Swarthout, as he then became the husband of Miss 
Stella Ferguson, an estimable Lady who understands 
how to make her home cozy and attractive, and 
has done well in the sphere of life to which she has 
been called. She was born in Nicliols Townshii), 
Tioga County, N. Y., and like her husband can 
look back to scenes of early days. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Swarthout there have been born three chil- 
dren whose record is as follows: Ella was born 
September 22, 1861, and died April 17, 1871; 
Elvin was born October 5, 1861, and Lloyd, May 
17, 1872. The elder son was graduated from Albion 
College and took a post-graduate course at Ann 
Arbor; he is now practicing law in Grand Rapids. 
He married Miss Lizzie Master, of Ionia. The 
second son is now studying in Albion College. 

Mr. Swarthout has been much interested in giv- 
ing his children fine educational privileges and it 
is his aim to take part in all worthy public enter- 
prises. Since he was entitled to the right of suf- 
frage he has voted the Republican ticket. He has 



held the ofHce of Township Clerk and School In- 
spector but has never sought public honors, pre- 
ferring to devote his time to his personal interests 
and the good of his family. lie is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church and has good 
standing in that religious body, enjoys the confi- 
dence of all with whom he has dealings and has a 
fine reputation as a business man and citizen. 




-^-^-^- 



sIIOMAS BROMLEY, Agent for the Detroit, 
Grand Haven, & Milwaukee Railway, at 
St. John's, Mich., was born at Bildiston, 
County Suffolk, England, March 12, 1839, and is 
the second of three sons, comprising the family of 
.Joseph Bromley and Maria (Howard) Bromley. 
Joseph Bromley, the father, w.as by i)rofession a 
civil engineer, but died in Fakenham,in 1811, at the 
age of thirty-five. Mrs. Bromley was one of a large 
family of eighteen children, equally divided as to 
sex, all arriving at man and woman's estate, and 
claiming descent from the noble line of Howards. 

As an interesting eiiisode a little story is often 
told of one brother who traveled in the East In- 
dies, and while being entertained by a Prince, 
spoke of his nine sisters, whereupon the Prince 
cut from his coat nine diamond buttons with the 
request that one be given to each of the "fair la- 
dies." Maria Howard was married to Joseph 
Bromley in 1832. After a wedded life of only 
ten years she was left a widow with limited means. 
Then began the struggle to maintain herself anil 
children. Thinking to accomplish this better in a 
new country, Mrs. Bromley, six years after her 
husband's death, emigrated with her two younger 
children to America, arriving in New York City 
after a stormy voyage in a sailing vessel which 
lasted eight weeks. 

In this city the mother took up her residence for 
the first three years and gave her attention to the 
education of her little ones, and to teaching a pri- 
vate school. Thence she removed to Booneville, 
Oneida County, where her eldest son Joseph W., 
having completed his education in the mother 
country, joined her. From there she removed to 



680 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Owosso, Mich., and after a time to Detroit, Niagara 
Falls, and Windsor, always making a pleasanihome 
for ber boys, who finding employment in stores 
and on the Great Western Railw.-ij', were now able 
to assist her. In the raeantirae Josepli having 
married and learned telegraphy, secured a position 
as agent on the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee 
Railroad, at Coopersville, and successively taught 
the art of telegraphy to his brothers, Thomas and 
Harry, who then branched out for themselves. 
Thomas, after a few weeks at Grand Rapids, located 
at Gaines, Mich., in 1S64, his mother going with 
him. Here in 1865 he married Miss Simmons, 
daughter of Thurston Simmons and his good wife 
Hannah (Sawyer) Sinimous, who were born in 
Marion Count}', N. Y. 

The father is of German descent, and has been 
an industrious, enterprising, and successful man; 
he has now retired from business, and has his home 
in the "Citj- of the Straits," where he spends his 
days quietly and pleasantl}', as fancy dictates. The 
mother, who died in 1864, and whose maternal 
ancestor was of English descent, was wont to en- 
tertain her children with wonderful tales of the 
''Lords of Houghton," aud a fortune which should 
come from over the sea. Mrs. Bromley, who is the 
eldest child, was born in Livingston Count}', Mich., 
where she lived until ten years of age. The par 
ent-s then removed to Gaines, the daughter spend- 
ing the greater part of her time attending school 
in Owosso, Poutiac and Detroit, until recalled by 
the illness and death of her mother, wliich was 
followed a year later by her marriage to Thomas 
Bromley. 

In 1867 their eldest son, Thomas, Jr., was born, 
and in the same year they removed to St. John's, 
where they still reside. In 1869 a daughter was 
born, and in 1873 another son. Thomas, Jr., the 
first-born, was married to Miss Ola Shaver in 1890, 
and also has his home in St. John's. He is a bright 
young business man, and is at present employed as 
joint administrator of the Shaver estate. The 
daughter. Brownie, is a graduate of the school at 
home, also of the Michigan State Normal, from 
which last she received a life diploma, and is now 
following teaching as a profession. Roy, the baby, 
died in 1876, when only two years and four months 



old. The same year recorded the death of another 
inmate of tlie family, Mr. Bromley's mother, aged 
seventy-two years. 

Of the twenty-eight years that the subject of our 
sketch has been employed by the Detroit, Grand 
Haven tt Milwaukee Railroad, twenty-five have 
been spent at St. John's, where he has faithfully 
transacted a vast amount of business. This station 
was formerly the terminus for the North Woods, 
and is at present the largest grain shipping point 
on the line. It also has an immense import for 
merchandise, which means employment for a goodly 
number of men under Mr. Broriiley's supervision. 
He is a member in good standing of several secret 
societies, and in politics is a conservative Demo- 
crat. In 1888 he took a brief respite from his la- 
bors and visited the Fatherland and his birthplace, 
spending a few days iu London and Paris; this, 
and a few weeks in ids adopted country, are the 
only variations he has allowed in a life devoted to 
duly and hard work. 



^T?NDRKW J. MILL?:iJ, a prominent stock- 
(( ^/lJI raiser and farmer, a citizen of Duplain 

I li Townsliii), Clinton County and well-known 
^jfl fgr his patriotic services during the Civil 

War, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., June 16, 
18.38. His honored parents, John andSallie (Mix- 
well) Miller were both born and reared in the 
State of Pennsylvania and bis father was by oc- 
cupation a farmer. The circumstances of his boy- 
hood did not permit our subject to go to school 
after he was twelve years old but he took a thor- 
ough course of training in tiie practical duties of 
farm life, and remained with his parents until he 
reached his majority. His father's family came to 
Michigan when our subject was only twenty -two 
years old and he then began life for himself as a 
farmer liy working on a rented farm in Grcenbush 
Township, Clinton County. 

The young man took to himself a wife October 
26, 1858, in the person of Catherine Beebe, of Du- 
plain Township and by this union he had three 
chiliiren: Eddie who died in infancy; Maggie who 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



681 



was born June 21, 1862, and is now Mrs. David 
Moore and makes her home in Diiplain;Uilie, born 
June 28, 1857, who died when he was five years 
old. The mother of these cliildrcn was called from 
earth August 28, 1872. 

The second marriage of our subject took place 
December 3, 1875. The present Mrs. Miller boro 
the maiden name of Minerva Beebe and is a daugh- 
ter of Oliver and Ellen (Lowe) Beebe. Her mother 
was born and brought up in Ireland and her fallicr 
came from the State of New York and was one of 
the very first settlers in this county, as he came hero 
fift3--four 3-ears ago when the Colony was first 
founded. He was one of tiie three men who drove 
teams with loaded wagons from Detroit to their new 
home, and who from the lime they reached Pontiac 
.had to cut every step of the way through the 
woods. They brought their families with them in 
the wagons and here Mr. Beebe located his new 
home on section 31, Duplain Tovvnship, where he 
erected the first frame building in the tovvnship 
which is still standing. 

Mrs. Miller was born September 9, 184C, on the 
spot where her present home now stands. She can 
remember when the village of St. John's was all 
covered with stumps and it was quite an impossi- 
bility to get tiirougii the streets with a wagon. 
The first home erected by her parents was a log- 
house, tlie floor of which was made of split logs and 
the first broom which was made here was cut 
out of a hickory pole, the end of the pole being 
sliaved up to form a brush witii which to sweep 
the lloor. This early pioneer, her fallier, passed 
away August 10, 187G and was buried at the 
Colony, burial ground near the iiome of our 
subject end her mother died Marcli 1, 1880. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to the place which 
they now call home in tlie winter of 187G nnd here 
they have resided from that day to this. They 
have made great improvements and in the summer 
of 1882 erected the handsome two-story house 
wliich now forms so attractive a feature of the 
landscape. The large barn was put up in the sum- 
mer of 188G. Part of the clearing of this land 
Mr. Miller has done with his own iiands, and he 
has reserved some ten or twelve acres of timber. 

The political belief of tliis gentleman is in .ic- 



cordance with the principles of the Republican 
part}- to which he has ever been attaclied. He en- 
listed on September 9, 18G2, in Company E, 
Sixtii Miciiigan Cavalry under Col. Gay. The reg- 
iment was ordered to Grand Rapids and thence 
to Washington City and joined the army of the 
Potomac but he did not remain witii his regiment 
long, as he was taken sick upon the march and was 
relegated to Campbell Hospital at W.ishington. 
Thence he was transferred to the Guard Corps, in 
which he did guard duty in the city. He nursed 
in the hospital for some lime and was very useful 
in dressing wounds and attending the sick, and was 
afterward transferred to the Veteran Resci-vc 
Corps. He was discharged in July, 1865, and at 
once came to Michigan, where he began farming. 
He has a small place in Ovid Township, which he 
is now carrying on, and where he takes a great deal 
of interest in raising stock of a good grade. He 
has never been an ollice seeker as he prefers quiet 
farm life to public ollice. 

OREN HOPKINS, a retired farmer, now 
extensively engaged in the dairying busi- 
ness, is a native of the Empire State where 
he was born February 19, 1826. He is the second 
son and fifth ciiild in the family of Philander and 
Mary (Masales) Iloiikins, the former having been ^ 
born in Rutland County, Vt., September 1, 1794, 
toNehemiah Hopkins and Lucj' ( VVillard) Hopkins, 
wlio was a sister of President Fillmore's mother. 
The grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War, and lost his left arm, of which he was deprived 
during sixty years of after-life. The father was 
in the conflict of 1812. 

Tlie mother of our subject was born in New 
York State in 1797, her parents being of French 
and German extraction. She lived Until 1833. 
Her husband was a carpenter and house builder 
who came to Michigan in September, 1836, and 
located in Livingston County on a farm where he 
carried on farming in connection with his trade and 
was well known as an excellent barn builder and 
put u|) many barns throughout the county. His 
death occurred in April, 1861. In his early life 



682 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



he was a Democrat but his last vote was cast for 
Abraham Lincoln in the last campaign before his 
death. He was an enterprising man and took a 
lively interest in political matters. 

The subject of this sketch attended the district 
schools and afterward the union schools of Saline, 
Washtenaw County, this State. He also studied 
at Rochester Academy in Oakland County. He 
took up the study of surveying daring the sum- 
mers and assisted in making surveys and drawing 
maps in Northern Michigan. On one of his trips 
in that section he was shipwrecked on the ill-fated 
side-wheel steamer, "Monticello" which during a 
terrific gale went to pieces on the rocks, about 
forty miles above the village of Eagle River. At 
that time one hundred and forty persons were for 
twelve hours (during the whole night) upon the 
verge of a watery grave. After Qfteeu hours of 
ceaseless toil without a morsel of food and no 
drink except occasionally a swallow of lake water, 
he with several others had the pleasure of assisting 
the last person on shore, and then prepared all the 
bread for the crowd that could be made from the 
small amount of flour obtained from the wreck. 
This amounted to tlie size of a common biscuit 
apiece, made simply of flour and water and had to 
last two daj-s more. Mr. Hopkins afterward devoted 
his winters to teaching and stock-breeding in Ing- 
ham County. He taught fifteen terms of echool 
and at one time was engaged in locating land and 
helped in locating some seven hundred and fifty 
thousand acres, or three-fourths of a million acres 
for the Sault Ste. Marie Canal Company. 

Mr. Hopkins bought some eighty acres of land 
in Livingston County and commenced farming. In 
1866 he sold this property and moved to Shia- 
wassee County, making his new home on a farm 
in Owosso Townsliip, south of the city of Owosso. 
Here he took one hundred and eighty-nine acres 
adjoining Ihe city limits where he carried on gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising, and continued 
untir 1890, at which time he retired from the toil- 
some Work of the farm and removed to the city of 
Owosso, taking up tlic dairy business. He milks 
from fourteen to twenty cows, selling milk in tlie 
city. 

Tlic m.irriagc of Loren Ho])kins and .Terusha C. 



Dunn of Livingston County, Mich., took place in 
1853. This lady was a daughter of Hillyer Dunn. 
She died having one cliild, Frank D., who is a 
merchant at Alba. In 1863 Mr. Hopkins con- 
tracted a second marriage, taking to wife Clara 
Norgatc, of Washtenaw County. Her parents, 
Stephen and Letitia (Taylor) Norgate were natives 
of England who came to Washtenaw County in 
the old Territorial days, making their settlement 
here in January, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins 
have two children, Mina L., a student at Albion 
College, and B. S. who is attending the high school 
at Owosso. 

Mr. Hopkins has served the township of Owosso 
as Supervisor and has been Justice of the Peace. 
He has also acted as School Inspector serving two 
terms in Owosso Township and twelve 3'ears in 
Livingston County. His early political inclina- 
tions were in the direction of Democracy, but he 
joined the Republican party upon its organization 
and in 1884 became a Prohibitionist. Both he 
and his intelligent and worthy wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is an 
official in that body. He has also been Superin- 
dent of the Sunday-school for some time as well as 
Trustee of the church property. His pleasant 
home is situated in South Owosso at No. 431 Gute 
Street. 

<| WASHINGTON BINGHAM. A worthy 
\/\l// representative of an honorable family that 
^y\// numbers among its members men wlio 
have taken prominent positions in life, is the gentle- 
man who owns the beautiful farm located on 
section 33, Venice Township, and known as the 
the "Evergreens." It is a family trait tiiat the 
men are never satisfied with mediocrity in anything. 
The physicians that are in the family stand at the 
head of their profession. The lawj'ers are not to 
be outwitted by any judge or jury and our subject 
is a fair example of how thorough agriculture may 
be made. 

Our subject's father was Simon Bingham, born 
iu Sherbourne, Chenango County, N. Y., on Septem- 
ber 5, IS]]. He, like his son, was a farmer, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



683 



made a decided success in that calling in the East. 
His wife was Laura A. (I5ryant) Bingbaui, also a 
native of Sherbourne, Chenango County, N. Y. and 
born September 10, 1812. The paternal grand- 
father was Wheelock Bingham, a native of Connec- 
ticut, who emigrated to New York State at an early 
day. The maternal grandfather was Almon Bryant, 
a native of Vermont and a man who attained much 
prominence among the farmers in that State. One 
of the sons of Almon Br^'ant, although eighty-two 
years of age, is still active and most satisfactorily 
discharges the duties of sheriff of Chenango 
County. Almon Bryant is the father of a family 
of twelve children, two- thirds of the family are 
Still living. A grandson of Almon Bryant, Sr., is 
a prominent physician in New York Cit^' and is 
connected with Bellevue Hospital. He is the 
medical adviser as well as personal friend of ex- 
President Cleveland. 

The parents of Mr. Bingham were married in 
Chenango County, N. Y. where thej- always resided, 
being proprietors of a farm. The father died in 
1890; the mothei still lives and makes her home in 
Sherbourne village. They were the parents of 
seven children, four of whom are now living. Our 
subject and Wellington Bingham are twins and 
William and Wilson are twins. The mother is a 
member of the Universalist Church. The father 
was actively interested in politics and was an adher- 
ant of the Republican |)arty. 

Our subject was born December 19, 18.35, on the 
old home farm in Chenango Countj', N. Y. There 
he received a common-school education, and re- 
mained at home until he was twenty-one 3'ears of 
age. The intervals of his school life were occu- 
pied with the duties incident to a farmer lad. On 
reaching his majority he started out in business for 
himself, having no other resources than a pair of 
strong hands and an abiding faith in his future 
success. 

For the first year he worked by the month on a 
farm, receiving $13 for his services. The next 
year he engaged in the carpentry and joining busi- 
ness, all in his home neighborhood. In 1860 he 
was united in marriage to a lady who bore the 
maiden name of Emma A. Cone, daughter of Ben- 
jamin and Ann (Burbank) Cone, natives of New 



York State, where they resided on a farm in Chen- 
ango Count}', this being the place where our sub- 
ject and lady were married. Mrs. Bingham was 
born January 12, 1835. She died September 11, 
1865. They were the parents of one child, a 
daughter, Clare S., whose natal day was April 13, 
1862. 

Mr. Bingham was again united in marriage, his 
second wife being Adelia M. Cone, a sister to his 
former wife. She was born November 4, 1838, in 
Chenango County. There was no fruit from this 
marriage and his wife died October 29, 1888. Dur- 
ing the first j'cars of his married life our subject 
owned and operated a farm in Chenango County, 
slaying there for two 3ears; they came to Michigan 
in 1869 and settled upon sixty acres of land, it 
being the nucleus of the farm which he now owns 
and where he resides. Thirty-five acres of the 
original farm were chopped at the time he purchased 
It, but there were no buildings upon the place. He 
has since added one hundred acres, all of which he 
had cleared himself. He now has one hundred and 
fifty acres under a good state of cultivation. He 
has underdrained, fenced and cross-fenced it. 

Mr. Bingham built his present residence in 1869, 
doing most of the work upon the house himself. 
He built a barn 30x40 feet in dimensions and 
another barn measuring 44x100 feet, it being the 
largest in the township. He set out a good orchard 
and some of the finest fruit produced in the vicinity 
is found on his place. An evergreen hedge bord- 
ers two sides of the orchard. It is made of over 
one hundred finely developed and carefully 
trimmed evergreen trees and so beautiful is the 
color effect .against the changeful greens of other 
trees, that it has given the name to the farm of the 
"Evergreens." 

Across the southern part of his farm our subject 
has dug a large and deep ditch, through which runs 
living water. Mr. Bingham's farm is undoubtedly 
the finest in Venice Township, tsiste and refinement 
char.aclerizing every feature of the place. Here lie 
carries on general farming. His son, Clare S. 
Bingham makes his home with our subject. Five 
years ago Mr. Bingham began sheep-raising, im- 
porting a number of full-blooded Shropshires. 
He origin.illy had ten. The next year our subject 



684 



PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAPfflCAL ALBUM. 



made his first trip to England and brought over 
sixtj'-nine head of thorough-bred Shropshires. 
Every year since he has made a trip abroad for the 
same purpose and h\s brought into the United 
States nearly six hundred full-blooded Shropshires, 
his market for the same extending in every State 
in the Union and also Canada. He imported a 
flock of sixty head without making personal select- 
ion and these were the first to enter the United 
States under the provision of the McKinley bill. 
They were quarantined fifteen days at Middleport, 
Mass. 

The subject of our sketch is now President of the 
American Shropshire Association. Naturally he is 
an enthusiast on this subject and being thoroughly 
well informed, his conversation is both interesting 
and instructive. Mr. Hingliam takes an interest in 
politics, affiliating with the Republican party. In 
addition to his farm cares, for the past ten years he 
has been agent for a number of Eastern capitalists 
and makes investments for them. 

Mr. Bingham is the author of many articles on 
the superiority of Shropshires, and we quote the 
following from a paper read by him at a meeting 
of the Sheep Breeders Association held at Birming- 
ham, Mich., February 11, 1891. 

" Where we remember the comparatively short 
time which has elapsed since tlie introduction of 
this breed into the country and the strong preju- 
dice which they have had to encounter because of 
the comparative failures which had resulted from 
the introduction of other mutton breeds, need I say 
that the wonderful manner in which they have 
spread over many of the great Middle and Northern 
States is a convincing proof that they have the 
merits which commend them to the judgment of 
large numbers of our best farmers. 

In looking over sheep husbandry as a whole in 
the United States, and thinking out its future, it 
must be ai)parenl to ever}' one that new conditions 
have arisen which will compel some changes from 
the policy formerly found to answer. The growth 
of population in industrial centers will call for an 
increased supply- of both wool and mutton. The 
large quantities of meat heretofore produced upon 
the western cattle ranges will become less with 
each succeeding year, partly from the lands being 



put under cultivation, and partly because the in- 
creasing population will demand a larger portion 
for food. It therefore looks to me as if the farmer 
in this State, and those surrounding it, who gives 
attention to the production of mutton and wool 
must enjoy for many years a good demand for his 
products. In view of this the future seems more 
assured to siiecp husbandry than to any branch of 
agriculture. I speak of sheep husbandry as a 
whole for if it is in a good sound position the ad- 
mirers of the various breeds must certainly share in 
the prosperity'. 

The position of the industrj' at present when the 
wool markets are assured to American growers up 
to a point where wool-growing is profitable, has 
been a good thing for our Merino friends, and I 
think it will prove equally' so to those who pin their 
faith to the Shropshire. The Shropshire I believe 
to be the best wool producer among the mutton 
breeds, and the demands of manufacturers for the 
medium fleeces produced by them is surely going 
to increase from year to year. Heretofore much 
of this grade of wool has had to be imported. 
The higher tariff charges will naturally lead manu- 
facturers to depend more and more u[)on the home 
product if it is of good quality and in sufficient 
supply. This is going to exercise a most important 
influence upon the money making capacity of the 
Shropshire, for it is a notable fact that the shearing 
qualities of the breed are being much improved, 
and the fleece is becoming a more important point 
among breeders in the selection of stock." 

— "> <|3 ' CJ; < V-- 




)HOMAS R. YOUNG. Varied experiences 
prepare one for the emergencies that are 
sure to arise in the most monotonous life. 
Our subject though now leading the tranquil life 
of a farmer, has followed various occupations, and 
has been the prime factor in many adventures. His 
farm is located on section 11, Caledonia Township, 
Shiawassee County. He was born September 26, 
1815, at Hampton, Windham County, Conn. His 
father was William C. Young, a native of Connec- 
ticut and a blacksmith by trade. His mother was 







RL5;!::[:riCL LF A;M"iKorjY droste, stc. 32. Dallas tp.,cl!nton co.,mich 




RESIDENCF. OF TH0MA5 R. YOU NG , SEC. II. CALEDONIA TP. , SHI AWA5SEE CO.,MICH 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



687 



Nant'i' (Crane) Young, also a native of Connecti- 
cut. The parents were married in that Stale, and 
there resided a number of years, thence moving to 
Monroe County-, N. Y., where they remained until 
182G. at which time they removed to this State and 
settled at Lapeer. 

The father of our subject began farming, his 
tract of laud being perfectly- new and unbroken. 
lie at once erected a log house, which his wife 
made sis comfortable as circumstances and resour- 
ces would permit. Mrs. Young died in 1841, her 
husband following her a few ^ears later; they were 
the parents of eight children, three of whom are 
now living. The father was a man of strong phy- 
sique, well fltted for the demands that pioneer life 
made upon him. He was always a hard worker and 
ambitious that no one else should accomplish more 
tlian himself. They were members of the Baptist 
Church. Mr. Young was a Democrat in politics. 

Our subject came with his parents to Caledonia 
Townshi)), this count}', from New York when about 
twelve years of age. Here he grew to manhood, 
receiving in the meantime a good common-school 
education. He has always devoted himself faitii- 
fuUy to his chosen calling, that of a farmer. He 
began life for himself when sixteen years of age, 
having purchased his time of his father. For some 
time he was engaged in digging plaster in which 
work he was emplojed for four years. lie then 
spent three years in labor on the Erie Canal, after 
which he shipped on a whaler and spent three years 
in cruising in the South Pacific. He went around 
Cape (iood Hope and returned by way of Cai)u 
Horn. This single cruise occupied three years, but 
they brought back a ship load of whale oil. 

In 1831) Mr. Young came to Michigan, went to 
his father at Lapeer where he remained for a few 
months, thence came to Shiawassee County, and 
located two hundred and eighty acres where he now 
lives. He secured the tract directly from the Gov- 
ernment, it being at the time perfectly wild. His 
nearest neighbors lived at a distance of two miles, 
and there was no clearing near him. Indians were 
tiic most frequent visitors they had and not always 
of tlie pleasantest kind, for they were treacherous 
and greedy. Bear and deer were plentiful and the 
larder was often replenished by the aid of the rillc 



He tells of one occasion when on arising in the 
morning he found a large bear chasing his cow. 
He got his rifle and killed the bear at one shot, but 
to quiet the fears of his wife he shot him again. 
Their first dwelling was a log house which was 
raised at once in the midst of tall forest trees. After 
paying for his land he had no money and was 
obliged to change work with his neigiibors in order 
to get the use of a team. He finally' got a j'okc of 
oxen, but it seemed as though a Nemesis of mis- 
fortune pursued, for after wintering his oxen while 
driving them througli the woods a tree fell upon 
one of the oxen killing him instantly; a little later 
the other sickened and died. The next year lie 
secured another yoke. Soon after the limb from 
a tree fell upon one of tlieni, killing it immediately. 
His first cow was hurt and he lost her. In fact his 
misfortunes were enough to discourage anj' ordi- 
nary man. 

Mr. Young was married February 21, 1811, to 
Nancy M. Hart. They lived for a year in a shanty 
10x12 feet in dimensions, after which they built a 
log house. Mrs. Young was born August 17, 1823, 
in Jefferson County, N. Y. They are the parents 
of seven children, three of whom are now living, 
viz: Albert, who has taken to wife Pliel)e Eldredge 
and lives en section 12, Caledonia Township; they 
are the parents of three children. Melinda, wife of 
Ira Angus, lives in this township and is the mother 
of two children: Mary Josephine, the wife of Jesse 
Parleng, also lives in this township, and is the 
mother of five children. Mrs. Young died Novem- 
ber 15, 1889. She was a member in good standing 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject was a second time married, January' 
2G, 1890, to Lydia (Warrener) Killiourn, a daugh- 
ter of Ell and Almeda (Farr) Warrener. The 
former was a native of .Massachusetts; the latter of 
Ellisburg, N. Y., in which place they were married 
and lived until 1852, when the}- went to Ohio. 
Here they remained until 1801, and then removed 
to this State, settling in Ma|)le Grove, Saginaw 
Count}', on a new farm. The father died in 1867; 
the mother still survives, making her home here. 
She has attained to the age of eight^'-si.v years. 
She and her husband were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, si,\ of whom arc now living. Mrs. Young 



688 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was born October 28, 1827, in Jefiferson Countj', 
N. Y. Sbe was marrierl to Newell Kilbourn, wLo 
was an olrl settler in New Haven Township. .She 
presented her husband with two children, one of 
whom is now living, Albert, who is in.irried to 
Louisa Uennelt. and lives in New Haven Townsliip, 
they have one child. 

Mr. Young has one hundred and twenty acres, 
of vvhich sixty acres are under cultivation. He 
carries on the farm himself and takes a delight in 
working out liis ide.as and theories of improvement, 
all of which he li.is made iiimself. Since coming 
to Michigan he has given his whole time and atten- 
tion to farming and has cleared between two hun- 
dred and three hundred acres of land. Atone time 
he owned a farm of six hundred acres, but of this 
he has sold some and has given some to each of his 
children. He also fitted his children as much as 
possible for their life work by giving them the best 
of educational advantages. He has alwaj's taken 
more or less interest in politics and is a Democrat. 
He has been elected Highway Commissioner, hav- 
ing been a|)pointed one of tlie first here. He built 
tlie first schoolhouse and helped to organize the 
first district. He is an advocate of temperance, 
having always lived up to these principles. 

A view of the pleasant liome of Mr. Young ap- 
pears on another page of this volume. 



.^;^..;..^>. 



' NTHONY DROSTK. Among the native- 
i^JTcJII born men of Clinton County, who are 
pursuing an agricultural career is the 
gentleman above namcil, whose farm lies 
on section 35, Dallas Township. He owns one 
hundred and twenty acres, eighty of which was 
given him by his fatiier in 1887. He has put up a 
beautiful residence, and has excellent accomoda- 
tions for his stock and storage-room for that 
portion of his crops which he does not dispose of 
when harvested. As his name indicates, he is of 
German parentage and liis father h.as long been 
known as one of the hard-working and honest 
pioneers of Clinton Countj'. He cleared much 




land, aiding other men to prepare their lands for 
cultivation, and cut down the timber on over two 
hundred acres. 

Theodore Droste, the father of our subject, was 
born in 1812, and married Theresa Knapp, with 
whom he crossed the Atlantic in 1840. He made 
his home in Detroit and worked by the day until 
1842, when he came to Clinton County and settled 
on forty acres in Westphalia Township. He has 
prospered in word ly affairs and now owns two hun- 
dred and fort}' acres and has given his sons com- 
fortable tracts. His children are Theodore, iNIary, 
AVilliam, Rosie, .Joiin, Joseph, Anthony and Casper. 
He and his wife are comn.unicants of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 

Anthony Droste was born in Westphalia Town- 
ship, May 6, 1859, and lived there until within the 
last few years. He did not leave the parental home 
until he was twenty-four years old, when he was 
married in 1884, and set up his own household. 
His wife was Mary Simons, daughter of Peter 
Simons. Their wedded life was brief, Mrs. Droste 
dying in 1889. She left three children — Dora, 
William and Ludwig. In 1890 Mr. Droste con- 
tracted a second matrimonial alliance, his bride 
being Anna Doll, daughter of MathiasDoll. a Ger- 
man-American citizen who w.as an earl^' settler in 
Clinton Count}'. 

Mr. Droste was well prepared for carrying on the 
business affairs of life, as, after studying in the 
schools near his home, be attended the Goldsmith 
Business College in Detroit. Like others of his 
class he keeps well informed and takes an intelligent 
interest in the progress of affairs, not only near at 
hand but in the remoter regions of the earth. 
Politically, he is a Democrat and he and his wife 
belong to the Roman Catholic Church. 

Elsewhere in this volume will be found a view of 
the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Droste. 



'jr=5] MORY L. BREWER, a prominent business 
il^ man of Owosso, was born in Hartwick, 
JL^ Otsego County, N. Y., October 3, 1835. 
His father, Jonathan W. Brewer, was born in Mad- 
ison County, N. Y., in 1798 and was a well-known 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



G89 



Otsego County manufacturer of cast iron scrapers 
and plows. He was also by trade a slioemaker, 
but never followed that vocation but continued in 
the manufacturing line as long as lie lived in New 
York. 

In the fall of 1847 the father of our subject 
removed to Michigan, making his home in Ben- 
nington Township, Shiawassee Count}', and died 
in Owosso in 1872. His ancestry was of Holland 
blood and his father was Mathew Brewer. He was 
a Captain in the Rcvolutionar}' armj' and his son 
Jonathan was also a military man and held the 
commission of Colonel in the State militia. Julia 
G. Leland was the maiden name of the lady who 
became the mother of our subject. She was born 
in Vermont and was a daughter of Joshua Leland, 
of Scotch descent. She was a member of a distin- 
guished family, one of whom, Arron Leland, was 
Governor of Vermont. The grandmother on the 
mother's side was an aunt of General and Senator 
John Sherman. Julia (Leland) Brewer died in 
Owosso in 1882 in her eighty-third year. She was 
the mother of seven children, two daughters and 
live sons, three of whom were the offspring of her 
flrst husband, Mr. Cook. All of her four children 
by Mr. Brewer are now living. 

The children of Jonathan and Julia Brewer are: 
Helen W., wife of Joseph H. Howe, of Shiawassee 
County; Emor}' L., our subject; Lasel C, who 
resides in Evansville, Wis., wliere he carries on a 
hotel; Burns W., a farmer making his home in 
Owosso. The children of Mrs. Brewer's first mar- 
riage are: Sabrina, now Mrs. Hcrrington, residing 
in Otsego County, N. Y., and William A. Cook, of 
Caledonia Township. Shiawassee County, where he 
resides on a farm. 

After attending school in Hartwick, N. Y., until 
he reached the age of twelve j'cars, Emory L. 
Brewer came to Michigan and went to school in 
Bennington. His opportunites at that time were 
meager indeed, but after he reached the age of 
twenty-one he entered the Union school and after 
attending one winter he went the following fall to 
the agricultural college at Lansing, where he look 
a two years' course, thus prei)aring himself for 
teaching, which he pursued for four winters. 

The young man then bought a farm in I5enniiig- 



ton Township which he still owns. He placed 
eighty acres under cultivation and engaged in gen- 
eral farming. This he pursued until the fall of 
1862, when his patriotic impulses led him to 
respond to the call of his country and enter her 
service. He enlisted as a private in Company K, 
Fifth Michigan Cavalry, under Col. Copeland. 
This regiment had :it various times changes in its 
command, being at different periods under the 
command of Cols. Norvell, Gould and Hastings 
and Gen. Alger. It was assigned to the Army of 
the Potomac and placed in the brigade commanded 
by Gen. George H. Custer. 

In 1864 Mr. Brewer was promoted to the position 
of Second Lieutenant and received commendation 
for meritorious conduct. He continued in that rank 
until October, 1864, when on account of an injury 
received at Hawes' Shop, Va., he was discharged 
October 13 on a surgeon's certificate. This injury 
was by means of a gunshot which passed through 
both shoulders and caused a terrible experience 
with abscesses. He took part in the following 
battles: Hanover, Va.; Ilunterstown, Pa.; Gettys- 
burg, Monterey, Cavetown, Smithtown; Boons- 
boro, July 6, 1863; Hagerstown, Williamsport; 
Boonsboro, July 8, 1863; Hagerstown, Williams- 
port, July 10; Falling Waters, Snicker's Gap, 
Stevensburg, Morton's Ford, Richmond, (better 
known .as Kilpatrick's Raid,) Wilderness, (Beaver 
Dam Station,) Yellow Tavern, Meadow Bridge, 
Milford and Hawes' Shop. 

Returning to Owosso in 1864 this brave veteran 
settled himself to the pursuits of peace, devoting 
his time to the study of law in 18G5-66. He was 
Clerk of the Supreme Court at Lansing, after 
which he made a visit of two years to his native 
State, New York. When he came back to Michi- 
gan he formed a partnership with his father-in- 
law, Abram Brewer, which he continued until 
1872, and they carried on a brisk business in the 
boot and shoe trade. The father sold out his inter- 
est to J. H. Howe and the firm name was changed 
to Brewer & Howe and remained under this title 
until 1883, when our subject bought out his part- 
ner's interest and continued in business alone. 
About the same time he built his handsome brick 
business block, measuring 22x80 feet, two storica 



•;!>() 



I'OlM'KAir ANO IU0C5RAlMlirAI. Al.lU'M. 



niui II ImscinoDt. Ilo oiirrioii n full stuck uf boots, 
»luH's, niltlior j-ooils nn»l luittoiis ami oi'i'iipios tlio 
tlisl (lour of his IniiUliiij;, 

Our subjool WHS uuitoti in iniirritt^o with l'lm>lio 
A. Hrcwcr, (no rt-liitivo ns is known,) i\ ilnujjlili'r 
iif Aluiun llrinviT, Kmi. 'I'lus liuly was liorn in 
Mlchigtu) iiiul hn8 beoonio tho luothor of two cliil 
(lion, wlio lirtVf j;rown to bo a comfort and a 
(lcbi;ht (olhcir parents: LcoCi. is n(>w in Sai^inaw; 
Nora is at lionui and n student in the Iti^ti subo(>l. 

Mr. llrcwtM- (lolilicalty was tlrst n Democrat as 
was Itis father before liim, but for u few years past 
has been a stanch Prohibitionist, voting the Ihsl 
Prohibition ticket in the State and the i>nly one 
at that time in tlie city of Owi'sso. and is a promi- 
nent slump speaker for that cause and for every 
phase i>f tlie temperance movement. His ph-asaut 
ht>n)e is at the c(>ruer of tioodhue and Hickory 
Slreet,s, and it is luit i>idy comforlabh' and com- 
modious, but attractive in its (>\terual appearance. 



IrlM.lAM II. ri I'NAM. I'he subject of 
i our sketch was born iu t)vid Township, 




CMinton l\>uuty.this v^tate. March II, KS|.^. 
His faiher was W illiani K. Putnam, a native (>f 
(>vid. Seneca (."ounty, N. Y. lie was born in the 
year IM I and was reared in his native place until 
he i-ame to Michi,i>ttu, which was quite early in his 
life and bet\>re the township was i>rj;anized, lie 
located his laud (>n what was afterward called t>vitl 
'rowiiship. so named by himself, lie relumed li> 
New York and there married i>ur subjvvt's mother, 
wlu>se maiden name was Hannah Waters. She was 
a native of tlie same U>wu as her hiisbanil, 
who remained lwi> years after his niarriajje in Ihe 
Kast and then came to llie laud where he had prt>- 
vit>usly located. 

Mere Mr. Putnam built f>>r his family a loi^; house 
in the midst »>f his trad of land which was uulircly 
unimproved. The «ork of culliuiT the loj>* de- 
volved wholly npiui himself ami when the little 
house only lSx^4 fe»>t was ciunpleleil he had the 
satisfaction of knv>winjj that he himself was its only 
builder, lie ivmalneil heix' long enouj;li to clear 



up the place and in 1858 he cniue to Shiawassee 
County, where he located in .Sciot« 'l\)wnship, there 
improvinj; another farm. Here also he built a lojr 
house of the same dimensions as that in ((vid Town- 
ship. This proved to be his home for the remainder 
of his life, his death iiccurrini; .liiiie 1, 1S80. Mr. 
Putnam was a l>emocrat in polities and the conll- 
ilcnce which his fellow-townsmen had in him was 
manit'esled by his clei'liiui to several township olli- 
ces. \\v was Township Clerk and Treasurer, also 
Hij;hway Cominissicuier in Clinton County. 

l)ur subject's mother is still living' and resides 
in !!»eiota Township, ShiawassiH' County, beinji now 
alumt seventy years of as;e. t)ur subject is t>ne of 
ei>;ht children, seven of whom are now livin.'i:. Mr. 
Putnaiu is the fourth child and third son. He was 
reared in his native place until he was ei^ht years 
ot a_i;e w hen he came with his father to .Shiawassee 
County. His Hrsl school days were spent in Clinton 
County where he went ti> school in a little log lu>use 
called the Wilson sclun>l house. The seats were split 
lojjs sot upon pegs — answering the purpose of legs. 
He linished his school days in Shiawa.ssee County, 
at the school known as the Octogini scluud house. 
He remained with his father ami mother assisting 
them tui the farm aidina in clearing, fencing, etc, 

Mr. Putnam came ti> \eruon Towiiship in 18li7 
and engaged with .lames J (Mies who w.is then build- 
ing a sawmill at the village of Vernon, for the 
manufacture of hard-wviod lumber in il-s various 
fi>rms to be used in furniture and carriage works. 
Here he ivinaiiied for two years and then went to 
Muskegon where he was engaged in a similar busi- 
ness t\>r about one year, then cauie imck to\'enu>n. 
Tlie mill property there having chaiigeil hands he 
wDrketl for the new proprietor a couple of years, 
then engageil with James C. Urand as fv>reman in 
(•harge of his theiuiuile extensive business in hard- 
woi>d lumber, staves, heading and hoop-poles, 
where he remaiiieii for several years. IHiring this 
time he superintended the building anil placing uf 
the machinery for a lifly hoi-se-power mill at \'er- 
nou Center for the manufacture of hard-wood lum- 
ber, staves and heading. 

The tirm were iu>w doing a large business and 
felt the netnl of better mail facilities, the nearest 
post-oHlce Iwing some four miles ilislant in the v il- 





>CJ? 



^yiad.(2L/yyh^<i^ (y^ (f^)e^ 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



693 



lage of Vernon. Mr. Piitnfim ever mindful of his em- 
ploj'er's interest went to work to get ,a post-offlee cs- 
t.ahlislied at Vernon Center. Througli Ills unceasing 
efforts and tlie influence of lion. Geo. A. Durand 
at that time a member of Congress from tlio Sixtii 
Congressional District of wiiich Shiawassee County 
then formed a part, he succeeded in having a 
post-office established at Vernon Center, and giv- 
ing to it the name of Durand in honor of George 
II. ])u.-:uid, M. C. In the month of M.-iy, 187G, 
Mr. Putnam received his commission from Mar- 
shall .Jewell, Postmaster-General, under U. S. 
Grant's second administration, and on June 19 
following, he opened u[) and commenced business 
in the newly established post-ofHoe of Durand, 
wliich position he occupied until January 1, 1879, 
when his successor William II. Bilby was appointed. 

Mr. Putnam was again commissioned Postmaster 
.it Durand in l.S8,j under G rover Cleveland taking 
charge of the office June G. and continued in that 
position until June 1, 1889. After the establish- 
ment of tlie post-ofHce, Mr. Putnam turned his 
attention to the securing of a railway station on 
the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway wliich was the 
only road through Durand at that time. His 
efforts were rewanled l)y the company making Du- 
rand a Hag station. 

In the year 1877 Mr. Putnam associated himself 
with his brother-in-law, George Ciiild, under the 
firm name of Child & Putnam and engaged in the 
hardware and agricultural trade. This firm did 
business for about two years when Mr. Child re- 
tired and Mr. Putnam took in partnership another 
brother-in-law, E. II. Delano, under the firm name 
I'utnam & Delano, and carried on the above busi- 
ness until 1882. Mr. Delano then sold his interest 
to Mr. Putnam, wlio continued the business 
in addition to the buying and shipping of 
grain and produce until 1887, when he sold out 
an<l retired from active business. 

The gentleman of whom we write w.as married 
August 13, 1872. The lady's maiden name was 
Josephine M. Delano, and she was a native of Sodus 
Centre, Wayne County, N. Y., born October 8, 
1848. She came to Michigan with her parents 
when al)out six years old. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam 
are the parents of two children — a daughler and a 



son. named respectively. Homer, who is seventeen 
years of ago and Ethel, thirteen j-pars of age. 
These young people remain at home to brighten 
the hearts of their parents. 

In politics Mr. Putnam lias always been asso- 
ciated with the Democratic part}' and has held va- 
rious offices of trust and honor. He has been twice 
elected to the office of Township Clerk and has been 
Township Treasurer for two terms. For five years 
he has been Notary Public and is now Justice of 
the Peace. lu connection with his official duties 
he carries on quite an extensive real-estate and in- 
surance business and has for sale or rent some 
choice residence property. He is a Mason, social!}', 
belonging to the North Ncwburg Lodge, No. IGl, 
of Durand, and is now Junior Deacon in the same, 
in which lodge he has taken an active interest. He 
is thoroughly interested in the growth and devel- 
opment of the village which he Ins seen grow from 
a country cross-road where there were not more 
than three frame buildings in sight, to a busy 
hustling town of eight hundred inhabitants, and the 
greatest railw.ay center in the State. 



^ 



E^^- 




ENJAMIN TOANIvLIN BATCHELOU. 

Among the prominent farmers and stock- 
raisers of Fairfield Township, Shiawiissee 
County, is the gentleman whose name in- 
troduces these paragraphs and whose propert\' con- 
sists of two hundred .acres of fine land. His name 
is well known and his personal acquaintance en- 
joyed 'by a large number of citizens, as well as by 
man}' in the surrounding townships, who are proud 
to acknowledge their friendship to him. His busi- 
ness transactions are characterized by good judg- 
ment, strict integrity and acute perception, and are 
therefore almost invariably successful, while as a 
citizen, patriot and friend, he is highly esteemed 
wherever known. 

Mr. Batchelor was born in Van Buren, Kalama- 
zoo County, Mich., November 2, 1847, and is the 
son of Almon and Rachel (Lattimer) Batchelor, 
natives respectively of New York and Pennsyl- 
v.ania. The father died when our subject was only 



094 



POUTKAIT AND BlOGilAl'lllCAL ALIUJM. 



fifteen years old, and as he was the third among 
a family of eigiit ehildieii, great responsibilities 
were early thrown upon liim. Having received 
careful training in farm duties, he was able to be 
very helpful to the family. His educational ad- 
vantages were limited, for home duties were of 
sucli a nature as to require his constant attention. 

When only seventeen years old Mr. IJalchelor 
enlisted in the service of his country February 11, 
18G1, connecting himself with C'om|>any B, First 
IMichigan Cavalry and serving as a brave soldier in 
defense of the Union. He took part in the battle 
of the Wilderness, being under Chistcr as his 
Brigade Commander, and Sheridan being the Gen- 
eral of the corps with wliicli he was connected. 
He was with his company through all the campaign 
of ISGl and on the IDlhof Septemher had liis horse 
shot from under him. After the close of the war 
he enlisted as a regular soldier in the United 
States Arm}', serving three years and being sta- 
tioned all the time at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. 

In March, 18(!9, Mr. liatchelor left the regular 
army and on November 17, of tliat ^ear, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Loynes, 
daugiiter of Comfort 1>. and Mary (Ensign) 
Loynes. Of this union five children survive to 
brighten the parental home. They are as follows: 
Jay F., born September 14, 1870; Charles E., Janu- 
ary C, 1873; Katie M., April 6, 1875; Minnie A., 
November 24, 1877, and Eva B., August 27, 1887. 
For;ibout seventeen years Mr. Batchclor made his 
home on section G, Rush Townshi[), but two years 
ago removed to F'airfield Township, where he is 
now i)leasantly located. 

In matters of public importance Mr. Batchclor is 
deeply interested and usually votes the Republican 
ticket, but has never in any sense been an odice- 
seeker. On account of injuries received while in 
the service he receives a pension of l>12 per month. 
He is prominently identified with the (!rand Army 
of the Rci)ublic, as would naturally be expected. 
He was not the only representative of his immedi- 
ate family in the Civil War, as his father enlisted 
in C^ompany K, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry and 
died at Jackson, Tenn., of pneumonia contracted 
from exposure while having the measles. A brother 
pf our subject, William, now a farmer in Norton 



County, Kan., was also a soldier during the late 
war, belonging to the Twenty-ninth Michigan In- 
fantry and becoming an integral part of the Army 
of the Tennessee. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a litho- 
graphic portrait of Mr. Batchclor presented in con- 
nection with this brief biographical outline. 




.... RTIIUR GARRISON, the junior member 
E^tJli of the firm of Garrison Bros., claims 
Michigan as the State of his nativity. He 
was born in Novi Township, Oakland 
County, on the 2Clh of September, 1837, and is 
the fourth child of William and Mary (Pmney) 
Garrison, a sketch of whom is given on another 
page of this work in connection with that of W. D. 
Garrison. Arthur was reared to manhood amid 
the wild scenes of pioneer life and with the family 
shared in the hardshi|)s and |)rivations of those 
earl}' days. His education was finished in a log 
schoolhouse in Vernon Township, known as the 
Garrison School, and he entered u|)on his business 
career as a carpenter. He followed that trade for 
some time and then spent a year and a half as clerk 
ill a store in Vernon. 

Mr. Garrison has been twice married. In Octo- 
ber, 18G1, he was joined in marriage with Isa- 
bel Brown, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., and the 
third child of John Brown. Her father was a na- 
tive of Scotland, and her mother of England. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Garrison were born four chil- 
dren, the eldest of whom, Minnie E., is now trav- 
eling for her health. She has visited California two 
or three different times, spent two months in the 
Sandwich Islands, and has traveled all over this 
country. Carrie B. is the next younger. Ethel H. 
is attending school in Oberlin, Ohio, and expects 
to graduate from that college in 1892. Isabel, the 
youngest, is at home. The mother of this family 
died in the spring of 1875, and her remains were 
interred in Vernon Cemetery. In 1876 Mr. Garri- 
son was again married, liis second union being with 
Susan E. Holmes, who was born in Vernon Town- 
ship and has spent her entire life in Shiawassee 



FOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



6a3 



County. She is a daugliter of Edward Holmes, 
aixl is the sixth chilii in a family of te!i cliildieii. 
In |iulitical sentiment Mr. Garrison is a Ucpub- 
lioaii, anil socially is a Knight Templar Mason. 
He and all of his family arc members of the Con- 
grejjational Church, of which lie has heen Treas- 
urer for twenty-seven years, and in the social 
world they hold an enviahle position, moving in 
the best circles of society where wortli and intelli- 
gence are accepted as passports. Mr. Garrison for 
the long period of twenty-six years has been 
Treasurer of the \'ernon Cemetery Association. 
Honored and trusteil by all, he has been found 
faithful to every duty and has won the highest re- 
gard of those wiUi wlioni business or social rela- 
tions have bioughl iiim in contact. His public 
and private life are alike above reproach, for naught 
can be said against him. 

The extensive business interests of the firm of 
Garrison Bros, has made them well known through- 
out Shiawassee County. They arc at the iiead of 
some of its principal industries and furnish em- 
ployment to a large number of hands. Tiie busi 
ness transacted by the firm in 1888 amounted to 
upward of ^1110,000, and was the result of their 
own efforts. Endowed by nature with good ability, 
Ihey have made the most of every opportunity, 
steadily working tiieir way upward, and in the 
legitimate channels of business have won a f(jrtune- 
Their names arc inseparably connected with the 
iiislory of tins community, for not only in the 
business circles but in the upbuilding and progress 
of the county have they been prominent. Mr. 
Garrison is a Director in tiie Corunna National 
Bank. 



-4- 



-^^ 




l^-^^OLLIN POND, of the Gwosso Monumental 
ILiir Works, which were established in June, 
1886, is a native of Michigan, being born 
in Shiawassee County in the township of 
Bennington, July 22, 1844. He is the son of 
Cortes Pond who was born in Schroon, N. Y., 
November 23, 1812. His father, Jared, was the 
son of Benjamin Pond wlio was I)orn September 26, 
1790 at Poullney, \ I. This ancestor was a Judge 



and also a Representative in the New York Legisla- 
ture, aucl represented his comity at the time of the 
War of 1812, and did much both in his public and 
private ca[)acity to sustain the Government at this 
time of trial. His death occurred October 10, 1HI4. 
He was present at the battle of Platlsburg, N. Y., 
in 1814 and volunteered to repel the invaders. 
By exiiosure at this time he contracted a disease 
wiiicli caused his death. Tiie ancesUjrs of this 
family were of Kngiisii birth. 

Cortes Pond, tiie father of our subject, moved to 
Michigan while it was a Territory, lie married 
Al)igail Howe in December 31, 1K35. .Siie was a 
daugiiler of Jonathan Howe, and lived till Nov- 
ember 21, 18r)f<. Mr. I'ond settled in Branch 
County subsecpiently removed to Washtenaw 
County and to Bennington Township, Shjawass(!e 
County in 1842. Here he remained until his elec- 
tion as County Chu'k in 18.04 when the duties of 
that ollice re(piired his residence at the count}- seat 
and he then made his home in Corunna. About 
the year 1861 he married Emily Bixby, who is 
deceased. 

Mr. Pond was always a stanch Democrat and an 
aetive temperance worker. At tlie time of his 
death he was the Treasurer of the County Pioneer 
Society, Treasurer of the city of Corunna and one 
of the Superintendents of the Poor. This latter 
l)ijsition lie had held for thirty-three years and it 
was a lru(! tribute to his integrity, ability and kind- 
ly heart 'hat he had for so long a time been placed 
in such a position of trust. 

Kollin Pond passed his early boyhood and his 
school days mostly in Corunna, and after talking 
advantage of the Corunna schools he studied at 
Flint, Micii. He then assisted in making abstracts 
of Sliiaw.assee County property for Charles llolman 
who was Registrar of Dee<ls. 

The young man in the spring of 1808 went to 
Kansas making a stop at Emporia, Lyon County, 
thatsuue, where he was employed in the odlce of 
E. P. Bancroft, whom he helped to put in projier 
shape the abstracts of Lyon County. After this 
he entered the employ of W. H. Andriis in the real- 
estate business and gave to that gentleman ellieieiit 
assistance in Ins business. He then entered the 
bank of Swallow, lleiitage & Sowden as book- 



690 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



keeper for six months, after which he went to 
Arkansas Cit^' and entered the real-estate business 
on his own account and remained 'there for some 
time. Me took up one hundred and sixty acres of 
land which he proved up and received his patent 
signed by Gen. Grant. On his trip West he drove 
a team from Sturgis, Mich., through to Emporia, 
Kan., and April 19, 1873 went on a buffalo hunt 
in company with others and returned on the 24th. 
He killed several buffaloes and caught one buffalo 
calf which he tamed. 

In the fall of 1873, Mr. Pond returned to Michi- 
gan and in the following spring embarked in the 
grocery business with J. C. Merrill under the firm 
name of Merrill <fe Pond but he did not continue 
long in this relation as he sold out the next season. 
In April, 1877 he entered the monumental business, 
the company being comprised of Rollin Pond, 
Frank Pond and Edward Shuttleworth under the 
firm name of the Corunna IMarble Compan}', whicii 
continued to transact business until the other 
partners sold out their interest to our sujjject in 
1881. In 1886 he removed his stone and marble 
works to Owosso, which he considered a better loca- 
tion and where he is now well established in that 
business. He maiuifactures monuments and does 
other work in that line, both in foreign and Ameri- 
can granites and marble. He is a Democrat in his 
political views, but on local issues votes independ- 
ently of party. 



♦SS^- 




LBERT II. ELLIS. One of the stanch 
sturdv pioneers of early days, wlio has 
(IS seen the face of the country' change from 
a wilderness that was the fit haliitation of 
the Aborigines to a well-improved and liigiily. cul- 
tivated land owned b}' men who are representa 
tives from almost every nation on earth, is tlie 
owner of the farm located on section 21,A'enice 
Township, Shiawassee County. His father was 
Horace Ellis, a native of Massachusetts, in whicii 
State he was born in 1795. His" mother was Mary 
E. (Kennedy) Ellis, a native of Onondaga County, 
N. Y., where she was born February 1.5, 1810. 
The Ellis family is of ohl New p]ngland ances- 



try, and our subject's father was a soldier in the 
War of 1812, being Captain of a regiment. His 
parents were married in New York State in 1826, 
and for a couple of 3-ears they lived in Onondaga 
County, and then ran a boat on the Erie Canal. 
In 1855 they came to Michigan and settled at 
Grand Blanc, Genesee County, which was some- 
what imi)roved when tliej' came hither. The 
mother died in April, 1873, and the father June 
6, 1877. Thej' were the parents of ten children, 
six of whom are now living. Thej' were Presbj- 
terians in their church preference .and the fatl)er 
was a Democrat in politics. He had received a 
good education and was thoroughly well read, in- 
clining toward a book-worra. He had high natural 
ability, which was recognized bj' his friends and 
all with whom he came in contact. In New York 
State he was appointed Supervisor of tlie town- 
ship. The parents were robust, health}- jjcople, 
both sides being noted for longevity. 

Our subject first saw the light of day Decem- 
ber 8, 1838, in Onond.aga County, N. Y. Tiiere 
he spent his early childhood and received his edu- 
cation in the district schools. He remained at 
home until twenty fc>ur years of age, helping his 
parents with llie burden of supporting so large a 
famil}'. June 24, 1863, he took upon himself the 
obligations of matrimony and was Muited in mar- 
riage with Hannah M. Kenned}-, a daughter of 
Horace A. and Hepsapath (Worden) Kennedy, 
both natives of New York. The mother was born 
in 1813, the father in 1815. Tiiey came to Mich- 
igan about 1835, and were pioneers of Gene- 
see County, where thoy opened up a now farm. 
Their most frequent visitors and nearest neighbors 
were Indians, and they had ever to be on the 
alert against the encroachments of wild animals. 
The parents of Mrs. Ellis were married June 
28, 1841, in Genesee County, where the}- made a 
permanent liome and opened u[) a new farm. Tlie 
father died May 15, 1879; the mcther still sur- 
vives at the age of seventy-eight. She is very 
.active and bright, and does not feel that her use- 
fulness is yet at an end. The father was a hard- 
working man. They were the parents of live 
children, four of whom are now living. He. lilte 
most pioneers, was active in politics, for in the 




:lo I u f- i-i 



CE OF A. H. ELMS , SE:C.21.,VEU!CL T P. , 3H 1 AVVA2 3 LL Cu.,,a.C.-. 



fk^^'. Ml.,- 



W^ ■■■''- 






RESIDENCE or J. W, FRENCH , SEC . 21., DU PLAI N TP., CLINTON CO. .MICH. 



MiP-: 



.i*/Ov';.- 



.•:i ' ■ 







RLCIDEULIL Of C. 



. Wl HG , ijEC.n.,P[.KKY [ K,5HIAWAooLL CU.i.llCH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



699 



early days it was a vital question as to who should 
have tlie [jower, llie iiuprovemeiits of tlie county 
dciiending almost entirt-lj' upon the otHce-hoIders. 
lie held the position of Highway' Commissio!)er 
for 3'oars and took an active interest in the wel- 
fare of schools. He is a well-read man and the 
dearth of literature in early days must have been 
a great deprivation to him. 

Mrs. Ellis was born July 26, 1844, in Grand 
Blaae, Genesee County, where she received a good 
common-school education. The marriage of our 
subject and his wife occurred at Fenton, Genesee 
County, this State. They started out in life to- 
gether empty-lianded, with only their love and 
faitli in each other. Tliey went to New York 
State, where he worked on a farm l)y the montli 
for one year, after wliicli they returned to tliis 
Stale, and he worked in the pineries for six 
niontlis. 

."Mr. Ellis next rented a farm of his father-in- 
law, upon which he continued for one year an;! 
then conducted the work on his own father's farm 
for a period of one and one-half years. In 1SG8 
he came to Shiawassee County, [lurchasing eighty 
acres of wild land, for which he ran partly in 
debt. Their first residence was a shanty, and here 
thev began clearing. It was his first experience 
in that direction, but he went at it energetically 
and has remained here ever since. He now owns 
one hundred and twenty acres, of which he has 
one hundred and ten acres undoi' spleudiil culti- 
vation. 

The residence where our sulijent is at present 
domiciled, and a view of wiiich is sliown on 
another page, was built at a cost of ij* 1,200. He 
iiad a good barn upon iiis place before his house 
was built. This still stands, and he has since added 
another. The fine orchard that he owns was set 
out by himself and now yields a plentiful har- 
vest. He devotes himself to general farming and 
is greatly interested in the breeding of thorough- 
bred stock. He at present owns some fine Merino 
sheep and his Jersey cows are a picture of sleek 
serenity. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children, one now living. Edward S. lived until 
he reached his majority and died July 19, 188G; 



Horace Ray was born on the 1 2th of September, 
1874. Our subject has been a member of the 
School Board and is much interested in local 
politics, being a Democrat. He has for j-ears been 
Road Overseer. He is temperate in his habits and 
))rinciples. His undivided attention is given to 
his farm, from which by econom\' and Intelligent 
cultivation he has gained a comfortable compe- 
te ncj'. 

ellARLES T. WING, Supervisor of Perry 
Township, Shiaw.assee County, was born 
May 25, 1837, in Genesee County, N. Y. 
His father, Chancelor Wing, was born in Otsego 
County, N. Y., in 1801, and his grandfather, Ben- 
jamin Wing, was a native of Rhode Island, and a 
descendant of three brothers who came originally 
from England, and seltleil in Eastern New York. 
Tills grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, 
and being taken prisoner at the battle of Quebec, 
was h.eld by the British for twent^'-two months. 
Later he owned three hundred and twcntj-one 
acres of land in the Genesee Valley, where he set- 
tled in 180G, being one of the first to locate west 
of the Genesee River, after the Revolutionary War. 
He was a Quaker in his religious views, but over- 
came his non -combative principles sullieientl}' to 
fight for liberty. He had always been a man of rug- 
ged and sturd}' strength, and died very suddenly 
when between eighty- and ninety years of age. 

The father of our subject was a carpenter and 
farmer, and quite a natural genius in the mechani- 
cal line. He was the youngest boy of the family, 
and finally owned and operated the old homestead, 
taking care of his |)arents in their later years. He 
himself, however, was cut off befoie he had reached 
old age, as he died when onl}' forty-five years old. 
He w.as a farmer of ambition and thrift, was a r.adi- 
cal Whig, and a strong protectionist in his political 
views, and a Baptist in religion. He wsis highl}' 
respected in the community where he passed all his 
life, and was placed in some local odices of trust. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Susan Tryon, and her natal day was May 6, 
1818, her birthplace being in Madison County, N. 



700 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 



Y. Sbe was reared upon a farm, and after her 
marriage with Mr. Wing, became the mother of 
five children — Charles, George, Emily, Henry ai,d 
Austin C. She is now residing with our subject, 
and enjoying in peace her later years. Her parents 
were Sebina and Emily (Hodge) Tryon, natives of 
jSIassachusetts. They removed to Madison County, 
N. Y. soon after marriage, and there on a farm 
brought up their five children, and remained until 
their death. She passed away at forty-two years 
of age, and he at foity-five. They were of English 
and Irish descent. 

The district schools in New York were the scenes 
of the early studies of our subject. He continued 
in them until nine years of age, and when fifteen 
years old entered college at Geneseo, N. Y., but 
was obliged to discontinue his course of study on 
accouut of weak lungs. He returned to the farm 
and employed himself there until he reached the 
age of twenty-four years. 

The military service of Mr. Wing, which he un- 
dertook in defense of the old flag, began Novem- 
ber 2, 18G1, in Company G, One Hundred and 
Fourth New York lufantry. After thirteen months 
of service in the ranks as a private, he was promoted 
to be Commissary Sergeant, December 1, 1862, 
and served in this capacity until he was discharged. 
His flist battle was at Cedar Mountain, and he was 
then in the conflict for four days at Rappahannock 
Station. He also took part in the battles of Thor- 
oughfare Gap, l?ull Run, ClianliUy, South Moun- 
tain and Antielara. He was never sick a (\ny, but 
was on duty continuously from the time of his en- 
listment until he was mustered out of service No- 
vember 2, 18G4. The young veteran returned to 
New York and engaged in farming for about three 
j-ears. 

The spring of 18G7 saw our subject on his way 
to Michigan, and on April 24, he purchased a farm 
and started his new life in the far West. His farm 
did not have much improvements upon it. but he 
has added to it the handsome buildings which now 
adorn it. He lumbered in Saginaw County from 
1869 to 187a, and owns forty acres there in the 
pine lands. He has one hundred and forty acres 
here in Perry Township. The attractive large farm- 
house was put up in 1882, and the new barn in 



1876, the other one being remodeled in 1888. He 
carries on mixed farming, and keeps a good stock 
of cattle and horses. 

The sturd}' Republican principles and business 
qualities of our subject have led his fellow-towns- 
men to place him in numerous places of trust and 
responsibility. He was for three years Township 
Clerk, and is now on his fifth term .as Supervisor. 
He was nominated Representative from this district 
in 1890, and came within eleven votes of being 
elected. He is a member of tiie Independent Or- 
der of Odd Fellows, and also of the Masonic order, 
and is Commander of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public Post at Perry. His earnest interest in the 
prosperity of the farming community has led him 
to be active in both tlie Grange and the Farmers' 
Alliance. He helped to organize the local Grange, 
and has been Master in it fur most of the lime 
since its inception. 

On another page appears a view of the pleasant 
home of Mr. AVing. 



->^^V&^it5^ 



♦^-v- 



Tt70HN WILSON FRENCH. A lineage de- 
rived from patriotic ancestors may well be a 
source of pride to any honest, self-respecting 
citizen who loves his country and is himself 
worthy' of his parentage. Such is the subject of 
this sketch, a man whose grandfalliers on both sides 
were heroes in the RcvoUitionar^' War and vviiose 
father served in tiie War of 1812. Tlieir descend- 
ant, of whom we write, was horn in Albanj', N. Y., 
July 7, 1828. Ills parents, Padon and Christina 
(Vanswall) French, were both natives ol Provi- 
dence, R. I. His father was by occupation a stone- 
mason and also a butcher, and the boy spent his 
life at home with his parents, assisting them as he 
could until he reached the age of twenty years. 
Training in the pr.actic.al arts of agriculture and 
such education as he could derive from the com- 
mon schools, made up his boyhood experiences. 

Our subject began in life for himself by learning 
the wheelwright's trade in Madison County, N. Y. 
He did not really complete his apprenticeship, but 
followed the trade as far as he had learned it for 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAI'UICAL ALBUM. 



701 



about ten or twelve years, after which lie en- 
gaged in farming for a livelihood, liy his mar- 
riage with Eunice Brown, of Madison County, N. 
Y., he had no children. After her death he again 
entered into the matrimonial stale in 1870, choos- 
ing for his wife Miss Harriet Smith, of Chicago, 
111. As they have no children of their own, they 
have adopted one child. 

When Mr. French came to Mi'ihigan, in 1861), he 
located at Saginaw for about a year, after whi'jh lie 
removed to Watrousville and later to Orion, in 
Oakland County, following his business as a butcher. 
He resided in Oakland Countj' until al)Out ten years 
ago, when he removed to Laingsburg, in Shiawassee 
County, and there made his home for some six or 
seven years, after which he came to Clinton County. 
He remained in Ovid for about one year and then 
removed to this place, which is located on section 
21. Here he has a fine tract of eighty acres and upon 
it he has devoted himself entirely to agriculture, 
raising a variety of crops and having a large field of 
hops. He has more than ordinary success with this 
crop and makes it very profitable. He raises al' 
kinds of stock but does not pay especial attention 
to any particular grade or kind. 

Mr. French is a public-spirited citizen in evtrv 
sense of the word and actively promotes all efforts 
which he believes will redound to the prosperity of 
the county and the benefit of her citizens. His 
political affiliations are with the Republican party 
and he actively maintains its principles and casts 
his vote for its candidates. While living in New 
York he held some offices, but since he lived in 
Michigan he has asked his neighbors not to men- 
tion him for any office, as he prefers the quiet 
home life to the political arena. 

A view of the home of Mr. French, with its rural 
surroundings, is presented elsewhere in this volume. 



W. MUNGER was born near Norwalk, 
Huron Count}', Oliio, November 17, 183G, 
where he lived up to the age of thirteen 
years, developing a natural aptitude and liking for 
trade. His parents secured for him a situation as 



clerk in a hardware store in Cleveland, but the 
hardware business was not to his liking. Leaving 
his place, he secured for himself a situation in a 
dry-goods store. 

After serving an apprenticesliii) of five years at 
this business, 3"0ung Munger felt himself compe- 
tent to manage a business for himself, but being 
without means it was not easy to make a start. He 
prevailed upon his elder brother (who liad a limited 
amount of capital) to go into business with him, 
then came the question of a location, licalizing 
that they must avoid the older centers of trade, 
where capital and competition aie ever ready to sit 
down on the presumptions new beginner, they 
looked West for a situation. 

After some time spent in search, they located in 
the then woody little town of St. John's. This 
was in April, 1857; from that date to the iircsent 
time the subject of this sketch has been identified 
with the growth and improvements of the now 
beautiful little city of St. John's. It was in Au- 
gust, 1857, that young Munger (then but just out 
of his teens) started for New York to purchase his 
first stock of goods, being an entire stranger to the 
great city and every person in it. One of the vet- 
eran jobbers said to him, "You are the joungest 
specimen that I have ever known to come so far 
and alone to purchase goods." 

After three years of hard work and rigid econ- 
omy Mr. Munger was enabled to buy his brother's 
interest in the store, his brother returning to their 
native place in Ohio. All went well with this little 
mercantile adventure until Aiiril, 18G1, when fire 
swept store and goods out of existence, leaving our 
hero just where he started, except that he had es- 
tablished for himself a good credit. It was this 
credit that enabled him to rebuild and start in 
anew, since which time prosperity seems to iiavo at- 
tended every effort and he has accumulated a com- 
fortable fortune. 

Mr. Munger has filled man}' places of responsi- 
bility and trust. During the Rebellion he held the 
office of United States Assessor for the first division 
of the Sixth District of Michigan, a position he re- 
signed to go to the Legislature in 18Gi. He de- 
clined a renomination for this office. In 1878 he 
was nominated for the State Senate, but was de- 



702 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



feated in the election, there being tliree candiflates 
in the field. Since tiiat dale he has bad little to do 
with politics, devoting bis time to bis own private 
business. In the year 1865 he helped to organize 
the First National Bank of St. John's. This was 
the first regularl}' organized bank in Clinton 
County. He acted for a number of years as one of 
its Directors. In 1885 he helped to organize the 
State Bank of St. John's and was made its first 
President. He has held many other positions of 
trust and has always served faithfully in every ca- 
pacity. 

Mr. Munger was married in October, 1881, to 
Miss Ella Walker, of Detroit. Three children have 
been born to them: Olive W., Henry M. and 
Thomas L. In 1883 Mr. Munger built for himself 
a handsome residence, where he and bis interesting 
family now live, enjoying that quiet to which those 
who are industrious and energetic in early life arc 
entitled. 




HARLES ('. DUFF. The prosperity of all 
towns is due to those who handle the staples 
there, and it is eminently fitting that a 
biographical album should incorporate the histories 
of business men. In Owosso one of the thriving 
business establishments is a wholesale and retail 
grocery store, conducted by the gentleman above 
named. He carries a full line of staple and fancy 
groceries and i>rovisions, has a well selected stock 
and employs efficient help in disposing thereof. 
lie is very generally known by the dwellers in the 
cit3- and the surrounding country, and is very 
popular with his customers. He began bis enter- 
prise on a small scale, having but limited means, 
but by the exercise of good judgment and honest 
dealing he has risen to a prominent position in busi- 
ness circles. 

The father of our subject was Robert Murray' 
Duff, a native of Scotland, who was born in 1802. 
He married Adeline McGregor, a native of Lewis 
County, N. Y., and soon after that event established 
his home in Monroe County, this State. There he 
spent the remnant of his days, dying in 1847. His 



widow survived bim one year. They had seven 
children, five sons and two daughters, and Charles 
C. is the fourth on the family roll. 

The natal day of Charles C. Duff was December 
16, 1842, and his biilliplncc tiie town of Brest, Mon- 
roe Count}'. He aitended school there during his 
early boyhood, then spent some time in Lewis 
Count}', N. Y., an inmate of the home of William 
G. Cookman. lie was in the Empire State when 
the Civil War began and although he was still in 
his teens he entered the service as a |)rivate in Com- 
panj' B, Thirt3'-fiftli New Y'ork Infantry, Col. N. 
B. Lord commanding. The firing upon Ft. Sum- 
ter had hardly ceased to echo over the land when 
Mr. Duff enlisted and he was enrolled in April 186L 
As one of the nnnil)er comprising the Army of the 
Potomac, it was his fortune to take part in the 
battles of second Bull Run. Fredericksburg, Antie- 
tam, South ]\Iountain, Gainesville and Chancellors- 
ville. In May, 1863, his term of service having 
expired, he was discharged and almost immediately 
re-enlistod,but is now in Company A,Twentieth New 
York Cavalry. He was sent to Norfolk, Va.. and 
during 1864-66, took part in a number of cavalry 
raids of thrilling interest and was given considerable 
duty in guarding posts and roads. For a time be 
was detailed as a clerk at the headquarters of 
Gen. Ord, and was there when he receivcnl his dis- 
charge, August 31, 1865. 

When he was released from army service Mr. 
Duff returned to New York and in October of the 
same year came to this State, stopping in Owosso 
on a visit. Soon afterward he entered the employ 
of M. L. Stewart and during the ensuing five years 
handle<l groceries. He then embarked in business 
on his own account, but in a modest way, and con- 
tinued in trade for two years, after which he sold 
out and spent about eight months as commercial 
traveler. Ho then started in business again, his 
stock consisting of groceries, and in this line he 
has continued to the present time. He now occu- 
pies a well-built and equipped store which he put 
up for bis own use in 1890. The building is 22x85 
feet, with three stories and a basement. 

]\Ir. Duff lias a pleasant residence, surrounded by 
extensive lawns and grounds tastefully adorned, 
and furnished in a manner which indicates the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



703 



presence of refined woman hood in the Lome. It is 
presided over by the lady who became his wife 
.September 11, 186G, and is further brightened by 
the presence of two daughters, the elder of whom 
is an accomplished musician. Mrs. Duff is a native 
of this State and before her marriage had mauj- 
friends in Owosso. Slie was known in her maiden- 
hood as Flora Graham and is the eldest daughter 
of Dr. J. N. Graham and wife. She is an intelli- 
gent, agreeable lady, an admirable hostess and a 
stanch friend. The daughters bear the respective 
names of Helen V. and Louisa A. Mr. Duff is a 
clever, aflfable gentleman, full of energy in the 
prosecution of his financial affairs, and social and 
obliging at all times. Politically, he is a stanch 
Republican. 



DAVIN P. WALDRON, Manager of the St. 
John's Mercantile Company, is numbered 

y among the foremost business men of the 

city. The company (the business of which he has 
in charge) was organized in 1888 and carries on 
one wholesale and three retail departments, occu- 
pying altogether efght floors. Every article sold 
here is bought directly from the manufacturers — 
sugars from the refiiu'ries, cotton and woolen goods 
from the mills, boots and shoes from the factory. 
Everything about the establishment is in perfect 
order, and the utmost cleanliness is observed in 
those departments which are likely to be less neat 
than is desirable unless care is observed. Mr. 
Waldron has shown himself to be possessed 
of much of the capacity for managing men which 
is necessary in carrying on an extensive enterprise, 
as well as great business ability in other directions. 
Mr. Waldron is of English parentage, his par- 
ents having been born in Devonshire, England. 
His mother died last JUI3'. She was a most estim- 
able lady and respected and loved by everyone. 
Some time after their marriage, the parents of our 
subject emigrated to the United Stales and estab- 
lished their home in Harrison County, Ind., where 
his father engaged in farming and milling. In 1861 



he came to Clinton County, this State, and contin- 
ued his agricultural work here for some years but 
is now a resident of St. John's. lie was County 
Superintendent of the Poor for ten j'cars. His 
Church membership is with the Methodists. He 
has three living children, our subject being the 
second of these. This gentleman was born near 
Hancock, Harrison County, Ind., July 27, 1851), 
and was five years old when he began his residence 
in Clinton County. Young as he was when the 
Civil War was in progress, he remembers that dur- 
ing the "Morgan raid" his father's mill was burned 
by the daring band of rebels, and he recalls other 
incidents connected with those times. He received 
his education in a country school and finished at 
the St. John's High School. He lived upon the farm 
until he was eighteen years old. 

Young Waldron then became Assistant Post- 
master in St. John's under George A. AVells, and 
served successfully and satisfactorily over four 
years. lie then entered the Government employ 
as Postal Clerk on the Detroit, Grand Haven 
ife Milwaukee Railroad between Detroit and Grand 
Rapids, having been recommended by Gen. O. L. 
Spaulding, of St. John's, then member of Congress, 
now Assistant Treasurer of the United States. 
After acting in that capacity over two years he be- 
came a traveling salesman for H. S. Robinson «fc 
Birdinshaw, dealers in boots and shoes, of De- 
troit, being with them over four 3'ears, the last 
three years being their head salesman. He to- 
gether with R. M. Steel & Sons and others started 
the St. John's Mercantile Co., incorporated it under 
the laws of the State with *50,000 capital, of 
which he was elected Man.ager. It is the largest 
retail establishment in Central IVIichigan and the 
slock is so immense that it is not necessar}^ for 
people to go elsewhere to trade. The building is 
heated by steam and lighted by electricity. Mr. 
Waldron is a hustler, broad guaged, and his lime 
is fully occupied in looking after his man^- busi- 
ness interests. 

In 1886 Mr. Waldron and 1). S. French started 
the St. John's Creamery, which has been absorl)ed 
by the Mercantile Com|)any. By applying the 
test system of gathering cream, he has done 
more towards raising the quality of the stock in 



704 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




this vicinitj' than any other man. He is Vice Pres- 
ident and Director of the State Dairyman's Asso- 
ciation, talking an active part in furthering dairy 
interests, knowing this is a large and growing in- 
dustrj- of our country. Through his influence the 
next meeting will he held at St. John's. Ue is also a 
member of the County Agricultural Societj'. He 
is a Director in the St. John's Electric Light, Heat 
<fe Power Company, and a stockholder in the St. 
John's Gas Company, National Bank of St. John's 
and the Clinton County Savings Bank. 

The home of Mr. Waldron is presided over by 
an educated, refined and efiicient lady who was 
known in her maidenhood as Miss Caddie Steel and 
is a daughter of Robert M. Steel. She is a native 
of St. John's and was educated here and in everj' 
way displays the qualities of noble womanhood. 
She is an active member of the Episcoi)al Church 
and has held office in the societies which the ladies 
of that religions body use as a means for accom- 
plishing good. Her marriage was solemnized at 
her home in 1889. 

Mr. Waldron is a Knight Templar and is also a 
member of the Masonic Consistory at Detroit tliirtj'- 
seeond degree. He belongs to to the Mystic Shrine, a 
high social order in Detroit, and is Past Eminent 
Commander of the Knights of the IVLaccabees in 
St. John's. Politically lie is an earnest Republican 
and liis services have been called into requisition 
as a delegate to county and State conventions, and 
in 1891 he was a delegate to the meeting of the ! 
National Republican Le.igne in Cincinnati. Al- 
though not a member, lie is a Vestryman in the 
Episcopal Church. 



UGH W. IMORRIS. vSt. John's is the seat 
of a number of fine business establishments 
in which a successful trade is carried on, 
but none are more quickly noticed by one 
who passes througli the streets than that of Mr. 
Morris. The store-room contains a fine stock of 
plain and fancy furniture, cornices, picture-frames 
and upholstery goods, in all of which he deals 
quite extensively. There is also a material -room 



and suitable apartments for the manufacture of 
picture-frames and furniture, the machinery being 
run by a steam-engine. Mr. Morris is a practical 
mechanic and a fine workman, and has many calls 
for special goods to be made to order. He began 
at the bottom of the ladder and his present busi- 
ness has grown by slow stages, and he now stands 
upon one of the higher rounds, and looks over a 
fair prospect. His location is No. 61 Clinton Av- 
enue, where he has filled up the buildings to suit 
the convenience of the work done in all the depart- 
ments of his business, and also owns the propertj', 
extending from one street to the other, across the 
middle of the block. 

The grandfather of our subject, Edward Morris, 
was born in Morganshire, Wales; at twenty years 
of age he left his native country, going to Eng- 
land, where he married Elizabeth Hughs, an Eng- 
lish lady. After the birth of his third child thej' 
came to America, and settled in Quebec in 1817. 
His occupation was that of a civil and general en- 
gineer. His family consisted of seven children, 
William, Mary and Edward, born in England, 
Martha, John, Joseph and Emma, born in Canada. 
His son Edward Morris, born May 20, 1817, was 
three weeks old when his parents crossed the ocean. 
He was married on the 3d of October, 1843, in 
Caledon, count}' of Peel, to Eliza Weston, whose 
father was Alexander Weston, of Lincolnshire, 
England. Her mother was Ruth Newton, the 
daughter of Thomas Newton, of Lincolnshire, a 
brother of Sir Isaac Newton, the philosopher. 
Ruth Newton, and Alexander Weston were married 
iu Fulstone, Lincolnshire, where they resided until 
1833, when they came to America. They sailed 
from Hull to (Juebec on the ship ''W. R. Triton." 
The family of Alexander Weston consisted of six 
chihlren, Eliza, Mar}-, Alexander and Thomas, born 
in England, and Alice and George, born in Ver- 
mont, near Lake Champlain. His occupation was 
that of master brickmaker. He died December 21, 
1888, and was buried Christmas Day in Fremont 
cemetery, Sanilac County, Mich. His wife died 
July 26, 1854, and was buried at Port Sarnia, 
Canada. Edward Morris and his wife resided in 
Canada where he carried on the business of car- 
riage and wagon m.aking until 1860, when they 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



705 



moved to Lexington, Mich. Tlieir family 
consisted of eleven children; Edward, l)orn March 
19. 184.5; Eliza, August I \, 1816; Sarali, February 
24, 1848 ;Weston (1st.), February 9, 1850; Lucena, 
August 24, 1851 ; Ilugli (the subject of this sketch, 
and named b}- his parents "Hughs"), born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1854; Martha, April 7, 1856; Weston, 
February 15, 1858, all of whom were born in 
the county of Peel, Canada; Jennie, born Febru- 
ar}' 5, 1861; John, December 5, 1863; and 
Joseph, January 21, 1866, in Lexington, 
Sanilac County, Mich. Of this number three 
are dead. Weston (1st.) died in 1850, and is 
buried in the county of Peel, Canada; Edward died 
February 1, 1874, and is buried in Loxinglou; 
and John died November 10, 1888, buried in Cros- 
well. Edward Morris, the father, died February- 
13, 1 8GG, and is buried in Croswell, Sanilac County 
Mich. 

Hugh Morris, at the age of fifteen was appren- 
ticed to the cabinet trade after which he took in- 
structions in architectural drawing to complete 
his preparation for his l)usiness. When he had 
worked at his business in different cities became to 
St. John's in 1875. In 1882 he established his pre- 
sent business. September 1, 1880, he married ISIatie 
L. IJrainard, liie eldest dtiughter of W. W. Brain- 
ard, one of the pioneers of St. John's, coming to 
the town in 1856. He established the first lumber- 
yards and manufacturing shops in that village; 
and it is noticeable that the wheels of that shop 
were the first that were turned bj' steam in that 
section of the State. He was born May 16, 1824, 
in Kccne, N. H. In 1850 he went to California 
where he remained engaged in mining and lumber- 
ing until 1856, at Rabbit Creek, Sierra County. 
Ills grandfather was Simeon Ilagar, born Novem- 
ber 11, 1766. His wife was Polly Chaflin, born 
January 16, 1765. Their daughter. Mind well 
Ilagar, was born May 21, 1792, and was married 
to lyconard Brainard January 24, 1814. Leonard 
IJrainard was born in Connecticut, in June, 1788. 
They settled in Geauga County, Ohio, where they 
cleared a large farm. Their family consisted of 
six children, Albert, Simeon, Chester, Mary, Wil- 
liam and Martha. Leonard Brainard died Sept- 
ember 24, 1847. His wife died March 3, 1879. 



Thej' are both buried on the old homestead, near 
Chardon, Ohio. At Newburg, Ohio, June 19, 
1856, AViliiam Wallace Brainard married Harriet 
Sarah Rider, youngest daughter of Ezekiel Rider 
and Sarah Hitchcock, who were married in Poult- 
uey, Vt., January 4, 1809. Ezekiel Rider was 
born March 1, 1787, and died October 8, 1843. He 
was buried in Jackson, Mich. Sarah Rider, his 
wife, was born August 18, 178'.», and died Novem- 
ber 18, 1850. She was buried in Chardon, Ohio. 
Harriet S. Rider was born in Kirlland, Geauga 
County, Ohio, August 27, 1833. The family of 
W. W. Brainard consisted of four children, Mary 
L., born January 19, 1858; Willie E., November 
18, 1860; Cora E., June 29, 1863; and Hattie R., 
May 26, 1867, all living except Willie E. who 
died November 18, 1860. The family of our sub- 
ject consists of two children, Robert Brainard 
Morris, born June 8, 1882, and Opal Hughs 
Morris, December 26, 1888. 




LANSON MATTHEWS, a representative 
and leading farmer of Essex Township, 
Clinton County, and a gallant soldier in 
the War is a native of Schuyler County, 
N. Y., and was born March 17, 1840. He is a son 
of Whitman S. and Harriet (Hoyt) Matthews, both 
of whom are natives of New York. In 1857 with 
his parents our subject emigrated to Clinton 
County, Mich., and the family settled in Essex 
Township near the present home of our subject. 
Here both j)arents died, leaving a large circle of 
descendants to mourn their loss as they had been 
the parents of eleven children. At this date only 
one besides our subject survives, namely: Eliza, 
wife of W. J. Richardson of Maple Rapids. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in New 
York and when he reached his seventeenth year 
came to Michigan. He had received a common 
school education in New York State and has since 
supplemented it by a Iil)eral course of reading. He 
was one of the pioneer school teachers of his town- 
ship in Michigan, and although he did not teach 
long he looks back to that experience with pleasure. 



706 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



His work as a teacher was interrupted by tiie de 
maiid for soldiers to defend our Nation's flag, to 
which he made a noble response. 

Mr. Matthews enlisted August 15, 18G2, in Com- 
pany G, Fifth Regiment, Michigan Cavalry, which 
was at first sent to the defence of the city of Wash- 
ington. Subsequently tliey joined .Sheridan's forces 
in the Shenandoah Valley and were afterward sent 
into the valley of the James River. He fought in 
the battles of Gettysburg, Winchester and Cedar 
Creek and was a part of the force which com- 
pelled the surrender of Petersburg and Richmond. 
Besides these more notable encounters, he was in 
many battles of impoitance and numerous skir- 
mishes and throughout carried himself in a g.allant 
and soldierly way. He was under Sheridan's com- 
mand at Appomattox Court-house. Altogether he 
met the enemy in about fifty engagements, some of 
the most important being, Gettysburg, Boonesbor- 
ough, James City, Brandy Station, Wilderness, 
Cold Harbor, Trevilian Station, Winchester, Cedar 
Creek, and Appomattox Court-house. He received 
his honorable discharge July 3, 1865, after which 
he returned to Michigan. For his brave services in 
defence of his country he receives a pension of $8 
per month. 

The marriage of Alanson Matthews and Sarah 
Root was celebrated July 30, 1865. This lady is a 
native of Madison County, N. Y., and a daughter 
of Justus and Mary Root. Mr. Root passed 
away some years ago, but Mrs. Root is still living 
and resides in Alabama. Five children were 
granted to Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, namely : Emily, 
P'lorian, Daisy, Nellie, and Leslie. 

After the war our subject located permanently 
on the farm where he now resides. He has cleared 
up tlie land and brought it from the condition of a 
wilderness to that of a liigidy cutivated farm. 
During iiis pioneer days he underwent great self- 
denials and the usual hardships of a pioneer's life. 
He has always taken a great interest in school mat- 
tcis and is an active promoter of every movement 
wliich tends to the upbuilding of society, especially 
as regards the agricultural community. His political 
views are in accord witli the principles of the Re- 
l)ublican partj' and that ticket alw.ays secures his 
endorsement. He owns one iuindred and forty 



acres of land all of which he has gained through 
his own efforts, seconded by those of his faithful 
and helpful companion. They are people of cul- 
ture and education and are »vell informed on the 
leading topics of tiie day. 



'^^^ 



El*^'- 



1 



V 



ILLIAM H. BRUNSON, LL. B. One of 

the most public-si)iritcd young men of St. 

John's, Clinton County, Is the village 
Attorney, who is also the ex-Secretary of the 
County Board of School Examiners. This gentle- 
man, who bears the name which appears at the iiead 
of tills sketch, was bom March 8, 1858, in Victor 
Township, Clinton CJounty. His father, William, 
was born in Ontario County, N. Y., and his grand- 
father, Flavins, in the State of Massachusetts. 

The father was reared in East Bloomficld, N. Y., 
and in 1843 was married and came to Clinton 
County with team and wagon. He made the trip 
several times back and forth and finally bought 
land in Victor Township, taking u() one hundred 
and sixty acres, whicli he improved and cultivated 
until 1861. At that time he was elected Sheriff of 
the county and located in St. John's. He was 
Slieriff for six years and also United States Deputy 
Marshal during the war, being engaged in recruit- 
ing. He then became Deputy Revenue Collector, 
which position he occupied for four years. He 
soon after began the practice of law, wiiich he is, 
now pursuing. His wife was Mary A. Pierce, of 
Ontario County, N. Y., the daughter of one of the 
heroes of the War of 1812. They were both ear- 
nest and devout members of the Congregational 
Church. Of their five children only two are now 
living. Our subject is the youngest of this family. 
He was reared in St. John's from the time he w.as 
three years old, and after attending the public 
schools took a cou.sc in the High School. 

llpon reaching the age of sixteen years this 
young man began to take care of himself. He 
soon commenced teaching, which he carried on for 
six years, first in the district schools and after that 
in the public schools of this city, after which he 
became Principal at l)c Witt for one year. In An- 




-&£^,-^ 




^.. £). 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



70d 



gust, 1882 he was elected Secretary of the County 
Board of School Examiners, in which position he was 
kept consecutively until 1888. He felt that he 
had his own way lo make in the world and he left 
no stone unturned to achieve success. In 1884 he 
entered the law department of the University of 
Michigan, where he took his diploma in 1886 with 
the degree of Baciielor of Laws. 

The young attorney now began the practice of 
law and entered into partnership with Judge 
DaboU until that gentleman was appointed Judge 
in 1889 when the partnership was dissolved. Some 
time after he formed a partnership, which still 
exists, with Mr. AV. A. Norton. His marriage 
took place in St. John's in 1888. He was then 
united with Elizabeth F. Finch, a native of 
Duplain Township, Clinton County. Her father, 
William Finch, was an early settler and died while 
in the service during the Civil War. 

IMr. Brunson is President of the Alumni Associ- 
ation of the Law Class of '86. Among the col- 
lege fraternities he is attaclied to the Phi Delta Phi. 
He is an enthusiastic Republican and is often seen 
as a delegate at county and State conventions and 
has been Secretary of the County Central Commit- 
tee for several years. 



"^s- 



-^^^ 



^^EORGE COSGROVE, M. D., one of the 
[|| g=, truly self-made men of Shiawassee County, 
^^^ is a man of solid attainments, character and 
ability, and a genial and popular citizen. He 
comes from a family of physicians and has true 
professional pride. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, 
May 27, 1842. His father Thomas Taylor Cos- 
grove, M. D. was an early practitioner of that city 
and afterward at Sylvabia, Ohio, where he made 
his iiorae in 1833. The mother's name was Betsey 
Mooney. 

George early became an aiiothccary and assisted 
in com|)Ounding his father's medicines. He was 
educated in the Sylvania Academy but his further 
educational advantages were postponed by the 
death of liis father, January 7, 1864. The young 
man then went on the road as advance agent for 



Stowe's circus, traveling through Michigan, Indi- 
ana and Ohio. 

Becoming tired of this traveling life young Cos- 
grove settled down at Byron, this county, June 22, 
1866, and engaged for two years in the hotel and 
livery business at that place. He then bought some 
wild land in Burns Township, and for six j'cars 
carried on farming, after which he came to Ban- 
croft. At the time he removed to the village he 
sold one of his farms and has now disposed of the 
other. In 1885 betook charge of the post-office 
under Cleveland's administration and served for 
four j'cars. 

Dr. Cosgrove fully intended to become a physi- 
cian and had been reading and studying medicine 
througli all the time tliat he was carrying on tliese 
various branches of business. He was merely bid- 
ing his time to take a complete course. He look a 
medical course at Cincinnati in the Eclectic Medi- 
cal College, graduating in the class of 1890, and 
after a few months of practice in that city, settled 
at Bancroft and proceeded to build up a perman- 
ent practice. In February, 1891, he took a post- 
graduate course in the Post Graduate Medical Col- 
lege at Cliicago. 

Dr. Cosgrove is having success in his i)ractice 
and has special apparatus for treatment of the 
lungs, throat and nose. His success has been high- 
ly gratifying and he has not yet lost a single case 
by death. He is a member of the Eclectic Medical 
society at Cincinnati. He has two brothers in the 
medical practice, one in Toledo, Thomas Crosgrove, 
M. D., and one in Franklin, Ohio, S. F. Cosgrove, 
M. D. Both adhere to the old school as did his 
father, also his nephew, Thomas Taylor, M. D., of 
Sylvania, Ohio. 

Our subject was married August 20, 1867, in 
Livingston County, this State, to Catherine Faul, a 
daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Warren) Faul_ 
She was born in Prussia, Germany, on Christmas 
Day, 1846, and is the mother of the following 
children: Henrietta, now Mrs. Darwin Walling, of 
Chicago; Fred. F. who is at home with his father, 
and Fiancis M. who lives in Chicago and is Assistant 
Superintendent of a cemetery there. The Doctor 
is Democratic in his political views. Dr. Cros- 
grove has been Worshipful Master in tiie Masonic 



710 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Fraternity since 1882 with the exception of an 
interim of two years. He organized the Bancroft 
Lodge No. 382 in 1885. He is also a Knight of 
Pythias and a Knight of the Maccabees. 

In connection with his biographical notice a 
portrait of Dr. Cosgrove is presented to our readers. 




-^EORGE W. LORING, formerly dealer in 
books,wall paper and stationery ,besides being 
% one of tlie leading business men of Owosso, 
Shiawassee County, takes an active part in political 
movements, not only those of local circles, but also 
county and State politics. He was born in O.akland 
County, tliis State, in Groveland Township, Janu- 
ary 16, 1840, and is tlie second son of Hosea and 
Pheson (Ford) Loring, tlie father being a native of 
New York, and the moUier of Ohio. This vener- 
able, but active lady, who is the daughter of Ben- 
jamin Ford, is now in her seventy-fourth year. 
She was bereaved of her iiusband in 1851, when he 
was in tiie prime of life, having barely reached his 
forty-third year. 

The Loring family is of English descent, tlie first 
American members making their home in Massa- 
chusetts. There were only two children in Hosea 
Loring's family, our subject and his brother Cliarles, 
and George W. is the only survivor. The boy- 
hood and school days of our subject were passed in 
Hillsdale County, in attendance at the district 
school, and when fifteen years old he started out 
for himself, learning the business of a marble cut- 
ter and tomb-stone maker. When nineteen years 
old he engaged for awhile in the photograph busi- 
ness, which he followed until the breaking out of 
the Civil War, when he left the pursuits of peace 
for active service on the battlefield. 

On June 3, 1861, saw our young man an enlisted 
private in Company K, Seventh Ohio Infantry, Col. 
Tyler commanding. This regiment was assigned 
to the Eastern Army, and went to Virginia. Among 
Other battles in which lie took part was that of 
Winchester, in whicli he was wounded. In the fol- 
lowing October lie was discharged upon a surgeon's 
ccrliBeate of disability, and returning to Michigan, 



he opened a photograph gallery in Februarj', 1863. 
Mr. Loring removed to Flint in 1864, and in 1865 
made his home in Battle Creek, one j-ear later he 
removed to Owosso. He finally sold out his busi- 
ness and started the enterprise in which he has been 
engaged, that of books, stationery and wall paper. 
He had a fine location, his store room measur- 
ing 22x80 feet, and his business occupying two 
floors. In May, 1891, he sold out his business to his 
son, Clajton AV., and for the past year he has been 
partner of E. P. Byerly in the pension business. 

Tiie marriage of George W. Loring and Martha 
M. Keyte, of Owosso, Mich., took place April 26, 
1865. This lady was born in New York State, and 
emigrating with her parents to Owosso when a 
child. She is a daughter of William H. Ke3-te. 
Two sons have come to enliven this home, Clayton 
W. and Charles O. Mr. Loring has held tiie office 
of Alderman for five years, and was elected Cit}- 
Clerk, which position he held one term. He was 
also City Auditor for two years, and now holds the 
l)osilion in Shiawassee County on the Soldiers' Relief 
Committee, and is Secretary of that Board. He is a 
member of Quackenbush Post, G. A. R., is a Republi- 
can in politics, and is often made a delegate to State 
and Judicial Conventions. He is a Knight Temp- 
lar and belongs to all Slasonic bodies, being a mem- 
ber of Comtnandery No. 21. His pleasant home 
at No. 216 Exchange Street, East, is the center of 
a deliglitful social life wliere Mr. and Mrs. Loring 
entertain their friends with true liospitalit^-. 




fcl L L I A M BYRON LAl'NSTEIN. The 
fact that a German is always expected to 
make more or less of a financial success of 
life, proves tiie theory that there is such a thing as 
strong national iiroclivitics in commercial life as 
well as in personal characteristics. The conditions 
of life in (lermany are so stringent, and tlie disci- 
pline so tliorougli as to tievelop characteristics 
wanting in other people. Prudent, careful and yet 
with a vein of idealism Virightening their matter of 
fact lives, these people have extracted from every 



Portrait AND biographical album. 



711 



branch of industrial pursuits in America tlie utmost 
productiveuess. Not different iu tliis respect from 
his people is Mr. Launstein, who resides on section 
21, Owosso Township. Shiawassee County. 

Our subject was born in Hanover, Germany, June 
21, 1831. His father was Henry Launstein, and 
his mother w.as Caroline (Sanders) Launstein. In 
184C the family- crossed the ocean and made a new 
home in the LTnited States, settling in Oneida 
County, N. Y. In 1856 the gentleman of whom 
we write, was married to Lucretia .lackson. Mr. 
Launstein worked for a long time by the month 
as foreman on the Erie Canal until 18G0. At that 
time he came to Michigan, which he has since made 
his home. 

Mr. Launstein did not at once erect a home, but 
rented for six years, although he secured the land 
on which he afterward built the fine residence in 
which he now resides. He purchased one hundred 
and twenty acres, of which ninety acres are now 
under cultivation. He makes a specialty of buy- 
ing and shipping live stock to Detroit, frequentlj' 
buying in Chicago for tiie local markets, Saginaw, 
Ba3' Citj-, etc. He deals specially in cattle, hogs 
and sheep. He h.as a registered Hereford animal 
for the improvement of his stock. 

Mr. Launstein has an interesting family, whose 
names are as follows: Henry Jl.; Carrie, who is 
now Mrs. Will Cossitt, of Milwaukee; William S., 
who is in business at New Orleans, La., where he 
handles machinery; Bertram Claudius, who resides 
with his wife on the farm. The family are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. The eldest son, 
Henry M., resides on section 28, Owosso Town- 
ship, and was born in Oneida, N. Y., March 22. 
1858. When three or four years old he was brought 
by his parents to Michigan. He remained at home 
enjoying such school advantages as tlie place af- 
forded and assisting his father on the farm until he 
was twent3--two years of age. He was united in 
marriage to Miss Naomi A. Shellon, January 4, 
1881. For two months he resided in Owosso, then 
rented a place of his father until two years ago, 
when he purchased eighty acres upon which he 
resides. The wife of Henry M. is of English par- 
entage. Her father, William Shelton, and her 
mother, Sarah (Mason) Shelton, now of Aliildlebury 




M 



came to this countrj- many )'ears, and settled in 
Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y., where their daugh- 
ter was born July 27, 1856. One little girl has 
come to brighten the famil}' by her presence, and 
is the joy and care of her fond parents. Mr. Laun- 
stein is of the Baptist persuasion, and is a strong 
Republican in politics. 

The well-improved farm upon which Mr. Laun- 
stein lives, has every improvement in agricultural 
implements that can be obtained. Water has been 
brought to tlie aid of the farmer by being made a 
force that accomplishes much of the labor in former 
years performed by hand. 



ILLIAM SUTHERLAN, an honest, in- 
dustrious farmer who has made Clinton 

'^''^' County his home since 1853, owns a 
highly-improved farm on section 15, Eagle Town- 
ship. The fruitful estate consists of one hundred 
and twenty acres which has been brought under 
thorough tillage and supplied with an A No. 1 set of 
farm buildings, including ever>- necessary and con- 
venient arrangement for facilitating the work done. 
This tract of land has been the home of Mr. 
Suiherlan since his marriage and is the birthplace 
of his wife. 

The birthplace of ]\lr. Sutherlan was Crawford 
County, Pa., and his natal day Januar3' 15, 1837. 
His parents, Daniel and Margaret (Young) Suther- 
lan, were born in Niagara Countj^ N. Y., and after 
living in the Keystone Slate a number of 3ears 
came to Miciiigan. Our subject followed them 
when seventeen years old and hired out to work by 
the month until 1858 — a period of nearl3- five 
years. He then married and rented the farm which 
lie now owns and lived here happil3' until the out- 
break of the rebellion, when his peaceful life was 
exchanged for war's alarms. Before the year 1 86 1 
h.ad expired he had responded to a call of "Father 
Abraham" and December 5 was enrolled in Com- 
pany II, Sixteenth United States Regulars, under 
the command of Col. Carrington. The regiment 
was attached to the Arm3- of the Tennessee and the 
first engagement was at Stone River. This wfis fol- 



712 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lowed by partifipatioii in that terrible fight at 
Perr^'ville and in September, 1862, the boys were 
on the field of Chickamauga. 

There Mr. iSutherlan was so unfortunate as to be 
taken i)risoner and during the ensuing five months 
he saw the inside of nine different prison pens. He 
was first sent to Libby, then changed from point to 
point and finally reached Danville. The smallpox 
broke out in the prison there and he was stricken, 
but recovered and was sent to the convalescent 
camp, where he was detailed as a nurse and released 
from close confinement on a parole of honor. This 
was January 19, 1863, and on February 19, he, in 
company with Lieut. W. II. Newlin of the Sevent3'- 
third Illinois Infantry, and six others, escaped. 
After thirtj'-two days and nights, during wiiich 
mile after mile was traversed, the most severe pri- 
vations endured and various accidents met with, 
they reached the Union lines. A very graphic ac- 
count of their escape is published in a small volume 
written by Lieut. Newlin, and if space permitted 
we would be pleased to give further details here. 

After reaching the Union lines Mr. Sutherlan 
was sent North on a thirty-d.ay's furlough and 
visited his wife and children in this State. Hetlien 
weni back to the front anil before his final dis- 
charge took part in ten more lieavj' engagements, 
besides jiarticipating in the usual marches and 
minor skirmishes. At Chickamauga he had nine- 
teen bullet holes in his clothes but he never re- 
ceived so much as a flesh wound. His term of 
service expired in the spring of 1861 and he was 
mustered out and sent to Louisville, Ky., to re- 
ceive his discharge. He returned to his family, 
whom he had seen but once in three years, and 
resumed farm life but with health badly shattered 
by the experiences he had p.assed through. As a 
recognition of his services, ho is in receipt of a 
pension of $10 per month. 

The wife of Mr. Snthorlan was formerly Miss 
Harriet DeWitt an<l is one of the famil}' of Jacob 
DeWitt, a pioneer of Clinton County. She h.as 
one of those strong characters which are so often 
developed amid the primitive surroundings of 
early settlements, and has been an cllicient help- 
mate, devoted mother and excellent neighbor. Her 
children are Ernest, Carrie and Milo, all married. 



Ernest won for his wife Miss Mary Corj' and Carrie 
married Alfred Davids. These two couples reside 
in Belden. Milo married Alma McCrumb and 
lives on the home farm with his parents. Mr. 
Sutherlan is connected with the Grand Arm}' of 
the Republic and in politics chooses to associate 
with the Republican party. He and his wife have 
many friends and arc spoken well of by their ac- 
quaintances. 



<^OHN THOMAS, who occupies a finely culti- 
vated farm on section 12, Lebanon 'I'own- 
sliip, Clinton County, is a son of William 
Thomas, whose father George, was a native 
of Pennsylvania, where he reared a family of four 
sons and two daughters. Both he and his wife 
ended their days in that State. William Thomas, 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1805, and in 1850 
came to Greenbush Township, Clinton County, 
where he spent the remainder of his days. He was 
married before coming West, to Sarah Denman, and 
to them the following children were born, Keziah 
Philip, Elizabeth, David, John, Esther, Prudence, 
George and Zenas. Their father had a farm of 
about fifty acres in Greenbush Township, which he 
owned until his death which occurred about the 
year 1870. lie had been bereaved of his wife two 
years previous to his own decease. 

John Thomas was born August 19, 1830, in 
I'ennsylvania, and was a little lad of seven years 
when his parents brought him to the West. He 
remained at home and took his training on the 
farm and in the district school until he reached 
his majority. An event of great moment in his 
life took place October 3, 1855, when he was united 
in marriage in Oakland Township, Oakland County, 
with Miss INIar}- A. Cook. To this couple have 
been born the following children, Ida E., and Clara 
B. The oldest daughter is now Mrs. Bacon and 
resides in Lebanon Township. Clara B., Mrs. 
Winans resides in the same township. 

I'revious to his marriage the young man, when 
about twenty .years of .age, purchased fort}' acres 
of lanil in Greenbush Township. He sold this and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



718 



boiiuflit eighty acres in Gratiot County, in Pine 
River Township, and there he made iiis first lionic 
on his own hind. Afterward he dis|)0sc(1 of tliis 
and again bongiil forty acres in Greenbush Town- 
ship, whicii lie sohl and bouglit in Essex Township, 
afterward tr.ading tliis for eighty .acres wliere lie 
now lives. He lias added to this by repeated pur- 
chases until his farm now comprises two hundred 
acres. At one time he lived for a year in Baldwin, 
Lake County, and engaged in the sale of milk, but 
returned to the farm at the expiration of that 
time. 

When a boy young Thomas was familiar with the 
sight of wild animals about his home and saw many 
a deer, vvolf and bear from which he must guard ■ 
his stock. He was a good shot in those days and 
tells with zest of killing several bears. He is in- 
terested in the cultivation of fine stock and breeds 
road horses and Hambletonians. He has himself 
cleared about fifty acres of land. He is a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen belong- 
ing to Lodge No. 1, at Maple Rapids. Although 
he h.as never aspired to public office he is earnestly 
interested in jjolitical questions, and espouses the 
cause of the Republican part}-. 



^ 



ON. Wn^LIAM F. JENISON. Few fam- 
i|, ilies in Clinton County have been more 
!*^^ prominently associated with its history 
(^) than the .lenisons, of whom our subject is 
the head. This gentleman with his estimable wife 
lives on a farm to which he came in 1837 and 
whicli he reclaimed from its forest wildness and 
made into a fair and fruitful estate. The tract 
consists of a goodly number of acres in Eagle 
Township and for a number of years the house 
built there by Mr. Jenison soon after bis arrival 
was used as a hotel. It was on the line of the De- 
troit ct Grand River turnpike and was the point 
for changing horses as well as a mill station. With 
a field glass Mr. Jenison could look cast down the 
road three miles, and catch the signal of the driver 
so as to know how many passengers would want 
dinner, and when the stage drew up bef(jrc the door 



meals would be ready. When the bill chartering 
this turnpike was before the Legislature, Mr. .Icni- 
son spent about three weeks at the Capital urging 
its passage and assisted in securing a grant of ten < 
thousand acres of swam|) lands. This early work 
is a good exam|)le of the interest shown by our 
subject in that which would add to the value of 
this section as a place of residence and attract to- 
ward it homeseekers and thus develop its varied re- 
sources. Tlie Hon. A. F. Bell, of Ionia, who was 
Commissioner, let the contracts and it has proved 
a last benefit to the citizens of Gran<i River 
Valley. 

To Fletcher and Alma (Hoot) Jenison, natives 
of New York, a son was born December )9, 1812. 
His birth took pLaee in Byron Township, (icnesee 
County. The child was christened William F. and 
grew to a sturdy and vigorous manhood. He at- 
tended the district school, then entered Brock[)ort 
College, where he completed the classical course 
and was graduated at the age of eighteen years. 
His father was in moderate circumstances and while 
pursuing his college course the youth did his own 
cooking, thus reducing his expenses. Later he 
utilized his good education in the j)rofcssion of 
teaching, and taught altogether in his native State, 
seven winters. After coming to Michigan he 
taught school three winters, having one hundred 
pupils during the last term. 

An episode of Mr. Jenison's early life was his 
enlistment as a soldier in the Patriot War. His 
regiment had proceeded but a part of the way to- 
ward Canada when the measures of the United 
States Government put an end to the trouble. On 
the return march. Col. Petti bone sought out 
Jenison. "William," said the Colonel, '-what shall 
we do when w^ get back.' Of course the people 
will laugh at us, and we'll never hear the end of 
this." Our hero was fertile in expe<licnts. He 
made up his mind to have "the folks at home" 
laugh with the "soldier boys" instead of at them. 
A mock par.adc was proposed to the olticer in com- 
mand and the idea was accepted. AVhen the vol- 
unteers reached their own neighborhood, th.ey an- 
nounced a public drill. All the wind- broken spav- 
ined horses that could be found for miles were 
taken into service, and on the appointed day the 



714 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



pageant, was witnessed by thousands. The cos- 
tumes were as various, fantastic and unique as in- 
genuity could maiie them. Patriot Jenison rode a 
huge bull that he broke ami trained especially for 
the occasion. The carrying out of the plans was a 
perfect success; everybody laughed and no one 
ever thought of such a thing as guying "soldiers" 
for their heroic exploit of marching toward Canada 
and then marching back again. 

In the fall of 1837 Mr. Jenison came to Michi- 
gan and bought two hundred and forty acres of 
land where he has continued to make his home. 
A few years afterward he was married to Jeanette 
Berry, who was also a native of New York, but 
whose parents were born in England. The natal 
day of the young bride was April 15, 1820. She 
is a true-hearted, noble woman, who has not only 
given her family devoted care, but has done many 
neighborly deeds of kindness and is respected and 
beloved by all about her. The children born of 
the iiai)py union are Henry H., Addie, Alice A., 
Alma J., Helen and Nelson F. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jenison have an interesting family 
to each uiembcr of which they gave a good educa- 
tion and lived to see them all in prosperous circum- 
stances and occupying useful positions. Henry 
was born September 25, 1842, and is one of the 
most prominent young men of the count}' both 
socially and politically. Like his father he is en- 
titled to the "Honorable" before his name, having 
served the Sixteenth District in the State Senate 
in 1882, and having been elected over one of the 
most prominent members of the Rei)ublican party 
by a majority of about twelve hundred. He has 
also been a Surveyoi of Clinton County six years. 
He is a graduate of the IMIchigan Agricultural Col- 
lege and is most favorably spoken of as fin enter- 
prising, progressive farmer. He owns two hun- 
dred and forty acres of fine land which he devotes 
to dairy purposes, having it improved with conven- 
ient buildings, etc. He is a Mason and quite prom- 
inent in tlie order. He was marricil April 29, 
1877, to Miss Addie Dravenstatt. 

Addie, second child of our subject, was born 
August 16, 18-lC, and married to Benjamin F. Si- 
mons. November 7, 1867, and their home is in 
Lansing; Alice was born August 25, 1848, and be- 



came the wife of A. O. Bement and is now deceased ; 
Alma, who was born March 25, 1850, also lives in 
Lansing, being the wife of Joseph W. Bailey, Esq.; 
Helen, whose natal daj' was May 27, 1852, married 
Clarence Niles and they make their home with 
their parents; Nelson F. was born December 16, 
1853, married Alice Cowles and is a resident of 
Lansing. 

In the organization of Clinton County, William 
F. Jenison took a very active part and he was the 
first Sheriff elected therein. He served in that ca- 
pacity two terms and for a number of years was 
Supervisor of Eagle Township and was a member 
of the Board when the county seat was changed 
from DeWitt to St. John's. In 1863 he was elected 
to the Legislature and one of his first acts was to 
introduce a bill to legalize the 150,000 of bonds 
issued by the State to aid in the prosecution of the 
War of the Rebellion. About this time the farmers 
of the State were suffering great loss by there be- 
ing shipped into the State sheep afHicted with hoof 
rot. These animals had been sold to the farmers 
in many localities in quite large numbers, and be- 
ing introduced into their flocks had been the cause 
of many deaths among the wool-bearing animals. 
Mr. Jenison introduced a bill imposing a heavy 
fine upon anyone who introduced, offered for sale 
or drive on any highwaj' of the State, diseased 
sheep, and tiiis act is still in force among the stat- 
utes of the State. Fortius act alone Mr. Jenison 
merits grateful remembrance from agriculturists 
and all who are interested in the financial prosper- 
ity of the State. 

Mr. Jenison had charge of the Eagle postottice 
for twenty-seven years, when the office was moved 
to the new town of Eagle at Eagle Station. When 
he resigned the Postmaster-General paid him a 
balance due of $14. Mr. Jenison is a prominent 
Mason, has taken the Ro3'al Arch degree and is a 
charter memlier of Grand Lodge, Chapter No. 85; 
he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Ma- 
son at Lansing early in the '40s and has passed 
the Chairs in both Chapters. He also took an act- 
ive interest in the Grange movement in this State 
during its early years, and was a member of the 
State Grange, and as an officer organized a number 
of subordinate granges in different parts of the 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



715 



State. In politics the Hon. Mr. Jenison is a .Jeffer- 
sonian Democrat. At his advanced age — four 
score — he is in full possession of ail his mental facul- 
ties, and th'' respect wliieh he has received from 
his acquaintances is in nowise lessened, as he retains 
bis interest in tlicir welfare and his ability to see 
the hearing of movements which are going on in 
other i>arts of the world. 



,-^s 
^^s 



=X^ ^ , 






eHARLE.S H. KLINE, who is one of the 
prosperous farmers of Duplain Township, 
Clinton County, resides on section 36, and 
has his post-ollice address at Ovid. He carries on 
general farming and stock-raising. He was born 
in Union County, Pa., May 2, 1851, and his par- 
ents, Peter M. and Leah (Moyer) Kline, were both 
Penusylvanians and born in I'nion County. 

Our subject was a little one of only three years 
when he left his native pLace and removed with 
his parents to Sandusky County, Ohio. There 
Peter Kline owned land and there they resided 
for about twelve years, while this boy w.as grow- 
ing up and receiving his common-school education. 
The duties of the farm required his help and he 
was able to go to school in the winters only, at- 
tending to farming duties in the summers. 

When this youth was about fifteen years old his 
parents removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., and there 
purch.ased land, where the father remained fifteen 
years, but going further west, bougiit property in 
Kansas and made his home there in Dickinson 
County. 

Charles H. Kline and Miss Malissa Ousterhout 
were united in the bonds of marriage December 
20, 1876, and then began a life of great domestic 
happiness and [irosperity. Tiic lady is a daughter 
of Henry and Melora (Iloor) Ousterhout, both 
New Yorkers, the father being born in Cayuga 
County, and the moiher not far from Newark. 

Mrs. Kline's birth took place in Prairie Round 
Townsliip, Kalamazoo County, Mich., December 
18, 1854, and she was one of a family of eleven 
children, who were named .as follows: Annie, born 
February 20, liS45, died in September, 18C5; 



Agnes, born M.ay 25, 1847, died February 2, 1870; 
Clarissa, born June 10, 1852, married llolton Car- 
ter and lives with her husband and three children 
in Fairfield To\vnshi|), this count}' ; Malissa, Mrs. 
Kline; Elilui, born Febvuary 27, 1858, lives in 
Ovid Township; Elsie, born August 26, 1861, is 
now Mrs. Nelson House; Lida, born November 
25, 1864, became Mrs. Randolph Lyvere and died, 
leaving one child, Floyd. Lincoln, born Novem- 
ber 9, 1866, died March 16,1891; Wallace born 
December 31, 1870; two died in infancy. 

Our subject is the eldest in a family of four 
children, his brothers and sisters being Allen, 
who lives in Kansas with his father; Ellen, who 
married William Wahl and is now a widow liv- 
ing in Kansas; and Andrew, whose home is also 
in that Western State. Mr. Kline's father came 
to Michigan with the gr.ind father, Cornelius, in 
1824. They located in Ann Arbor in the Sep- 
tember following the first settlement ma<le in Feb- 
ruary. It was in 1836 that they removed to 
Kalamazoo County and came to this county in 
1864. 

Mrs. Kline is a lady who in her yo\ilh receiveil 
excellent oiiportunities for education which she 
lliorougldy improved, thus becoming both intelli- 
gent and accomplished. She attended the graded 
schools of Ovid and Schoolcraft, and as she ma- 
tured early began teaching when she w.as only 
sixteen years old and followed this profession 
most of the time until her marriage. One beau- 
tiful child, Allen, born January' 24, 1881, is the 
sunshine of his home. 

Mrs. Kline is justly proud of the ancestors from 
which she is descended, as three of her great- 
uncles were soldiers in the War of 1812, two of , 
them being on the grandmother's side and one 
being the brother of her grandfather. Her gre.at- 
grandmother was a heroine indeed, and during 
the battle of Kingston took part in the fight and 
made nine Indian warriors bite the dust. The 
ancestry on her father's side is of Holland extrac- 
tion. 

Mr. Kline h.as never been an oftice-seeker as he 
prefers to devote his thought and effort entirely 
in the line of his own business, which he feels 
cannot be safely neglected. His i)olitical con vie- 



716 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tions have allied him with the Republican party, 
and he is an intelligent voter on all questions 
which come up tor adjudication. He owns one 
hundred acres of fine land, a part of which for- 
merly behjnged to Mr. Ouslerhout, his father-in- 
law, who now makes his home with this family, 
as he was bereaved of his wife July 29, 1879. 
He is a man of keen mental ability and an excel- 
lent memory, altliousl' ''^ I'^^s passed the limits 
of three-score years and ten. 



-^^ 



<a MLLIAM AV. BURGESS, one of the relia- 
\/\j/i '^'^ '^"'^ respected citizens of Bennington 
^^/ Township, Shiawassee County, has a fine 
farm on section 18, where in 185 2 he bought fifty 
acres of land and immediately went to work with 
his ax to clear it. Ten years later he m.ade his 
home upon this spot where he built a home in 1862 
and added to his property until he acquired one 
hundred and forty four acres. His brother Hiram 
also bought property here and settled here forty 
years ago. Our subject found the path to fortune 
a very rough one, getting his start by hard labor 
and working out by the day here and at Saginaw 
in different lines of work. 

Our subject was born in Farmington Township, 
Oakland County, Mich., October 31, 1832. His 
parents Oren and Polly (Adams) Burgess were na- 
tives, the former of Vermont and the latter of New 
York. They came West when Michigan was but a 
Territory, and settled in Novi Township, Oakland 
County, in 1830. In that place they spent the re- 
mainder of their days and died when William was 
but a child. As he lost one parent when he was seven 
years old he became a double oriJhan at the age 
of eleven. After that he was thrown entirely upon 
his own resources and from necessity became self- 
supporting, working out by the month at Oakland 
at twenty-five cents a day. 

AVhen William Burgess grew to manhood he won 
the heart and hand of Miss Mary M. Lillej', a 
daughter of Richard Lilley who came from I'enn- 
S3'lvania to Michigan when his daugiiter was only 
five years old. The marriage took place in Sciota 



Township, Shiawassee County. June 8, 1862. Mr. 
Burgess has one hundred acres of land finely im- 
proved and he has placed in it two hundred rods 
of drainage tile and has thereby reclaimed a large 
number of acres. On October 17, 1888, Mrs. Bur- 
gess died at the age of forty-eight years, deeply 
mourned by a large circle of friends. 

The children born to our subject and his wife 
were John II.; Clarissa, Mrs. Winfield Kimmis, who 
lives one mile south of our subject and one mile 
east on a farm given them by the father. John, 
who recentl3' married Lucinda Bristow, a daughter 
of John Bristow, and lives at home assisting his 
father on the farm. Mr. Burgess is a Republican 
in his political views and a member of the Metho- 
ist Episcopal Church. His brother Mauford Bur- 
gess has lived in Bennington Township for some 
twelve years and his brother John has made his 
home in Sciota Township for twenty-two years. 

Certainly Mr. Burgess has just reason to be 
proud of his fine estate, which represents his un- 
aided efforts during a lifetime of patient industry. 
Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the 
comfortable home and rural environments which 
mark his place as one of the best in the community. 

AMES W. PERRY. Prominent among the 
old settlers of Shiawassee County is this 
gentleman who makes his home in Vernon 
Township on section 4. He was born in 
Cortland County, N. Y., July 5, 1822, and is now 
nearing the completion of his three-score years and 
ten. His father, William Perry, was born in Con- 
cord, Mass., and came to the Empire State when a 
boy of about thirteen years. He married Rachael 
Hamilton, a native of New York, and they took up 
their home there never coming West. The father 
died when he was about lifty-nine years old. He 
was a Whig in his j'uunger days and afterward 
became a Democrat. 

Twelve sons and one daughter constituted the 
family of this worth j' couple, ten of whom are 
now living. James is the fifth son, and w.as born 
in Madison County, N, Y., where he gained his 



iii^Siii.i^>^Sawi:^'^fZSt'tli»!i;S 




Rt:5:DZNCE or will: a;/ vj. burgees, ?^c.l8.,EZ!Jl^l!l^l'5To:J tr.shiawas^e-: :q.,m;ch. 



mf'^^^^^ii^'^Sgtl^^i^M^^ iOU^/*'*^^ 




F^EGinENCt A!.'D FARM HRCPLRl Y OF J.W. PtRRY, 5K:^.,VtRriOU TP.,5HIAWASSLL C0.,M1CH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



719 



early education. When twentj'-one years old he 
started out for himself, working by the month on 
the farm, and by careful economy was enabled to 
establish a home of his own a few years later. 

The marriage of James W. Periy and Polly Ann 
Oviatt took place November 25, 1846. Mrs. Perry 
was born in Allegany Countj-, N. Y., November 
26, 1827, and is the second daugliter of "William 
and Betsey (Lesure) Oviatt. When only five 3'ears 
old she was orphaned by the death of her mother, 
and was reared in Madison County, N. Y., by rela- 
tives, Isaiah and Rachel Lesure. 

Mr. Perry made his first home in M.adison County, 
N. Y., on a farm and there he remained until 1854, 
when upon September 4 he started for the far West, 
as Michigan was then called, and made a new home 
for his family- on the spot where he now lives. lie 
bought fift}- acres, nearly half of which was then 
under cultivation. He had arranged to have a 
house built on the place before coming here. It 
was a small edifice but quite aristocratic in its de- 
sign as it was built of boards, and cost ^30. His 
next home cost §2,500. This he built in 1808 
employing Benjamin Warner as his carpenter and 
joiner. The home in which he now resides was 
built on the very spot occupied by the $30 house 
in 1854 and he built it in 1889 at a cost of $1,500, 
employing the same carpenter who built for him 
twenty- one j-ears before. 

This venerable gentleman has a fine farm of one 
hundred and sixt}' acres, forty of which aie in 
Venice Township. He and his noble helpmate are 
the parents of four children: Alplionso W., was 
born May 16, 1849, in Madison County, N. Y., 
married Ada Light and resides in the second house 
which his father built upon the homestead. Alice 
S. was born .Tuly 17, 1851, in Madison County, N. 
Y., is the wife of Hamilton II. Jones, and lesides 
in Farmington Township, Oakland County, this 
State. Leslie D. was born in Shiawassee County, 
this Stale, November 21, 1858 and died June 11. 
1862. Erma R., born February 26, 1868, resides 
at home. Mr. Perry is now retired from active 
life and has thrown oflf business cares. He is a 
Democrat in his political views and intelligent in 
regard to matters of public interest. He and his 
devoted companion are beloved not only by their 



children but by .ill who have known them since 
tlieir coming to this county so many years ago. 

A view of the Perry homestead is presented on 
another (lage of this volume. 



— 5-+f=^'<^=^^H-i- 



AMES H. CONN, one of the most prominent 
citizens of St. John's, is President of the 
Cooper Boiler and Engine Works of tiiis 
city and ex-County Treasurer. Besides car- 
rying on a fine farm, he is an extensive dealer in 
agricultural implements. He was born in Essex 
County, N. Y., at Port Henry on Lake Champlain, 
from which point old Crown Point could be seen. 
His natal day was October 25, 1 838. His father was 
Lynds S. Conn and was born October 22, 1800, in 
Cheshire, N. H. His grandfather, George, was a na. 
five of Massachusetts, whence he came when a youu" 
man to New Hampshire with his parents and en- 
gaged in f.arming. The grandfather died in Niagara 
County, N. Y., and llie father, after engaging for 
some years in farming in Essex County, went as 
Cai)tain of a sloop on the lake, which he owned. 
He sailed until about 1852, when he returned to his 
farm in New York. 

About the year 1857 Lynds Conn decided to 
come West, and migrating to Bingham Townsliip, 
Clinton County, entered for himself and others 
some five hundred acres. The two hundred and 
eighty acres which lay two miles soutii of St. 
John's he proceeded to improve. He had been 
here before in 1854 and he had then taken up a 
claim, but did not bring his family until 1857. 
He bouglit a shop of Mr. Ilullsinger, who resides in 
a log house with a shop adjoining. Here he lived 
until his death in 1885, when he had reached the 
advanced age of eighty-five years. For quite a 
long period he held the otHce of Ilighw.ay Commis- 
sioner and was County Sui)crintendent of the Poor 
for eighteen years. He was an ardent and earnest 
Republican and a member of the IJniversalist 
Church. 

The mother of our subject, Anis Sprague, was 
born at Ft. Ann, in Washington County, N. Y. 
Her father, Beriah Sprague, was a A'ermonter, but 



720 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



came lo Ft. Ann and took a farm there early in his 
life. He took part in a number of battles during 
the V\''ar of 1812 and died at Port Henry. He was a 
Baptist in his religious belief. His daughter, who 
was tlie mother of our subject, died iu 1871. She 
was the mother of five children, two sons and three 
daughters. Four of these are now living. 

The subject of this sketch was the youngest of 
the family and was born on the farm near Lake 
Chaniplain and was on the lake a good deal. He 
remained at home until he was eighteen years old 
and in the spring of 1857 he drove from Port Henry 
to Ogdensburg. There he took passage by the 
propeller "Bay State" for Michigan, coming to 
Clinton County and locating in Bingham Township. 
Here he aided his father in improving the land 
which he had taken. In 1859 he went to Green 
Bay and engaged in lumbering for one winter. 
The next sumiuer he returned home and remained 
there for ten years. 

Mr. Conn now located land for himself and while 
improving his own one hundred and twenty acres 
worked his father's farm. In 1861) he took a posi- 
tion as foreman for John D. Gardner <fe Co., the 
owners of the sawmill at Green Bay, and remained 
in the pine woods for five years. He then removed 
with his family to Molino, Flo., twenty-three 
miles north of Pensacola, where he took charge as 
foreman of extensive mills belonging to the Pensa- 
cola Lumber Company. He remained with them 
for six years, but his health was not good .and he re- 
turned to Michigan in April, 1879. 

Upon his return to Michigan our subject pur- 
chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Bingliam Township and here he has made his resi- 
dence. He has cleared about fifty acres of this 
land, which is all tillable, with the exception of 
twelve acres. He has two fine sets of buildings 
upon the farm, with two windmills and tanks. The 
orchard is in fine condition and he has his farm 
well stocked with good grades of hogs, draft horses, 
etc. He is a prominent member of the Clinton 
County Agricultural Society. His farm adjoins the 
villau-e line and his comfortable and attractive res- 
idence is situated only thirty-six rods from the cor- 
poration. 

In 1882 this gentleman engaged in the agricul- 



tui-al implement business. He carried it on alone 
until his election to the office of County Treasurer 
upon the Republican ticket in 1886. At that time 
he took a partner in his business, which is now con- 
ducted under the firm name of Conn & Brown. 
He was re-elected to this position in the fall of 
1888, holding the seat through 1890. Previous to 
this he served two years as Township Treasurer, in 
wliich he gave such tliorough satisfaction as to 
cause his friends to place him in the same responsi- 
ble position in the county. * 

Mr. Conn was one of the originators of the Cooper 
Boiler & Engine Compan}', which was started in the 
St. John's Wagon Spoke Works, which he had been 
previously interested in. He helped to re-organize 
this business on a new basis and acted as its man- 
ager. He is one of the largest stockholders in the 
new business. The marriage of our subject look 
place in Port Henry, N. Y., in 1861. Ills bride was 
Harriet Ferguson, a native of Port Henry and daugh- 
ter of Henry Ferguson, a prominent farmer in that 
region. One child only has blessed this happy and 
congenial union, Agnes A., who is now married to 
T. 0. Olcott and resides in Bingham Township. 
Mr. Conn is identified with the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen. He was for eight years a Not- 
ary Public. His well-known character as an hon- 
orable man and his heart}' friendliness and affability 
give him great influence in the community and 
make ever}' man his friend. 

— -^m— — 

^ ED H. BRIGGS. This young farmer is car- 
rying on extensive work in Eagle Township, 
having under his care and control three 
hundred acres of land. He owns a tract 
of one hundred acres and operates another tract 
of two hundred belonging to his father. Alto- 
gether he has a busy life and no agriculturist in 
Clinton County is showing more enterprise and 
zeal in business affairs, while in social and domestic 
circles lie is genial, open-hearted and considerate. 
He is proving the worth of good training and the 
value of heredity and honoring the name he bears, 
one already known in this section because of the 
work accomplished by his parents in pioneer days. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



721 



The career of Mr. Briggs furnishes but slight 
material for the biographical writer, as his years 
have been spent in one locality and in the custom- 
arj' routine of youth and early manhood. He was 
born in the township that is still his liorac, January' 
22, 1858, and reared on his fatiiei's farm. He at- 
tended the district school and the High School in 
Portland and thus acquired a practical education 
and laid a good foundation for higher knowledge. 
Having decided upon a rural life he has given his 
attention to farming fioui his joutli ui) aid has 
prospered well. 

Mr. Briggs secureil for his companion and help- 
mate a young lady of mental ability and pleasing 
manners in whose hanils tlie domestic macliinery 
runs smoothlj' and llie dwelling is made a true 
home. .She was formerly known as Miss Ella May 
Hazen and her marriage was solemnized Jul\- 4, 
1880. Edna, the first-born of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs 
died in infancy; Bessie, who brightens their home, 
was given to them March 3, 1 886. 

Enoch Briggs, grandfather of our subject, was a 
native of Jlassachuselts and followed the sea 
twenty-four years, during twenty of which he was 
owner of a vessel. In that period he lost two boats. 
After giving up seafaring he built a cotton factory 
and carried it on a number of years. In the spring 
of 1821 he removed to New York and bought a 
tract of one hundred acres upon wliicli he spent 
his last years, dying there December 21, 1834. His 
good wife, formerly Abigail Cooper, survived him 
some }-ears and died in Clinton County, Mich., in 
her seventy -fourth 3'ear. Mr. Briggs left four chil- 
dren, the third of wiiom was Hiram C, father of 
our subject. This gentleman was born in JSIansneld. 
Bristol County, Mass., May 18, 1819, and when the 
farm was sold a few months after the father's 
death he was fifteen years old. 

Soon after the young man set out to seek employ- 
ment and hired to Edward Swan for eight months 
at ^10 per month. When the period had elapsed 
his emplo^'er proposed to have him remain during 
the winter and attend school and continue his 
work the next season. This was done and the 
second year found him receiving *11 per month 
for his services. Early in September, 1837, he left 
Bristol for Buffalo with a yoke of oxen and load of 



goods belonging to David Simmons and when near 
the city he was joined by Mr. Simmons and his 
own brother C^'rus and their families, all en route 
for Michigan. A boat was about starting to De- 
troit and they emb.irked with their goods and 
chattels and arrived at their port early on tlie sec- 
ond day. Hiring two teams they drove to Novi 
Corners, Oakland County, where they stayed a few 
days. Thence they came to Clinton County with 
three ox-teams, passing through Howell City, then 
a hamlet where three or four families lived. They 
traversed much sparsely settled territory- anfl often 
saw that neighbors were ten and fifteen miles apart. 

During the journey, it was a journey in those 
days, the pair were given a royal welcome by sev- 
er.al pioneers with whom they spent a few hours 
and finallj' had the aid of Alexander Cha|)cl and 
Jeremiah Eddy in underbrushing a road from 
tlie farm of Mr. Doits to the place they had se- 
lected for their future home. The two gentlemen 
who were heads of families felled a tree where they 
intended to build a cabin, and set up some forked 
sticks on one side, placed poles from them to the 
tree and covered this rude frame with canvas, mak- 
ing a dwelling in which they were sheltered until a 
log house was finished. Cooking was done at a 
"gypsy fire" in front of the tent. 

Mr. Briggs worked for Mr. Simmons a year then 
returned to New York and spent a winter in school. 
He next worked on a farm near Canada six months 
and in the fall of 1839 came to Michigan ancl made 
his home with Mr. Simmons. He owned land on 
sections 8 and 18, E.agle Township, and while liv- 
ing with that gentleman chopped trees on sec- 
tion 8, and cleared forty acres. In May, 1843, he 
traded most of his property for an eighly-.acre 
tract with a log house and a frame birn on it and 
forty acres under the (ilow, and iiere he took up 
his residence ere long. This land was on section 9, 
and was the home of Mr. Briggs forty-three years 
after which period he and his wife removed to 
E.agle where they still live. The farm grew in 
extent as well as in beauty and utility and is now 
well-improved expanse of two hundred acres, 
properly stocked and supplied with substantial 
buildings. 

Mrs. Hiram Briggs bore the maiden name of 



722 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 



Caroline R. Tyler and is a daughter of Deacon 
Dean M. and Pbebe Tyler, whose home was in 
Orange Township, Ionia County, when the daugh- 
ter was married. The ceremony took place there 
May 4, 1814, and the record of their children is as 
follows: Ellburj' born December 5, 1846; Aurestes 
E., August 4, 1848; Harlan H., August 7, 1854 ; Jed 
H., Januarj' 22, 1858. The only survivors are 
Aurestes and Jed, the others having died in in- 
fancy. 

When Aurestes E. Briggs was fifteen years old 
Uis father sent him to Lansing to a select school un- 
der the superintendence' of Prof. Owels, where he at- 
tended school for three years. After leaving school 
at Lansing he taught the ensuing four winters and 
in tlie meantime attended fall schools at Maple Rap- 
ids, Clinton Couutj', under the instruction of Prof. 
Mudge. He then entered into mercantile business 
as a clerk at Portland, Ionia County, and was en- 
gaged as a book-keeper and clerk for two years. 
Next he embarked in the mercantile and lumber 
business in Portland for himself, selling out at the 
expiration of five years. Later lie turned his at- 
tention to loaning money and buying and selling 
pine lands. 

November 9, 1875, Aurestes Briggs was married 
to Addie J. *^atterlee, of Portland, Mich., and they 
have one daughter — ]\Iabcl, now (1891) nine jears 
old. Mrs. Briggs is a daughter of (). S. Satterlee, 
and was given excellent opportunities for a literary 
, education and musical training. She has fine musi- 
cal talents and is a successful music teacher. She 
and her husband visited the Centennial as also did 
Hiram Briggs and his good wife. In the month 
of April, 1883, Aurestes Briggs went to San Fran- 
cisco, Cal., thence to Portland, Ore., by the way of 
the Pacific Ocean. Then in company with his 
cousin LaFoyette Briggs he took a large drove of 
horses from Portland through to Madison Valley, 
Mont., the residence of the cousin. Soon after their 
arrival in Montana, A. E. Briggs returned to his 
home in Portland, Mich. 

In April, 1888, Aurestes Briggs, with his wife 
and daughter, went to Bozeman, Mont., where they 
remained for a few months then visited his cousin 
in Madison Valley. Before leaving Montana the 
family visited the National Park. In Ihe following 



November they journej^ed to Washington and from 
there to San Francisco, Sacramento and other 
places in California. After an absence from their 
home of nearly two years they returned to Port- 
land, Mich., and from there went to BcUaire, where 
he is now looking after his timbered lands in liie 
North. He has been an extensive traveler and sa3's 
that Miciiigau, taken up one side and down the 
other, is the best State in the Union. A man of 
good judgment and careful arrangement, he is in 
good circumstances, and his ability wins for him 
the esteem and respect of a large circle of acquain- 
tances. 

The father, Hiram E. Briggs, is a Republican in 
sentiment and has held most of the important otfices 
in Eagle Township. During the Rebellion he was 
elected to the office of Township Treasurer,whicli he 
filled satisfactorily for three terms; he was also Su- 
pervisor in 1871-72. He is a believer in the Chris- 
tian religion and is a warm supporter of churches. 
Mrs. Briggs united with the First Baptist Church 
in Portland, Ionia Count}-, about 1840 and her 
daily life has proved the sincerity and depth of 
her faith. 






""a^" 




ENRY E. WALBRIDGE, a prominent at- 
' torncy at St. John's (and a member with 



)i^ Gen. O. L. Spaulding, Assistant United 
l^^ States Secretary of the Treasury, of the 
firm of Spaulding it Walbridge) is a man of 
peculiarly courteous and manly bearing, liberal, 
open-hearted, and with sterling qualities which rec- 
ommend him to strangers as well as to the more 
thoughtful student of human nature. Few are his 
superiors or even his equals among the members of 
the Michigan bar and he is an honor to the town 
in which he makes his home. He was born in 
Glover,Vt., in 1850, March 31, and came to Michi- 
gan when a child of two years. His father, 
Capt. Henry Walbridge, was born in Vermont and 
was left an orphan when onlj' twelve years old. 
He was obliged to support liimself,which he did right 
heartily and with good success, learning the trade of 
a tinsmith. He took a thorough course in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



723 



Academy of Vermont and by evening study pre- 
pared himself for admission to tlie bar of Vermont 
before Judge Redfield. 

Capt. Walbridge began the practice of law in 
Saline, Mich., and also engaged in the hardware 
business. In 1856 he came to St. John's and built 
up a practice here, making for himself a prominent 
place in the profession. He held the position of 
Commissioner of the Circuit Court and afterward 
was made Prosecuting Attorney. He was soon, 
however, to leave the pursuits of professional life 
for the battlefield, and enlisting in the Union arm}-, 
he raised Company G, Twenty-third Michigan In- 
fantry. He joined the army in August, 1862, 
and was made Captain of the company which he 
had recruited. He took part in many scenes of 
battle, but after about two years' service was 
obliged to resign on account of poor health, and, 
returning to St. .John's, commenced anew his prac- 
tice as an attoruej'. He remained in this citj' un- 
til 1888, when he removed to Ithaca, Gratiot 
County, and retired from business. He is an earn- 
est and active member of the Congregational 
Church and has been efficient in connection with 
the Grand Army of the Republic. 

The mother of our subject, Zilphia Allen, was 
born in \'ermont, and is a daughter of Ethan Al- 
len (a distant relative of the hero of Ticonderoga) 
who came to Michigan and died at St. John's. 
She was tiie mother of four children, three of 
whom survive, namely: Henry K., of this sketch; 
Eilward L., an attorney at Ithaca; and Mrs. Ella 
Do May, of liie same city. Our subject was reared 
in Saline till he readied the age of six years, when 
he came Lo SI. John's, and here attended the Union 
and high schools. At the age of seventeen he 
entered Olivet College, taking the scientific coarse 
for over two years. Then returning to St. John's 
he ])ursued the stud}' of law with his father. 

The week after Mr. Walbridge reached his ma- 
jority, in A])ril, 1871, he was admitted to the 
Michigan bar and was taken into partnership by 
his father. He continued in this connection until 
he formed a partnership in July, 1890, with Mr. 
Spaulding. In the fall of 1871 he was elected Cir- 
cuit Court Commissioner and held the office for six 
years. His practice extends over the following 



counties: Clinton, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Ingham, 
Gratiot, Kent, Ionia and iMontcalm. He is now 
local attorney for the Detroit, Grand Haven & 
Milwaukee Railroad. An enthusiastic Republican, 
he takes part in every political canv.ass, speaking 
in Republican meetings and working earnestly at 
the polls. He is frequently seen as delegate at the 
County and State Conventions and his opinions 
bear great weight with his fellow-citizens. He is 
the father of two lovely daughters — Neva and 
Mabel. 




UANE CASTLE is the eldest son of Le- 
muel and Mercy (Witmore) Castle. He 
was born February 15, 1822, in New York. 
Ills father was born May 21, 1793, in 
Monroe County, N. Y., and his mother was born 
December .3, 1798. They were married June 13, 
1819, in Chili, N. Y., and settled in Oakland 
County, this State, in 1822, and in 1837 moved 
thence to Shiawassee County, securing the farm 
where Duane resides at present. 

The tract that Lemuel Castle settled upon was 
ver}' wide and it was necessary that he cut the road 
through to his [)lace for a distance of three miles. 

Our subject's grandparents were Asa and Eliza- 
beth (Doty) Castle. The former was born Jul}- 2, 
1771, and was a native of Ireland. The latter 
was born July 4, 1770. They had a family of six 
children, whose names arc as follows: Charlotte, 
Lemuel, Barnabas, Sabrina (who became Mrs. 
Gresham l?artlett of Shiaw.assee Township), Isaac 
and Drusilla. Lemuel Castle was a soldier in the 
War of 1812, with his father, Asa Castle, and Le- 
muel was a member of the Legislature in this Slate. 
Lemuel died November 1,1862. His wife followed 
him six years later. They left a family of nine 
children. The eldest was Jane Sercpta, who be- 
came Mrs. Cooper; Duanc, the subject of our 
sketch; Harriet, who has lived in Santa Cruz, Cal., 
for fifteen years; Sabrina, who died a young 
woman, having been a teacher in Detroit; Delia, 
who married Louis Bonfey and died June 17, 1861, 
at the home place; -Vngeline, who became Mrs. 



724 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



James Arthur, died in 1884, in California; M3'ra, 
who died at the age of tweuty-Bve; Lemuel, who 
passed away in infancy, and William, who lives in 
San Luis, Cal. 

Our subject was married December 20, 1863, in 
Shiawassee Township, to Mrs. Delia E. Wilcox, 
widow of the Rev. M. L. Wilcox, a minister of the 
Christian Church. Her maiden name was Hill. 
Her parents were Calvin G. and Charlotte (Castle) 
Hill, the latter being the eldest child of Asa and 
Elizabeth Castle. She was born in (iates, Monroe 
County, N. Y., May 4, 1830. Mrs. Castle had one 
child by her first marriage. May, who is now Mrs. 
Cliarles Gammon, of Sacramento, Cal. She has 
one son by her present husband, Manlej' W., who 
was born November 13, 1867, on the home farm. 
He is married. His wife's maiden name was Tillie 
M. Oliver and she is the daughter of the Rev. J. B. 
Oliver, of Bancroft. They were married Septem- 
ber 19, 1888. The subject of our sketch is now 
and has been for about a year in California, where 
he went hoping to benefit his health. It is expected 
that the farm will soon [)ass into other hands and 
that the family will remove to California. 

,>■ : ^ S^J^i^c : .= 

^M IRON ELLIS, deceased. This gentleman 
I l\\ "^^ during his life-time accounted as one 
I ll\ of the representative citizens of Clinton 
^ County. He was well-known throughout 

all this region as the efficient Treasurer of the 
county, the duties of which office he discharged 
with marked ability and with credit to himself and 
to his constituents. He was a native of Onondaga 
County, N. Y., and was born March 27, 1826. His 
parents, Clark and Theresa Ellis, were natives of 
the same State, and there the}- reared tliis son until 
he reached his twentieth year, supi>lementing his 
public-school education with a thorough academic 
course. He was ever an extensive reader, and a 
man of wide intelligence and well-informed on mat- 
ters of public interest. 

In Ills twentieth year the young man emigrated 
to Huron County, Ohio, and for a time taught 
sch(K)l there, and continued this work for awhile 



after he came to Clinton County, which was in 
1851, when he made a settlement in Greenbush 
Township. The place was slightlj' improved when 
he settled on it, but he has ))laced upon it most of 
the Improvements which are to be found there to- 
day, and has brought it to a high state of cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr. Ellis united in marriage on the 7th of De- 
cember, 1852, with Nancy Mathews, a lady who 
was born in Schu3-ler Count}-, N. Y.. November 9, 
1829. She is a daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza- 
beth Mathews, both New Yorkers who came to 
Clinton County from Ohio, and made their home 
upon the farm where Mrs. Mathews now resides. 
This venerable lady is one of the oldest pioneers in 
the township, and is past the limit of four-score 
years. 

Mr. Ellis served as Supervisor eight j'ears, Treas- 
urer and School Inspector of the township, and was 
in every office efficient and active. He was a Re- 
publican in politics, and served two terms as County 
Treasurer. He left a valuable estate of two hun- 
dred acres to his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis was 
born one son, Frank M., who has died leaving one 
son, Miron. 

Mrs. Ellis is an active member of society, and 
closely identified with the work of the Methodist 
Episcopal Cinirch, with which she and her good hus- 
band were so long connected. The lady was reared 
to maturity in Ohio, and accompanied her husband 
to Greenbush Township. Mr. Ellis was a kind and 
affectionate husband and father, and was universally 
respected. He served at one time as Treasurer of 
the Farmers' Mutual Life Insurance Corapan}', and 
was well known in ever}- capacity for his sterling 
integrity and uprightness in business matters. He 
was at all times public-spirited, and stood well with 
the entire community both socially and financially. 
In bis death, October 10, 1883, the county lost one 
of her most influential citizens, and the people of 
Greenbush Township felt that every one had lost a 
friend. Though his bodily powers failed toward 
the last, his mind was unclouded, his faitli unques- 
tioned, his hope bright. In such a case '"tis not 
so ditHcult to die." Floral tokens of admiration 
and affection were various and plentiful, and the 
regard in which the deceased was hekl, was mani- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



725 



fested by the large concourse llmt attended the 
funeral to pay their last tribute. The remains lie 
interred in Eureka Cemetery. He was a true man, 
and one whose intelligence and character gave him 
an influence with all who knew him. The bio- 
grapher had the pleasure of interviewing his widow, 
a lady of culture and refinement, and highly es- 
teemed in the social circles wherein she moves. 

... "a ^^-^J^:::^'' t^- 



l^ifi ANASEII KUHNS, a representative citi- 
j \\\ zen of section 14, Greenbush Township, 
J Is Clinton County, is a native of Stark County 
*" Ohio, where he was born February 22, 

1836. His parents, Solomon and Rebecca Kuhns, 
are natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. 
Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
county, and whea nineteen years old undertook to 
learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. This he 
has pursued until within a few \-ears past. He re- 
ceived but a limited education in the public schools 
of his native county, in which he had few advant- 
ages. He is largel}' self-educated, having been 
ever alert to secure for himself broad and intelli- 
gent views of public affairs. Of the twelve chil- 
dren born to his parents, the following survive: 
Tilman, who lives in Indiana; Matilda, the wife of 
Tobias Keck, who resides in Gratiot County, this 
State; Moses, who makes his home in Isabella 
Countj'; Rebecca, now the widow of Mr. Baum, in 
Clinton County; Ephraim, who lives in Missouri; 
Solomon, in Greenbush Township; Manaseh, our 
subject; Benjamin, who lives in Ohio; and Israel, 
who lives in Gratiot County. 

The subject of this sketch w.as married in Ohio, 
February C, 1862. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Matilda Climes, became the mother of five 
children, namely: Emma, now the wife of Joseph 
.Stauser, Norman, Mar}', John W. and Millie, de- 
ceased. He emigrated from Ohio to Noble County, 
Ind.. and after residing there for several 3'ears, 
came in 1870 to Clinton Count}^ Mich., where he 
has since resided. 

Mr. Kuhns has greatl}' improved his farm, and 
put it in the fine condition in which it is seen to- 



day. It comprises eighty acres of land which he 
has placed under cultivation, and his prosperity has 
been attained by the exercise of industr}- and per- 
severance. He has been a hard worker, and has 
done an immense amount of pioneer labor, as he 
settled in the woods and had to clear his land he- 
fore he could begin its cultivation. Mr. Kuhns is 
a public-spirited and intelligent citizen, and is al- 
ways counted upon to join every movement which 
points toward progress and the social and industrial 
elevation of the count}'. He is a Prohibitionist in 
politics, and he and his noble wife are earnest mem- 
bers of the Evangelical Association, where he has 
served for over twenty j'ears as a Class Leader, and 
in which his wife is identified as one of the mem- 
bers of the Ladies' Aid Society. 

*— "^ ' ^ ' M ' t ' S" '** -■- 



SHER TEACHOUT. St. John's was de- 
_^_^ prived of one of her prominent business 

/// It men, May 23, 1887, when Mr. Tcachout 
<^ breathed his last. He had been identified 
with the business life of the city from 1859 and in 
the prosecution of the work to which he gave his 
attention he had displayed the energy and enterprise 
which were crowned with success. While advanc- 
ing his own interests he had not been remiss in the 
duties of a citizen, hut had done much to improve 
the appearance of the citj' and increase the value 
of property, and had borne some part in municipal 
affairs as a member of the Board of Trustees. His 
personal characteristics were those which win 
friends and in his dealings with his patrons he was 
honorable, courteous and obliging. He was there- 
fore well liked and his death was regretted even 
by those who had but a passing accjuaintance with 
him. 

Mr. Tcachout was born in Yates County, N. Y., 
on the banks of Seneca Lake, October 24, 1828. 
His f.ather died when he was quite young, but his 
mother subsequently married again and he was 
reared by her and his stepfather. He came to this 
State with them when but a boy and Lenawee 
County was his home until he was of age. He then 
i went to Ann Arbor and engaged in the marble 



726 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



business, remaining there a decade and then locat- 
ing in St. John's. Upon coming here he opened a 
grocery store, in partnership with D. C. Hurd, and 
later was associated with the Hon. A. H. Walker. 
The new firm opened a general store in which a 
thriving trade was carried on. Mr. Teachout also 
bought wool and invested his surplus in other ways. 
After dissolving partnership with Mr. Walker, he 
was interested with Charles E. Chapin and L. S. 
Reed for a few j'ears. After giving them a start 
he carried on his business alone, until about two 
years before his decease, when he sold out to H. L. 
Kendrick, of Detroit. 

In 1882 Mr. Teachout built a large brick block 
of two stories and a basement, which is now owned 
by his widow and heirs. He was to some extent 
interested in farming lands and had quite an acreage 
that he rented to tenants. He was connected with 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen and exer- 
cised the right of suffrage with the Republicans. 
His death was occasioned by paralysis. The grief 
of his friends is to a slight degree ameliorated by 
the remembrance of his years of usefulness and 
welldoing. 

The one to whom Mr. Tcachout's loss came with 
the most crushing effect is the lady who became his 
wife December 3, 1873. She was known in her 
maidenhood as Emilj' J. Mattison and is a native 
of North Bennington, Vt., near the famous battle 
ground. She is the only child of Judge Martin 
Mattison and his wife, Ann S. Slye, from whom she 
inherits rare qualities of mind and tastes for that 
which is best in character and mental attainment. 
She attended school at her native place and 
acquired a thorough knowledge of the branches 
which she studied and then made a specialty of 
music. She had such musical abilit3'and taste that 
she laid aside other work and gave the art her 
entire attention for some time. She became a 
teacher of music and in 1871 came to St. John's to 
follow this work. She has a tasteful and comfort- 
able home, where the evidences of re(inenicnt and 
true culture arc plainly manifest. She belongs to 
the Baptist Church and is an efficient member of 
the Ladies' Home and Foreign Mission Societies, 
with the latter of which she is connected as Presi- 
dent. She is also a member of the Ladies' Library 



Association, and in all ways open to a gentlewoman, 
displays public spirit and interest in the welfare of 
others. She has one child — Florence M. 

Mrs. Teachout is of Danish descent in the pater- 
nal line but the Green Mountain State has long 
been the home of the family. Her grandfather, 
the Hon. Asa Mattison, was a member of the Ver- 
mont Legislature and was a farmer and stock- 
grower in that State. Her father was born in the 
same town as herself — and so too was her grand- 
father in 1809, and adopted the occupations of 
his father. For three years he was Associate Judge 
and for twent}' years Justice of the Peace. He was 
a prominent and official member of the Baptist 
Church. He was a writer of merit, producing both 
prose and poetical compositions which showed 
decided talent. Some of his verses are incorpor- 
ated in the volume "Poets and Poetry of Vermont," 
and his "Brass Buttons on Furlough" has often been 
republished in newspapers. Besides his literary 
talent, he possessed musical ability of a high order 
and discoursed charmingly on the flute. He died 
in the year 1872. 

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Teachout 
were James and Freelove (Dyer) Sl3'e, natives of 
the Green Mountain State, and engaged in farming 
and dairying. Their religious home was in the 
Baptist Church. The father of James Slye was 
Capt. James of the Colonial Army. After the 
death of her husband the mother of Mrs. Teachout 
came AVest to her daughter and has since made her 
home in St. John's. 



-5^i^- 



<|l'OHN T. MILLMAN, one of the reputable 
' business men of St. John's, Clinton County, 
is undoubtedly as popular among his friends 
as anj' man in the city. In business relations 
he is rapidly advancing to the front, as he is seen 
to be thorouglily reliable in financial matters and 
competent to dispense the articles in which he deals. 
He is a member of the prominent drug firm of Fil- 
dew & Millman, whose stock includes not only 
drugs and medicine, but books and stationery, 
paints, oils and wall paper and fanc3' goods. Mr. 




/f ^ 








fOnXRAlt AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



729 



Millin^n becanw a partner in this firm in November, 
1889, assuming n half-interest and takin": tlie place 
of John H. Filflew, son of iiis partre'-. Vdv three 
years prior to that time he had been in the employ 
of the old firm. Tiie stock has been increased since 
lie became connected with the business and the 6rm 
is also doing some wholesaling of preparations of 
their own, one of which in particular. Eclectic Balm, 
has a large sale in the Slate. In Jatiuarj', 1891, 
Fildew it Millman bought a stock of goods in 
Fowler and now carr^- on a branch store there. 

Mr. Milhnan was born in Guelph, Ontario, Can- 
ada, Marcl) 9. 1861. His paternal grandparents 
spent their entire lives in England, and his father, 
John Millman, was born and reared in Devonshire. 
When a joung man he came across the ocean and 
settled at East Flamboro, Canada, where lie engaged 
in farming. He bought and improved land, hav- 
ing two hundred acres when he retired to Guelph, 
where lie died at the age of seventy-five j'ears. lie 
took part in the Canadian Rebellion. His wife, 
mother of our subject, was Sarah Thomson, a native 
of County Argyle, Scotland, who came to America 
when a child. Hei father, John Thomson, was a 
farmer, and after ids emigration made his home at 
Pushlinch, Canada. Mrs. Millman is now living 
in Wingliara, Canada. She is an active member of 
the Methodist F^piscopal Church, in which her de- 
ceased husband held a i)rominent position. 

The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the 
four children born to his parents. He was reared 
in his native ci!y and attended school there, com- 
pleting the Iljoh School course when nineteen 3'ears 
old. He then began an appienticesliip as a drug- 
gist under Alexander B. Petrie, with v/hom he 
served fouryears. In 1883 he entered the Ontario 
College of Pharmacy and studied diligently until 
in March, 1884. He then became head clerk in a 
drug-store at Hamilton, Ontario, holding the posi- 
tion eighteen months. In 1886 he came to Detroit, 
passed his examination under the laws of the State 
and received his certificate as an authorized phar- 
macist of Michigan. Coming to St. John's he en- 
tered the establishment of Fildew &. Son. with the 
result above mentioned. In his political alliliations 
be is a Republican of the stanchest description. He 
is a young man of much intelligence, keeping him- 



self well informed regarding various topics of in- 
terest his manners are so cordial and genial that 
they prepossess ever^' acquaintance in his favor. 
In the short time that he has lived in St. John's he 
has made man^' friends and his presence is tliought 
desirable at every social gathering. June 24, 1891, 
Mr. Millman was married to Miss Annie E. Fildew, 
daughter of his partner, A. S. Fildew, of St. John's. 



|r^ EV. ROBERT F. M. DOM AN, pastor of St. 

ILi^ Paul's Catholic Church, at Owosso, Shiawas- 
YV see County', is a native of Michigan and 
spent his youth in Bay City. His father, 
John Doman, was for many years a railroad con- 
tractor in Canada and the West, and was actively 
engaged in this line of work, being senior mem- 
ber of the firm of Doman die Sons, with headquar- 
ters at Portage, Wis. His birthplace was in the 
vicinity of New York City, and he was of Irish 
parentage. The mother of our subject was Ann 
Shaw, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the 
United States with her parents when a child of 
three years. Her father's name was Robert Shaw. 

The childhood days of our subject were passed 
in Bay City, attending the public schools; later he 
attended the school of the Churcli of St. Mary's of 
the Lake, in Chicago. Thence he went to Mon- 
treal, Canada, and entered the Sulpician College, 
from which he w.as graduated in 1872. After 
graduation he decided to enter the profession of 
the law, and returning to his native State, became 
a student in the office of A. McDonnall, a promi- 
nent attorney of that place. After completing a 
thorough course of reading he was admitted to the 
bar May 1, 1875. 

However, the young attorney was not satisfied 
to follow the career which he had marked out for 
himself, as liis inclinations led him to desire to 
enter the priesthood of his church. He therefore 
went to Baltimore, Md., and entering St. Mary's 
Theological Seminary, took a thorough course in 
theology and was ordained to the priesthood June 
29, 1878. His first ministerial charge was at Al- 
pcna, Mich, where he assisted in erecting a house 



730 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of worship. Later he was called to take charge of 
the ohiirch at Kalamazoo, but after serving there 
for nine months was appointed to the church of 
the Holy Trinity, Detroit. There he remained 
nearly four years. 

Notwithstanding the parochial duties which re- 
quired such constant exertion on the part of Father 
Doman, he served the people in other capacities. 
He was appointed on the Board of Orphans, was 
one of the Examiners of the Clergj', was elected 
one of the five judges of the Ecclesiastical Court, 
and served as Theologian to Bishop Borgess at the 
Third Plenarj' Council in Baltimore. Owing to 
these arduous duties his health failed, and he ac- 
cepted a vacation of one month, which he speut in 
the Rocky Mountains. Ui)on his return to Mich- 
igan he took charge of the church of St. Paul, in 
Owosso. This church provides for six hundred 
sittings, all rented, a sign of prosperity which at- 
tests the thorough character of the ministry of 
Father Doman. Since he came to this city he has 
also been instrumental in instituting a new Catho- 
lic cemetery. 

Politically Father Doman is a Free Trade Re- 
publican, believing that reciprocity is the plan to 
effect the proper adjustment of our trade relations 
with the world. Socially he is held in high esteem 
not only by his parishioners, but by all who meet 
him for the many noble qualities which he pos- 
sesses. The attention of the reader is invited to 
his lithographic portrait, which is presented in 
connection with this brief biographical notice. 



"jf) OHN PINKNEY, who operates a farm on 
section 13, Lebanon Township, Clinton 
County, is an example of the success which 
follows a youth and young manhood of in- 
dustry, perseverance and integrity. When became 
to this county he had only $400 and now he is the 
highest taxpayer in the township. His first wages 
were but a shilling a week, but hardships in youth 
did not discourage him and he is now one of the 
most prosperous men in this part of the State. His 
faliier, Robert Pinkney, was a native of England. 



His wife, Elizabeth Gray, was the mother of the 
following children: James, Mar}', Elizabeth, Annie, 
David, Martha, Peter, Isaac, John and George. 
Robert Pinkne}' was a farmer and he and his good 
wife spent all their days upon their native island. 

John Pinkney was born September 23, 1830, in 
England, and when a j'oung man worked on a farm 
upon wages. As has been aforesaid, his first wages 
were one shilling a week and the highest which he 
earned and what was usuall}' paid to a good farm 
laborer was twenty-two pounds a j'ear. About a 
year before he came to America he was united in 
marriage with Maria Gray. The wedding took 
place March 20, 1851. To this young couple one 
son was born, whom they named William. Their 
first home in this country was near Castile, 
Wyoming County, N. Y., and here they lived for 
four years, after which they emigrated to Clinton 
County, Mich., and made their home upon a farm 
of fortj' acres. Here he built a log house an<l at 
once commenced the first task of clearing the trees 
from his land. After living in this home for about 
thirteen years his wife was taken from his side by 
death. 

The second marriage of our subject took place 
September 23, 1869. The lady with whom he 
united his fortunes was Eunice Randolph, a daugh- 
ter of Augustus Randolph, a native of Upper Can- 
ada, who was born in 1 805 and came to New York 
to live, and was there married to Mary A. Eddy, 
a daughter of Eliakin and Eunice Eddy, natives of 
Vermont and Massachusetts respectively. Eliakin 
Eddy was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
The parents of Mrs. Piunice Pinkney were granted 
the following children, namely: Merritt, Prudence, 
Eunice, Julia, Charles, George and John. The 
grandfather of these children, Joseph Randolph, 
fled from Canada to New York during the War of 
1812, leaving his property and starting life anew. 
Mrs. Augustus Randolph now resides in Lebanon, 
having reached the advanced age of four-score 
years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Pinkney have been born five 
children, two of whom died in infancy and the fol- 
lowing are still living to bless their parents: Da- 
vid, Lenora and Annie. Lenora is now Mrs. 
Jaquist and makes her home in Lebanon Town- 



rOIiTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ship; and Annie is at home. Mr. Pini<ncj- has 
adiled largely to his original farm and altliougli he 
has given his son sixty acres, now owns four hun- 
dred and seven acres. 

Mr. Pinkney at first saw hard times and did real 
pioneer work. He says that wlien his first son was 
born he did not own a shilling. When he first 
came to his Western home he found deer and 
bears in abundance and Indians were living near 
his home. He cleared and broke two hundred acres 
and having put his land in good condition pursued 
general farming, combining witii tliis the culture of 
sheep and buying and selling stock of this kind to 
a considerable extent. He now has fine buildings 
and has made all the improvements himself. He is 
a Granger and also a member of the Order of 
L'nited Workmen and belongs to lodge No. 1 at 
Maple Rapids. 



73l 



^ ^-5-B- ^ 



T. SANDERS. The gentleman 
II ,— ^ who is the subject of this sketch, and who 
^^Jj lives on section 16, Caledonia Township, 
Shiawassee Countj\ was born Jul}- 17, 1825, in 
Chenango County, N. Y., where he remained until 
he grew to manhood. His father was George Sand- 
ers, also a native of Chenango Count}', and born 
in 1800. He lived for manj- j-ears in tiiis State, 
pursuing bis chosen calling, which was that of a 
farmer. Our subject's mother was Rebecca (INIa- 
son) Sanders, also a native of New York, and born 
in Chenango County. But one child gladdened the 
home of this couple, that child being our subject. 
George Sanders, Sr., was married twice; the mother 
of our subject was his first wife. 

The gentleman of whom we write, received a 
common-school education, and after finishing his 
school life he began for himself at the age of twenty 
years. He bought his lime of his father, and left 
home to work out for others, laboring as a farmer 
for many years. December 17, 1855, he was mar- 
ried to Mary S. Fairchild, a daughter of Silllck and 
Aurelia (Jones) Fairchild, llie father being a native 
of Connecticut, the mother of Vermont. His natal 
year was 1785, and the mother's 1794. They were 



also farmers. After their marriage they resided in 
Chenango County, N. Y., until their death. 

The mother was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, while the fatlier was a believer in the re- 
ligion of humanity. He was a Democrat in politics, 
and was ardently interested in both local and na- 
tional affairs. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, two of whom are now living. The wife of 
our subject, Mrs. Sanders, was born December 17, 
1832, in Chenango County, N. Y. She received 
the advantages of a good education, and taught 
school both in New York and Pennsylvania, where 
she held sway over both district and select schools. 
After marriage the young couple settled at New 
Haven, Oswego County, N. Y. The present Mrs. 
Sanders is the third wife of our subject. One child 
was the outcome of the second marriage, George E. 
Sanders, a dentist now working at East Saginaw, 
one who has a fine practice and an interesting fam- 
ily of three children. 

The gentleman of whom we write, came to this 
State in 1857, and settled in Caledonia Township, 
for a season. He removed to Ionia County, where 
he remained for three years and then went East, 
making a stay there of one year. He again came 
to Michigan and settled in Shiawassee Township, 
working in a sawmill for a year or so. Twenty- 
four years ago he purchased his present farm, origin- 
ally having but forty acres, fifteen of which were 
improved. He now has eighty acres, nearly all of 
it being under cultivation. 

Mr. Sanders built his present comfortable and 
commodious residence five j'cars ago. He prides 
himself on being a farmer and nothing else, that is, 
that he docs not divide his attention, but gives his 
whole energy towanl making his chosen calling a 
success. He and his wife are the parents of three 
children: Charles G., deceased, was a dentist in 
Stanton, this State, and left a wife and two inter- 
esting children; Alice M. is the wife of Edgar E. 
Miller, residing in Caledonia Township, and is 
blest witli iwo bright children; and Fred M., who 
lives in single blessedness, follows his profession, 
which is th.at of a dentist. Our subject and his fam- 
ily are all Christian people. 

Mr. Sanders stands in high esteem with his neigh- 
bors and townsmen, and h.os been appointed by 



732 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



them to various local offices. He is now a Di- 
rectoi in the local schools. As every man should be 
in America, he has interested himself in casting his 
vote for the man whom he consirlers the best fitted 
to fill public offices. He affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic element in his township, and is considered 
one of the leading lights of that party. Besides his 
duties as .School Director, he has been Highway 
Commissioner for a number of 3'ears, and also Road 
Overseer. Mr. Sanders feels the advantage tliat 
education is to the man of the present time, and he 
has placed within the reach of his children all the 
opportunities possible for them to become well-edu- 
cated, cultured and refined. 



J TAMES S. ADAMS. This substantial and 
energetic business man is a member of the 
firm of Davies & Adams, dealers in baggies, 
J carriages and harness, and carrying the 

largest stock of those commodities in St. John's. 
The firm also handles agricultural implements and 
is carrying on the best business of the iiind in the 
county seat. Mr. Adams has not long been a resi- 
dent of this city, but he has already a well-estab- 
lished reputation, as it is plain to be seen that he is 
a good business man as well as a thoroughly trust- 
worthy citizen. 

The grandparents of Mr. Adams lived and died 
in England and his direct progenitors — Robert and 
Patience (.Smith) Adams, were born there. The 
father lived near Yarmouth and his taste led him 
to take an abiding interest in the shipping from 
that port, and when only a boy he became a sailor. 
After his marri.agc he made his home in Canada, 
tlience removed to Vermont and then to Ohio, 
giving his attention to farming. He finally came 
to this State, spent some years in Ingham County 
and in 1854 located in Clinton County. He was 
one of the first settlers in Groenbush Township, 
where he improved a tract of wild land. After 
some j'ears of agri<'ullural work there he retired, 
making bis home in Eureka until his death, in 1872. 
He was a Re|)ublican in politics, and a member of 



the Christian Church. His widow survived him a 
few j-ears, breathing her last in 1875. Tliey had 
a family of five children and he of who.n we write 
is the third. 

James S. Adams was born in what is now Fulton 
but was then Lucas County, Ohio, April 16, 1842, 
and came to this State when a child, the journey 
being made with a team and wagon. He lived in 
Mason, Ingham County, until he was twelve years 
old, then came to Clinton County, and prior to his 
eighteenth year made himself useful on the farm 
and continued his studies in the district school. He 
then entered the employ of Davis Bros., fanning- 
mill manufacturers, and worked his way to foreman 
in the wood department. He was with them twenty- 
one years and during that period bought a farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres on sections 16 and 
21, which he reclaimed from its wild condition and 
improved with substantial buildings. In 1881 
Mr. Adams left the shop and turned his attention 
to raising grain and fine stock, and for five years 
he farmed very successfully. He kept graded 
horses of the Percheron strain, and fine cattle, hogs 
and sheep. In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Adams met 
with a severe affliction in the loss of their son 
Edward, a promising j-oung man, twentj'-one years 
old. The associations of their home were too 
vividly connected witli him for them to wish to 
continue their residence on the farm, and selling off 
everything in the way of stock and implements, 
the land was rented and they took up their abode in 
Grand Rapids. 

Mr. Adams engaged in the real-estate business 
and in contracting and building and for two years 
carried on his work in the city named. He then came 
to St. John's and took up the same line of work 
here. He is a fine mechanic, able to make any- 
thing in wood to which he gives his mind, .and as a 
builder he turned out good work. January 1, 
1891, he bought an interest in the business with 
which he is now connected. He still owns real- 
estate in Grand Rsioids, as well as property in St. 
John's, the latter including a pleasant residence and 
several lots. His wife, to whom he was married 
in Greenbush in 1865, was born in England and 
bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Davies. She is 
a most estim.able woman, sharing with her husband 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 



733 



in the respect of their acquaintances. Mr. Adams 
is an otHcial member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and has been Steward in that denomination 
for nearJj' twenty years. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican. 



LBERT E. HARTSHORN, senior member 
II of the lirm of Hartshorn, Son & Crowe, 




wholesale and retail dealers in agricultural 
implements, carriages, wagons and sleighs, 
also transfer and storage agents of Owosso, Shia- 
wassee Countj', is a native of \'ermont. He was 
born in Windsor County, November 30, 1842, and 
his father is Luther Hartshorn, a native of Connec- 
ticut, and a farmer bj- occupation. His father, 
Reuben Hartshorn, was of English ancestry, and a 
soldier in the Revolutionar}' War. The mother of 
our subject bore the maiden name of Achsah Bart- 
lett, and was born in Vermont in 1827, a daughter 
of Orange Bartlett, of Irish and Scotch extraction. 
She passed away in 1805, but her husband lived 
until April 20, 1891, and died in his sixt3'-second 
j-ear. Of their four children Albert E. is the eld- 
est. 

After passing his early school d.ays in his native 
town our subject went to Rochester, N. Y., for 
further education, and in 1861 came to Shiawassee 
County, and took a farm in Bennington Township, 
where he eng.aged in general farming. There he 
carried on agriculture until his removal to Owosso, 
in 1881, still retaining, however, his ownership of 
the farm, consisting of two hundred and forty 
acres of well-improved and arable land, upon which 
are situated good farm buildings. 

In 1881 Mr. Hartshorn bought a one-half inter- 
est in the stock of C. S. Williams, and entered into 
partnership with that gentleman under the firm 
name of Williams ifc Hartshorn. Two 3'cars later 
he sold out and purchased new stock, embarked in 
the same business alone, and in 1888 took his son, 
Fred C. as a partner in the concern. Two years 
later he again purchased the stock of Mr. Williams, 
which consisted of farm implements, and took Lc- 
Ro3^ W. Crowe as an .additional partner in the 
business. 

This is one of the large and substantial concecns 



of the county, and is said to be the broadest in its 
dealings. The firm handles anything from a hoe 
to a steam thresher. Its brick warehouse is two- 
stories in height with extensive sheds in the rear, 
thus securing ample room for their immense stock 
and trade. The main building is 44x90 feet on 
the ground lloor, and the whole building is occu- 
pied by the firm. 

In connection with implements this firm carries a 
good stock of ready-made harness and also keeps 
seeds of all kinds. They also carry an excellent 
line of sewer pipe and tiling of the manufacture of 
the Jackson P^ire Claj' Companj'. 

Christmas Day 1865 saw the happ3' marriage of 
Albert Hartshorn and Alvira D . Dolloff, of Ch.agrin 
Falls, Ohio, a daughter of Hezekiah Dolloff, who 
with his wife was a native of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hartshorn have become the parents of three chil- 
dren, a son and two daughters: Fred E., who is his 
father's partner; Edith A., and Bertha M. Mr. 
Hartshorn is now Treasurer of the School Board of 
the city of Owosso, and a member of the Board of 
Education. He is identified with the Owosso Lodge, 
No. 88, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the 
chairs, also a prominent member of the First Bap- 
tist Church, of Owosso, and Secretary of the Board. 
He rents out his farm and resides at his pleasant 
home at No. 224 Johns Street. In politics Mr. 
Hartshorn is a Republican. 



LBERT R. HICKS, M. D., a prominent 
physician of Bath, Clinton County, was 
(4) born in Lorain County, Ohio, August 13, 
^jj 1835. His father, Robins Hicks, was born 

in New York State in 1813, and his grandfatiier, 
Amasa, who was of German descent, was born in 
\''ermont. The great-grandfather came from the 
old country and settled on the shores of Lake Cham- 
plain many j'ears ago. He was a Surgeon in the 
Revolutionary War, and served through those 
years of contlict. After that he became a Baptist 
missionary, and received thirty stripes save one, 
for preaching the doctrine of immersion which was 



734 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



contrary to the Stale law of Vermocl. He died at 
the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. 

The grandfather of our subject owned and oper- 
ated a mill for many years in Clinton County, N. 
Y., but after his settlement in Lorain C'ount\-, Ohio, 
lived a retired life. Later he removed to Fulion 
County, Ohio, and after twelve years of residence 
tliere, died in liis eighty seventii year. He was a 
stalwart Baptist in his religious belief. 

The fatiier of our subject was a miller, and pur- 
sued this calling for forty years. He was a pioneer 
in Lorain County, Ohio, and milled for many years 
in that State. He removed to Kent County, Mich., 
in 1853, and spent two years in a mill at Kockford, 
after which he devoted himself to farming. The 
land where Cedar Springs now stands, was what he 
took from the Government, and upon a farm near 
that point he now lives at the age of eighty seven 
years, a hale and hearty old man. He is a Demo- 
crat in bis political views, and a Seventh Day Ad- 
ventist in religion, as is also his good wife, who is 
like himself in excellent health at the age of sev- 
enty-eight years. Her maiden name was Hannah 
Pangborn, and siie was born at Plattsburg. N. Y., in 
1813. Her side of the family is of Welsh descent. 
Two sons only of her household of four are living, 
Frederick W. and our subject. 

Albnri Hicks attended the village school at Ely- 
ria until fifteen years old. lie then entered the in- 
stitute at Norwalk, Ohio, from which he was grad- 
uated at eighteen 3'ears of age. In 1853 he came 
to Rlichigan, and until he went into the army he 
followed milling and farming. He enlisted Au- 
gust 4, 1864, in the First Regiment, Michigan 
Light Artillery, Seventh Battery. He was sent to 
Navy Point, Ala., and assisted in the capture of 
Mobile and surrounding ports, doing guard duty 
also at Navy Cove for a time. He received his dis- 
charge at Mobile, Ala., August 3, 1865. 

After the war the 3'oung man entered upon the 
work of the Baptist ministry, preaching in the coun- 
ties of Kent, Ionia, Shiawassee and Clinton. He 
has done twenty-five years of ministerial work, car- 
rying on preaching with the practice of medicine 
from 1876 to 1889, after which he became less ac- 
tive on account of health. He has baptized in all 
gome three hundred converts. He began the study 



of medicine in 1873, under Dr. J. Outwater of 
Saranac, Ionia County, Mich. He read under his 
instruction for four }"ears, and then began practice 
at Pewaroo, Ionia County, Mich. After practicing 
there three years and two years at Laingsburgh, he 
located in Bath in 1879, where he has since carried 
on general practice. 

The marriage of our subject took place in No- 
vember, 1857. His wife bore the maiden name of 
Ella A. Butler, and lier grandfather was a cousin of 
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. Both our subject and 
his wife are earnest members of the Baptist Church 
and he is a Republican in politics. Their three 
children: Elmer A., Carrie E. and Willie H. are all 
living. He is a member of Lodge No. 124 I. O. 
O. F., and has been worthy Grand Master of the 
Sons of Temperance of the State of Micliigan. 

^OHN T. DANIELLS stands in the front 
rank among the farmers of Clinton County, 
bringing to bear upon his labors deep 
thought and scientific methods. He is pre- 
eminently successful in his work, as his fine estate 
and standing in the community attest. He owns 
and occupies eighty acres of land on section 1, 
Essex Township, where he located in 1868. He 
has brought it to a high state of productiveness, 
and has furnished it with substantial buildings of 
various kinds and adornments suitable for a rural 
home, and the whole is now one of the most at- 
tractive places in the vicinity. 

Mr. Daniells was born in Oakland County, this 
State, December 25, 1840. and comes of old New 
York stock. His parents, Willard and Harriet 
(Churchill) Daniells, were born in the I'lmpirc 
State and came West many j'cars ago. The father 
secured Government land in Oakland County about 
1825 and was one of the first settlers there. His 
name is remembered and held in respect among 
the pioneers, so few of whom remain to enjoy the 
results of their labors. Amid scenes of pioneer 
life he of whom we write grew to man's estate, al- 
though his recollection does not extend back to the 
most primitive condition of affairs in Oakland 
County. During his youth tlic vicinity was be- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



735 



coming well settled and before lie had attained to 
ills majorit}' the country was well developed and 
populous. 

Mr. Daniells received his preliminary education 
in the common schools of his native county, and 
after he became of age he entered Olivet College 
as a student and spent two full school 3cars in the 
diligent pursuit of knowledge there, lie has a 
wide fund of literary knowledge and has also the 
practical learning that makes his theories available 
for his own and otheis' good. He has spent some 
five winters in school teaching and as an instructor 
was capable and thorough. Having worked hard 
in order to obtain thorough schooling he appreci- 
ates the efforts of others and has always given his 
sympathy and aid to those who were striving to 
advance. 

September 10, 1867, Mr. Daniells was married 
to the lady of his choice, Miss Martha Barnes, 
daughter of .John and Anne Barnes, who were 
early settlers in Ingham County. Mrs. Daniells 
is a sister of the Hon. O. M. Barnes, of Lansing, 
who was at one time candidate for Governor on 
the Democratic ticket. She has a liberal education, 
having graduated from Olivet College after finish- 
ing the classical course, and for several j'ears she 
was engaged in teaching. She is a fitting com- 
panion for her husband, being able to sympatiiize 
with him in his higher tastes and enjoy with him 
every opportunity for culture of which their cir- 
cumstances and surroundings will admit. They 
have had but one child, a son, who was spared to 
them but a short time. 

As would naturall}- be expected Mr. Daniells 
takes an active interest in the promotion of the 
cause of education and in all movements that will 
elevate the standard of society. In politics he is 
a Republican. He was elected Justice of the Peace 
in 1884 and has served continuously to the present 
lime. In his official capacity he is popular and 
efficient, and he has acquired a reputation for giv- 
ing just decisions, unbiased by prejudice and ar- 
rived at by \he processes of a judicial mind and 
justice-loving spirit. He is now serving his second 
year as Secretary of the Clinton Countj- Pioneer 
Society and for three j'cars he has been Secretary 
of the t'^aj-mers' Club in Essex Township. l''or two 



years he has been Secretary of the Clinton County 
AVool Growers' Association and he is one of the 
four men appointed to make crop reports from 
Clinton Count}' for the benefit of all agricultural- 
isis, the facts being reported and properl}' classified 
in Washington by the agents of the Government. 
Mr. Daniells is a member of the Baptist Church 
and his wife is a Congregationalist. They are so- 
cial leaders and their home is the scene of many a 
gathering, where their hospitality and ability to 
entertain are shown and their many friends enjoy 
"a feast of reason and a flow of soul." In busi- 
ness circles the word of Mr. Daniells is considered 
as good as a bond and he commands the fullest 
confidence of those with whom he has had dealings. 
Mrs. Daniells find many opportunities to perform 
acts of kindness toward those who are less happily' 
situated than herself and her heart is always open 
to cries of distress and appeals for syrnpathj'. 



(^p^HOMAS CARMODY, a prosperous farmer 
'/i'^S\ ^'^^'"S ^ pleasant home and a tract of 
V^ land on section 28, Rush Township, Shia- 
wassee County, was born on the Emerald Isle in 
County Clare, January 7, 1845. His father Mich- 
ael, a native of the same county, was a farmer and 
his natal year was 1814. He received a good com- 
mon-school education and was noted in local cir- 
cles as a good penman. He had a brother who bad 
perhaps the best education of any man in the sec- 
tion where he lived and held ofHce a number of 
years under the Queen. 

Michael Carmodj was married about the year 
1841 to Elizabeth Caton, one of ten children of 
Michael and Elizabeth Caton, who came to America 
in 1848 by way of Quebec, and made their first 
home in the United States at Buffalo. After six 
years spent there they came to Corunna, this count}^ 
in 1854, and the following spring came to Rush 
Township and settled on eighty acres on section 
26, which he had bought two years previous. Be- 
fore his death, which occurred in 1887, he owned 
one hundred and twenty acres. He was a Roman 
Catholic in his religious belief and a Democrat in 



736 



PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his political affiliations, being a great worker for the 
part3' but caring little for office. 

Tlie subject of this brief sketcii received a good 
common-school education and upon reaching his 
majority started out in the worhl for himself. 
After working for a year he bought a fi.ie team, 
which he afterward traded at a valuation of $400 
toward his farm. He obtained a farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres and went to work upon it, 
keeping bachelor's hall for some two years, but 
Thomas Carmody believed that it was not well for 
man to be alone and in September, 1869, he was 
married to Mary Gorman one of the five children 
of Patrick and Mary (Murphy) Gorman, of County 
Queen, Ireland. Mrs. Carmody's natal day was 
July 18, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Carmody have great 
reason to be proud of the four promising children 
who have blessed their household. Tlieir eldest 
daughter, Bessie, is a teacher in New Haven, Mich. 
Mary Maud and Edward are still in the High 
School at Owosso and the youngest daughter Agnes 
is with her parents at home. 

The gentleman of whom we write is by convic- 
tion allied with the Democratic party. His first 
Presidential vote was cast for .Seymour and his last 
for Cleveland, lie has been actively interested in 
politics and a great worker for the principles which 
his judgment approves. He has been Highway 
Commissioner for nine years in succession and is 
still Treasurer of the township, a position which he 
has held for some time. Through most of the time 
he has resided in this region he has been upon the 
School Board. He is very fond of a line horse and 
always keeps the best stock of this kind and has 
now as fine a team as is to be found in the count}'. 
His comfortable home is the seat of irue domestic 
happiness and is most deliglitfull}' situated and 
pleasantly arranged. 



<a I^ILLIAM NEWBERRY. In many respects 
\/\J// the gentleman whose name appears at the 
\^^ head of this paragraph was head and 
shoulders above his neighbors of the township. He 
was a man far-seeing in discernment and strong in 
ppynsel. His financial ability was tiudpubtctl and 



he was charitable in his thought of others and pure 
in his language. His opinions on church matters 
was looked up to by all who were connected with 
him and he took a good stand on all important 
questions. 

Our subject was born in Warwick, Wayne 
County, N. Y., April 4, 1812, and was the eldest 
of seven children, of whom the following are living: 
our subject, John, who resides on the old home- 
stead in Lorain Count}-, Ohio; James, who lives at 
Strawberry Point, Iowa; David, residing in Orange 
County, Fla. ; and Rebecca, the widow of R. A. 
Andrews, of Toledo, Ohio. His parents, John and 
Sallie (Fancher) Newberry, were married In 1811 
and removed in 1827 to the Western Reserve in 
Lorain County, Ohio where they carried on a farm. 
The father died In 1852, and the mother in 1876 
at the age of eighty-six years. 

William Newberry was educated mostly in the 
common schools and by his own efforts at home, as 
he received neither academic nor college training. 
His library contains standard works on history and 
especiall}' on Bible history, and among other books 
the writer noted Blaine's twenty years in Congress, 
and the Universal Encyclopedia. It has an un- 
broken file of the Country Gentlemen which Mr. 
Newberry had bound. In 1833 at which time he 
reached his majority he learned the carpenter's 
trade and worked at Huron, Ohio. In the summer 
of 1836 he came to Shiawassee County, Mich., and 
assisted in building the old mill in the township of 
Shiawassee, which was the first mill erected in the 
county. 

In 1839 young Newberry had secured eighty 
acres of land and built him a home into which he 
took his bride, to whom he was united on the 1st 
of December. Most of his carpentry work was 
done in Owosso where he puttiie first frame build- 
ing erected there, namely the old hotel wiiich was 
the first one in the place. He bought his land from 
old "Uncle Eithraim" Wright and cleared his farm 
but worked at his trade most of the time, hiring 
help on the farm for fifteen years. He was Instru- 
mental in introducing tile draining, l.iying miles 
of it under his farni wiiich comprised two hundred 
and thirty- seven acres at the time of his death. 

When the will of Mr. Newberry came to be pro- 






^^^.^^v^^aiss^ 



--■ySxie-V"' ^3^ 












T i rT! ':i ; : r ! ' ! i? 'i r ! ""! f w i ii i i |i i'!H''^r ' ! ''!' '^ i !^ !i i'^ ^ ^^^^^ 







Res.ofMrEli Gallup^ Sec. 35,, Eagle Tp., Clintoim Co.,mich 



S'^ii; ,. 



•4 ' i > r V iV«i .^ 'i tf iJ V^ '* 'T 




7tM<?S '^^ 



Res. OF THE LATE W'^.NewberrYjSec.IS. Shiawassee Tr, Shiawassee Co., Mich. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



739 



bated il was found that lie had settled everything 
in that document and tliere was not a claim \>yc- 
sented against the estate. This siiows iiis careful- 
ness and business capacity. He took great plea- 
sure in cultivating rare and exotic flowers and in 
testing new varieties of fruit. He had on iiis farm 
almost every well-known variety of the pear and 
the same may be said of other fruits. He was one 
of the organizers and oflicers of the Shiawassee 
Agricultural Association of Owosso, and served as 
Prcsiilent in this society repeatedl}', being connect- 
ed with it until the organization of the Bancroft 
Union Market Fair which was based upon his sug- 
gestions. He was its first President and continued 
in that office until his death. He bred fine flocks 
of sheep and introduced from Vermont the Merino 
sheep, but he turned his attention more fully to 
fruit raising, of which he liad a thorough knowl- 
edge. He was a close student of this subject and 
Downiug's Works on Fruit were among his text- 
books. 

Politically Mr. Newberry was in early life a 
Jacksonian Democrat, afterward a Whig and then 
a Republican, being an ardent supporter of the ad- 
ministration and of Gov. Blair during the Civil 
War. Through much of his life he was connected 
with tiie Baptist Cbureli, having been baptized 
about one year after marriage by Elder Barnes, 
ami after that church was disbanded at Shiawassee 
he held a letter and was always in sympathy' with 
the church and a liberal supporter of the Baptist 
organization at Vernon. His whole life as a 
Christian was affected by the exam|)le of such her- 
oes of the church as Adoniram Judson, and his in- 
terest in foreign missions was intense and his con- 
tributions generous. 

The marriage of William Newberr}- and Mary 
Parnienter took place as has been said December 1, 
1831. Mrs. Newberry was born in Vernon, Vt. 
July 24, 1814, and w.is a daughter of Amos and 
Mar}' (Lee) Parmenter, botli natives of the Green 
Mountain Sl.-ite. Her brother Joseph vvho is a re- 
sident of Shiawassee County, is mentioned else- 
where in this volume. The children of this family 
are Sarah, Mrs. John Wilkinson, living at North 
Star, Mich. ; Harriet, now the widow of C. S. Pratt of 
Shiawassee Township; Elizabeth, the widow of the 



Rev. Williams S. Wilkinson of the Baptist Church 
who lives at ^'ernon; Rebecca A., Mrs. Charles A. 
Whelan of Shiawassee Township, whose husband's 
biographical sketch appears in this Ai.bi'm; James 
who died Seiitember 3, I 87G. of typlioid fever when 
twenty-five jears old; John and David, who are 
both at home and have charge of the farm, which 
consists of one hundred and sixty acres of the old 
homestead, and a view of which is shown on an- 
other (lage. 

Neither of these sons is married. They carr^' 
on general farming but make their onion crop a 
specialty'. They have a maple sugar bush of six 
hundred trees. They are strong temperance men 
and Prohibitionists taking an active part in the 
work and being frequently delegates of conven- 
tions. They are intelligent and enterprising, and 
stand in the front rank among the pushing, pro- 
gressive men of tlie county. They aie open heart- 
ed, congenial men, David being especially blessed 
to a remarkable degree with the power of briliant 
conversation and forcilile and logical argument. 
There is a tine future ahead for these distinguisheil 
sons of an illustrious father. The death of William 
Newberry which occurred October 1. 1888, has 
made more evident to all who knew him the value 
of his life and integrit}' and manly worth, and 
brings home to the 3'oung the truth that the fruits 
of honesty and right living are like the sunlight, 
which benefits the world long after it has disap- 
peared. 

■^AMES STERLING BRISTOL. A traveler 
in Clinton County would find on section 
4, Bingham Township, a fine large farm- 
J house and neat surroundings, where the 
subject of this noti( e makes his home. The land 
upon which this dwelling stands makes up a pro- 
ductive estate of one hundred and twenty acres, 
which is devoted to the dual purjiosc of farming 
and stock-raising, and has been greatly improved 
by its present owner since he purchased the prop- 
erty in 1883. In 188!) he built a sawmill, from 
the proceeds of which he is deriving a good addi- 
tion to his income. 

The parents of our subject were born in the 



m 



740 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Empire Slate and made their home there for some 
years after their marriage. They removed to 
Michigan in 1835, and established their home in 
St. Josej))! County, but after remaining there about 
a decade, removed to Oakland County. Nearly a 
score of years after they began their residence 
there Eli IL Bristol closed his eyes in death, 
dying in Pontiac at the age of sixty-eight years. 
He had held the otfice of Supervisor and others 
of local importance. He belonged to the Congre- 
gational Church, with which his widow has been 
identified for many years. She was formerly Miss 
Lucy Sterling, of Lima, N. Y. She has now at- 
tained to her eighty-fourth year. Of the six chil- 
dren born to this worthy couple three are now 
living, all sous. Tlie one who is the subject of 
this life history was born in Lima, N. Y., August 
22, 1832. He was reared on a farm and began his 
school life in an old-fashioned log building with 
slab seats, but having good teachers, parental en- 
couragement and natural ability, he became well 
grounded in the practical branches. 

When he began the labors of life for himself, 
Mr. Bristol had but limited means, but he liad an 
abundance of energy and was determined to make 
his way. He worked out by the month in the 
summer and tauglit school winters, and also farmed 
on shares during a part of the time in which Oak- 
land County was his home. His pedagogical work 
extended over a period of several years and he 
gained a good name as a teacher. In 1864 he 
came to Clinton County and located in Essex 
Township, where he lived about fourteen years. 
There he cleared and improved a good farm. He 
came thence to St. Joiin's, where he was engaged 
in the insurance business for three years, and then 
gave about eighteen months to the grocery trade. 
He then took possession of the farm on which he 
is now living and laboring. 

The wife to whom Mr. Bristol was married in 
1858, and who shared iiis fortunes until 1879, bore 
tho maiden name of Miss Julia Stone. She was a 
native of the Empire State and was a woman 
whose worth of character was recognized by all 
who knew her. Tiie children born of the union 
are Eli Maurice, Jay and Neddie. Mrs. Bristol 
was a member of the Congregational Church, Jn 



1880 our subject brought to his home a second 
wife, formerly Miss Sarah Covert, a native of the 
Empire Slate, whose housewifely skill and Chris- 
tian character commend her to her acquaintances. 
She and her husband belong to the Congregational 
Church. Mr. Bristol votes the Republican ticket. 
He has held various oflices, such as Treasurer, and 
served in that capacity several terms, and was 
School Inspector some years. He bears an excel- 
lent reputation both in social and business circles. 



^>^ 



-v*- 



ARWIN BANCROFT is a prominent farmer 
in Essex Township, Clinton County, and 
the fortunate possessor of an estate consist- 
ing of three hundred and seventeen acres of choice 
land. This valuable property is supplied with a 
complete line of farm buildings, including a large, 
handsome farmhouse which is well furnished and 
suitably adorned. A visitor to this farm will 
find modern machinery in use and the most ap- 
proved methods followed in all the work that is 
carried on, and will see in the p.astures stock of 
good grades. The land is particularly adapted 
for wheat, and Mr. Bancroft devotes a large acre- 
age to this cereal. 

Mr. Bancroft is a native of tin; counlj^ born in 
the adjoining township of Lebanon, Februar3' 28, 
1845. His father. Palmer Bancroft, a native of 
Cayuga County, N. Y.,came hither in 1843, looked 
up a home and made his removal the following 
j'ear. After living in Lebanon Township six years 
he came to Essex Township, where he cleared and 
improved a fine large farm. He died here in 
1887, .aged sixtj'-nine years. He was an honest, 
upright man who endeavored to honot' his profes- 
sion of faith by his daily life. He was a member 
of the Christian Church. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Amanda Ocobock, was born in the Em- 
pire State and is now living with tiieir son, Dar- 
win, and has reached her seventy-fourth year. She 
has had six chdttren and three are now living. 

The subject of this brief life history spent his 
youth amid rural scenes and when old enough to 
attend school occupied a place on a slab seat in a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



741 



))rimitive log schoolliouse. After getting a fair 
start in the country' school lie became a student at 
iMaple Hapids, walking tiiree and a iialf miles to 
and fro for six months. In 1868 he left his 
father's home and located on a farm in Lebanon 
Township, remaining there six years, and then re- 
turning to Essex Township and taking up his resi- 
dence on section 20, wiiere he has since remained. 
He is one of the most enterprising of the younger 
farmers in the county and the success he meets 
with is due to this fact and to the intelligence 
will) which he pursues his calling. He makes good 
use of his income by surrounding himself and 
family* with additional comforts and conveniences, 
and entering into various projects by which the 
welfare of the communit}^ will be advanced and 
ihe section built up. 

The year 18G7 was that in which Mr. Bancroft 
was united to the lady of his choice, Miss Desiah 
M. Irwin, daughter of Thomas and Betsey Irwin. 
Iler parents came to tliis State in an early da3' and 
sijent their last years here. The daughter was 
born oil the farm that is now her home and around 
which fond recolleclions cluster. Siie is a lady of 
intelligence, not only on domestic topics but on 
others of general interest, and with hor husband 
belongs to the Cliristian Church and endeavors to 
carry her faith into tlie actions f)f her daily life. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft have three children, named 
respectivel}': A. D., .lesse and Murdow. Mr. Ban- 
croft is a member of tlie Republican party and is 
connected with the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men. 



(^^ AMUEL W. INGRAHAM, one of the old 

^^^ settlers of St. John's, who has one of the 

mJ__M largest and most complete undertaking es. 

tablishments in Clinton County, was born 

in Shippensville, Pa., November 22, 183.0. His 

father, the Rev. A. 8. W. Ingraham, was born upon 

a vessel in Bristol Bay as bis parents were coming 

from Scotland. They settled upon a farm in 

Dutciiess County, N. Y., and here the boy grew to 

manhood and became a member of the Methodist 

Jipiscopal Church, He wae licensed to preach by 



the Erie Conference which at that time extended 
into Ohio. He served in that Conference througli 
life and lived to be ninety-four years of ago, dying 
at Niles, Ohio. He was an earnest and conscien- 
tious Abolitionist, and a conductor on the Undcr- 
groiind Railroad and suffered persecutions as did 
all the early Abolitionists. His wife, Laiirette B. 
Maehell, w.as a daughter of a French Marquis and 
was born in Paris. The family fled their native 
country at the time of the French Revolution and 
located in New York Cit}'. The father had an es- 
tate on the Isle of Martinique, West Indies, and 
while there on a visit fell dead in tlie street. His 
daughter was reared in the cit}' of New York, and 
conversed fluently in French, as that was the fam- 
ily language. She died in Ohio after having been 
the mother of five children: Margaret, George, 
Nancy, Mary and our subject. All but the last 
two have followed their parents to the other world. 

The subject of this sketch i)assed his bojhood 
mostly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, su|)plementing 
his common school education by a year's attendance 
at Alleghany College. He then taught school for 
one term, after which he learned the trade of a 
painter, in Ravenna, Ohio. When twenty-one years 
of age he came to ISIichigan, and in 1856 worked 
for a brother-in-law in a drug store. In I860 he 
entered into partnershi|) with G. W. Stephenson in 
a drug store, which they bouglit of Dr. Leach. 
After one year our subject was taken sick and was 
threatened with consumption. He therefore gave up 
this business and went back to Ohio. He returned 
to Michigan in 1864. His state of health kept 
him out of the army iiilo which his inclinations 
would have led him. Having improved in health 
he removed to St. John's and carried on the busi- 
ness of painting until 1885, when he started as an 
undertaker f<jr R. M. Steel & Co. In 1889 he en- 
tered this line of work indeiiendentl}'. He has a 
fine location for his business and also for his resi- 
dence. 

Mr. Ingraham's marriage took place in St. 
John's in 1859. His bride was Augusta D. Smith, 
who was born in Steuben County, N. Y., and came 
to Michigan when ten years old. Of their three 
children, Clara died when quite young. Ilenrj' S. 
k with his father in business and Clarence W. is 



742 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL A].BUM. 



mari-iefl and resides at Flint. Henry S. married 
Miss Mollic Stark of Grand Ledge. Mr. Ingraham 
is a demitted member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and is identifled with the li'ree and 
Accepted Masons. He is a true blue Republican 
and verj' earnest in his political convictions. His 
wife is un active and etlicicnt member of the Con 
gregational Church and a lady whose character is 
universally respected. Mr. Ingraham has the good 
will of every one in St. John's and vicinity. 



'-r^-^^VHit^^^ 



'-S- 



<«1 n*,ILBUR T. CHURCH, a stock-dea 

\/\I// ^^^ proprietor of the prinei|)al ma 

\^^' St. John's which is operated under 



ILBUR T. CHURCH, a stock-dealer and 

arket in 
the firm 

name or Church & Schanck, has been a market 
man and stock-dealer since 1879, and is a whole- 
souled gentleman who commands the good will of 
the community. He understands his business 
thoroughly and is probably'as fine a judge of stock 
as can be found anywhere. He was born in Lock- 
port, N. Y., September 15, 1857. His father, 
Thomas, was born in England and came to Amer- 
ica when about fifteen j'ears of age and began work 
on a farm in Niagara County, for 13 per month. 
Later he engaged in farming more independently 
is the township of Lcwiston and finall}' drifted 
into the stock and market business. He was a 
well-known member of the Agricultural Society and 
was a prominent figure at every fair. He died 
when about fifty-two years of age. He had joined 
himself to the Republican part}' after coming to 
America and was an active member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. 

Julia A. Cooper, a native of Lockport, N. Y., 
became the wife of Thomas Church. Her family 
early settled in Lockport and there she still resides. 
She became the mother of seven cliildren. Her 
son, Wilbur T., was reared on the farm and studied 
in the Union schools of Lockport. He graduated 
from them when eigiiteen years old and learned 
the trade of a butcher. Later he started a market 
in Lockport which he carried on alone. In 1879 
he located at St. John's, and for awhile worked at 
bis ti-ade. Three vears later he started in the meat 



business independently with Mr. Webster, the firm 
operating under the firm name of Webster & 
Church. They shipped stock quite extensively. 
In 1889 they disolved jjartnership and our subject 
ran the business alone until the spring of 1891, 
when he took Mr. Schanck into partnership. 

The firm of Church & Schanck rents land and en- 
gages largely in feeding stock, shipping several 
carloads every year. Thej' also raise the standard 
breeds of horses and have a fine animal "Carl Jack- 
son" by "Jerome Eddy", also another five-jear-old 
"Charles Dickens" by "Jerome Eddy." They have 
some standard bred mares and colts, nineteen in 
number. They always have the finest show in the 
State for Christmas market. 

The marriage of W. T. Ciiurch and Nellie J. 
Reynolds, took place in Lockport, in September, 
1876. The lady is a native of New York, where 
she has a large circle of friends. She is an earnest 
and conscientious member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church in which she finds a broad field for 
activity. Five children have blessed their home, 
namely: Fannie, Flora, Cora, Jennie and Kittie. 
Mr. Church is an oflBcial member of the Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a Knight 
of Honor. He is a true blue Republican, and an 
upright and honored citizen of this city. 



(4l l»,ILLIAM H. DUNHAM. It is a question 
\/-J// whether in any other of the counties of the 
^^J State there are still living as many of the 
early settlers as in Shiawassee Countj'. The greater 
part of the farms are owned by the original pur- 
chasers and the fact that man}' of them, like our 
subject, who resides on section 15, Fairfield Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, have passed more than 
the allotted three-score years, speaks well for the 
healthfulness of the locality and the care that its 
residents have taken of sanitary measures, such as 
drainage, etc. 

Our subject was born in Rome, Oneida Count}', 
N. Y., March 19, 1815, and is now in his seventy- 
seventh year. He remained in his native county 
until his marriage, which took place October 26, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



743 



1835, when he removed to Albion, Orleans CounU-, 
N. Y. There he resided until 1853, when he re- 
moved with his family of four children to Bruns- 
wick, Medina Countj', Ohio. Here his fifth child 
first saw the light of daj-. Mr. Dunham moved 
to his present home in this State in 1862. At the 
time of his entry into the State the place w.ns a 
dense wood and the one hundred and sixty acres 
which he purchased had to lie reached by chopping 
a way with his ax. He at once began the work of i 
improvement. 

Our subject's father, whose name was John Dun- 
ham, was born in Massachusetts and was a soldier 
in the War of 1812. The lady to whom Mr. Dun- 
ham united himself in marriage was Miss A'.mira 
Brooks. Her native place was Westmoreland, 
Oneida County, N. Y., and her natal day was Oc- 
tober 20, 1815. She was married on her twentieth 
birthday. Mrs. Dunham w.as the daughter of 
Charles and Eliza (Draper) Brooks, natives of 
Vermont. 

Our subject has five children, whose names are 
as follows: Clara M., Walter C, Charles H., (ieorge 
W., and Evaline C. The eldest child and daughter 
is the widow of Burton Sanderson, and lives in 
SlrongsviUe, Ohio. A singular co-incidence of her 
family is that she has the same number of children 
as her father, the sex being the same as his and one 
born in each month to correspond to the mouth 
his children were born in. The eldest son lives on 
a farm which adjoins that of our subject. Charles 
H. is the Supervisor of the township at the time 
of this writing (1891). George W. lives at not a 
gi-eat distance from his father's farm. The youngest 
daughter has not left the home roof. It is almost 
remarkable that in the history of Mr. Dunham's 
family he has never lost a child, a grandchild or a 
great-grandchild. He has ten grandchildren and 
five great-grandchildren. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
had the advantage of only a limited education, but 
has been a great reader and naturally intelligent, 
may be styled a self-made man in both education 
and property. His farm is in a high state of culti- 
vation. He has one of the finest orcliards in the 
township and good buildings on the jilace. There 
is no incumbrance whatever upon his farm. 



Mr. Dunham is a man of broad and liberal ideas, 
believing thoroughly in the iiossibilitics of the 
future and be has done all he could to develop 
the country. He was appointed Highway Com- 
missioner which post he tilled for four years and 
although he has never been an office-seeker, the 
people in the township have urged him to stand 
for office a number of times and though the town- 
ship was strongly Republican he came within four 
votes of being elected. He was appointed Super- 
visor on the Democratic ticket. Our subject was 
formerly a member of the Congregational Church, 
but of late has not been identified with any body, 
as there has not been a church accessible from his 
home. 



# 



yj\\ INARD A. HULSE, a prominent clothing 
merchant of the firm of Clark & Hulse, 
fc and also of a firm at Ovid, which bears the 
name of Lambie, Clark & Hulse, was born 
in Greenbush Township, Clinton County, August 
29, 1855. His father, Addison Hulse, was a native 
of New York, as was also his grandfatiier. The 
father came to Ohio when young, and made his 
home near Frederiektown, Knox County, where he 
learned the shoemaker's trade under Isaac Eagle, 
but flnall3' took ui) farming. After his marriage 
he came to Blichigan on foot, prospecting, and then 
back to Ohio in the same manner. He bought 
Government land, cutting roads to his farm in or- 
der to reach it. lie built a log house and manu- 
factured rough hewn furniture wherewith to fur- 
nish it. He began with one hundred and twenty 
acres of land in Greenl)ush Township, and now has 
one hundred'and forty acres. He is a l{epui)lican 
in his |)olitics, and has been Supervisor and Town- 
ship Treasurer for years. 

The mother of our subject Mahala A. Carter was 
born in Virginia, the daugliter of Charles Carter, 
who was also a Virginian by birth, who came to 
Knox Count}', Ohio, in the early days. Somewhat 
later he became a pioneer in Essex Township, Clin- 
ton County, Mich., where be followed farming until 




744 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his tiealh which occunccl in 1861. Ho was a mem- 
ber of the Universalist Church, but his daugliter, 
Mrs. Ilulse, was a Methodist. 

Four children made up the household of the par- 
ents of our subject. Thej' were as follows: Sarah 
E., now Mrs. Ut. S. M. Post, of Eureka; Charles 
A. of the firm of Eagle and Hulse, merchants; our 
subject, and Phojbe A. Hodge, who resides at 
Bannister, Gratiot County. The oldest son served 
for live 3-ears in the Regular Army on the frontier 
of Mexico, and at other points. The earliest edu- 
cation of our subject was on the farm and in the 
district schools, for after he be:;ame old enough to 
be of service on the farm he was able to go to 
school only a part of the j'eir. He remained ut 
home until he was twenty- two years old, having 
entire charge of the farm during the last three 
years of that time. 

The .young man now became interested in mer- 
cantile business, and in 1877 came to St. John's 
and began clerking in the dry-goods department of 
the general merchandise store of J. Hicks. Three 
3-ears later he entered the employ of Mr. Warner 
Bunday, the oldest grocer in the town. During 
the six years when he was in the employ of this 
gentleman and three j'ears that he was with his 
former employer he lost only one week's salary on 
account of illness. While with Mr. Bunday he oc- 
cupied the position of head clerk and was consid- 
ered the best salesman in the town, receiving the 
compliment of the highest salary paid in that line 
of work. 

The present partnershiji of Clark & Hulse was 
formed in 1886. They bought a grocery stock 
from A. P. Colwell, which they closed out selling 
$),800 worth of goods in a week. They then put 
in a stock of clothing and a full line of gentlemen's 
fancy goods, carrying a large and well assorted 
line of both kinds. In December, 1890, they formed 
a branch store at Ovid, under the nameof Lambie, 
Clark A Hulse. 

The marriage of Mr. M. A. Hulse and Miss Nel- 
lie Clark took place in Eureka, Greenbush Town- 
ship, in 1883. The lad^' is a native of that township, 
and is now the mother of one child, Edwaid G. In 
1891 Mr. Ilulse was elected a member of the Board 
of Trustees of St. John's. He is a member of the 



Knights Templar and of the Ro3'al Arch Masons in 
this city, and belongs to the Free and Accepted 
Masons at Eureka. His strong Republican convic- 
tions and sound judgment make him a prominent 
man in his party, and he is frequentlj' a delegate 
to county conventions. Mrs. Hulse is an earnest 
and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Hulse is active in all public affairs, 
especially in the fire department in (vliich he is 
Vice President. He began at the bottom and b3' 
close application to business, and just and generous 
dealing with his fellow men, has attained to a fine 
business position. He has ever made it his rule of 
action, to do unto others as he would have others 
do unto him. 



^^EORGE AVOOD. There is no class of man- 
[|[ (— -, ufauturers more necessar3' to the comfort 
^^i|l of mankind than millers and none whose 
names arc held in more honor than those who send 
out good flour. Some account of the lives of such 
men is a fitting addition to a biographical album 
and the friends of George Wood of St. John's will 
be glad to read this record of his career. He is 
senior member of the firm of George Wood & Bro., 
proprietors of the city mills. The establishment 
is now fitted with a full roller process run by steam 
and having a capacity of seventy-five barrels per 
day. The buildings are large, two stories and a half 
high and substantial in structnre. The firm turns 
out a special brand of flour called the "Pearl," 
which is in demand in the home market and is 
becoming known elsewhere. 

The Woods are an Eastern family and the busi- 
ness in which our subject is engaged is one for 
which he has a hereditar3' fitness, as it has been 
carried on by his direct ancestors for at least two 
generations. His grandfather, Jesse Wood, was a 
miller at Ft. Ann, N. Y., until 1828, when he sold 
out and located on a tract of land in Washtenaw 
County, this State. In 1835 lie removed to Ionia 
County, bought a farm and engaged in farming 
until his decease. He was a soldier in the War of 
1812. His son Joseph, father of our subject, was 
born in Washtenaw County, N. Y., near Ft. Ann, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



745 



in 1811, and was in his seventeenth year when he 
came West. He at once began work as a miller, 
his first empio3'ers being Brown it Co. of Ann 
Arbor, and Ypsilanti being his residence a little 
later. In 1835 he located on Government land in 
Ionia Count}- and rented Pratt's Mill on shares. 
Subsequently he became a partner with '"rncle" 
Samuel Dexter, and without giving up his trade he 
carried on a farm. About 1847 he sold the laud 
and bought a mill on Flat River, and in 1856 
began the erection of another. This was com- 
pleted in 1858 and run three years, when it was 
destroyed by fire. Mr. Wood then came to St. 
John's and bought milling property now owned by 
his sons, Ijf-ginning his work here in 18G2. He 
died May 3, 1882. From the organization of the 
Republican part}' he was a stanch member. He 
belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
was an official member. 

The wife of Joseph Wood and mother of our 
subject, bore the maiden name of Waty West. 
She was born in Niagara County, N. Y., and her 
father, Ebenezer West, was also a native of the 
Empire State. He was one of the early settlers at 
Ann Arbor, this State, and his occupation was 
farming. Mrs. Wood died in St. John's, June 3, 
1882, only four weeks after her husband had been 
carried to the tomb. The}' had eight children, 
five of whom grew to maturity. The eldest of 
these was Harriet E., who died in Ithica; the 
second was George, our subject; the third, Marion, 
now living in Detroit; the fourth, Warren D., of 
the firm of George Wood &. Bro.; the fifth, Cora B., 
who resides in St. John's. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
in Ionia, August 28, 1846, but his boyhood and 
youth were chiefly spent at Smyrna, on the Flat 
River. He attended tiie district school, but from 
the age of three years ran about the mill ami when 
but a little lad began to gain an insight into its 
workings. When the family came to St. John's 
he took up regular work in the mill and was a val- 
uable assistant to his father, who' had been reduced 
in finances by his previous misfortunes and was 
virtually beginning life for the third time. When 
he was of age young Wood went to Saranac, where 
his father had a mill property, and for a year he 



carried on the establishment. He then returned to 
St. John's, where he has remained, giving his close 
attention to business, first as an employe and then 
as a partner. His father was in business with a 
Mr. Russell until 1869, when our subject bought 
out that gentleman and the firm of Wood & Son 
went into effect. In 1880 the father withdrew 
from the business, which was bought by our sub- 
ject and his brother, who since that time have been 
operating together. In 1885 they put in the New 
Process and later built so as to use full rollers, 
and in 1890 remodeled and enlarged the establish- 
ment. 

In Saranac in 1869 Mr. Wood was married to 
Miss Mary Patterson, who was born near Cleve- 
land, Ohio. She is a well-informed and estimable 
woman, a good housekeeper and a member in high 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch. Mr. 
Wood belongs to the Odd Fellows P^ncampment 
and the organization of Knights Templar in St. 
John's and to the Ancient Oxler of United Work- 
men. His political support is given to the Repub- 
lican party. He is a genial, liberal man, well- 
informed regarding passing events and topics of 
interest, and having many friends in the town with 
whose interest he h.as so long been connected. 




, HARLES E. TABOR. Among the younger 
members of the farming community of 
Lebanon Township, the subject of this 
sketch may properly be mentioned as having 
achieved success in more than an ordinary degree. 
He was born May 3, 1860, at his father's homestead 
on section 6, Lebanon Township, which is now his 
property, and where he owns one hundred and 
fifteen acres of some of the finest farming land in 
this part of the Stale. Mr. Tabor was bred to 
farming pursuits from his youth, while his natural 
habits of enterprise and industry ensure success in 
his undertakings. His industry is tireless, his 
integrity unquestioned, and his personal popularity 
is good. His good traits of head and heart win 
for him the respect of all who know him, while in 
citizenship lie is energetic and progressive. 



746 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



In an early da}- Jolin Tabor, the grandfather of 
our subject, removed from his native Slate, Ver- 
mont, to New Yorlv, where he settkMl in Franklin 
Count}' and there spent his remaining years. He 
was a militia captain in the Empire State and 
followed agricultural pursuits during his entire life. 
Among his children were Roderick, who was born 
April 8, 1828, in the Green Mountain State. He 
accompanied his parents to New York ancf there 
was united in marriage with Miss Edna, daughter 
of Hamilton Babcock, a native of Vermont. Mr. 
Tabor and his excellent wife became the parents of 
six children, namely: Addie, Libbie, Fred, Hat- 
tie, Lottie and Charles E. 

About 1854 the father came to Michigan and 
settled in Lebanon Township, ou section 8. His 
first purchase comprised one hundred and twenty 
acres, which he afterward sold, and bought one 
hundred and fifteen acres on section 6. At that 
time the State was in a wild and unsettled condition, 
the dense forests being inhabited by Indians, and 
deer, bears, wolves and other wild animals were 
numerous. There were neither railways or public 
roads, but it was not long before all modern im- 
provements were introduced and the State took 
rank with the best. Mr. Tabor was a hard-working 
man, and he cleared and improved his land, and 
embellished it with substantial buildings. He made 
this homestead his residence until death called him 
from earth, February 24, 18t»l. His widow is still 
living at the age of sixty-two years, and makes her 
home with her son, Charles. Mr. Tabor was a 
Master Mason, and voted the Republican ticket. 
He served his fellow-citizens in various official 
capacities, among them holding the position of 
Supervisor and Highwaj' Commissioner. 

In Lebanon Townsiiip, Clinton Countj', where he 
was born, Charles E. Tabor, of this sketch, has 
always resided, with the exception of two years in 
Gratiot County. During his boyhood he received 
good common-school advantages and the knowledge 
gleaned from text-books has been increased by 
careful observation and constant reading. Upon 
the death of his father he fell heir to the old home- 
stead, and here he ft)llows general farming. Like 
his father, he believes in the principles adopted by 
the Re|iublican party and uniformly votes for the 




candidates who are pledged to its support. He was 
married, March 3, 1887, to Miss Millie Schoomaker, 
the marriage ceremony being solemnized in St. 
John's, Clinton County. The bride is the daughter 
of John and Mary A. Schoomaker, natives of New 
York. During the early history of this State, the 
father came hither and settled in Ionia County, 
where he still lives. Two children have blest the 
union of our subject and his estimable wife — Fred 
and Charles. Mrs. Tabor is an educated and 
refined woman, who looks well to the waj'S of her 
household, is devoted to husband and children, 
and full of kindly deeds to those about her. 



,/ILLIAM C. BOTSFORD. In the city of 
'I St. John's this gentleman has resided since 
1886, prior to which time he had .spent 
more than thirty years on farm land in Greenbush 
Township. He came to the State in 1853 and 

, established his home in the woods on section 27, Of 

] the township named. He bought a tract of land 
on which there was'a clearing of about two acres, 

' and set himself energetically to work to improve 
it in every part, and to add to its extent and to the 
income he would thereby receive. When he began 

I his work here he was the possessor of $200 in cash 
and from this small capital has grown an ample 
competence. He now has an estate of two hundred 
and forty acres and has given his eldest son one 
hundred acres of valuable land. His residence in 
St. John's is new and beautiful, and he and his ex- 
cellent wife are enjoj'ing that which they labored 
bard to acquire, and are taking an active part in 
social and benevolent affairs. 

Mr. Botsford was born in Genesee County, N. Y., 
June 12, 1829, and was very early thrown upon 
his own resources. His parents were Chandler and 
Anna (Drake) Botsford, natives of the Empire 
State, and he was their only son. He was but four 
years old when death deprived him of his father's 
care and two years later he was out among strang- 
ers. When twelve jears old he began the regular 
work of a farm hand and for his services from that 
time on he received from twenty-five cents per day 




<$'M 




PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



749 



to '¥i) and ^6 per inoiUli. Mis educational privil- 
eges were necessarily' limited as lie was able to at- 
tend school but a short time <luring the winter 
months, and his entire scliool li'e would probaljly 
not cover a period of more than a 3ear. 

It is needless and indeed impossible to give the 
details of Mr. Botsford's life, but the fact that he 
had a small sum of money when he came to this 
State shows that he was prudent and economical 
and that he had an aim in life that he was deter- 
mined to carrj' out. Those who are acquainted 
with the piimitive condition of the lands in Clinton 
Count}- know how hard he had to toil in bringing 
his estate to its present fine condition. In his ef- 
forts to make a home and secure a competence he 
was aided by a capable and devoted woman who 
l)ccame his wife April 17, 18.)6. She was born in 
Lenawee County, this State, was the daughter of 
William and Charitj- Leckenby and bore the name 
of Sarah A. Her judicious management of mat- 
ters which came within her control, and her good 
judgment, were of great assistance to him, while to 
her skill as a housewife he owed the creature com- 
forts which surrounded him. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Botsford there came two ciiildren who were named 
A'arian C. and William E. 

Mr. Botsford belongs to the Republican party 
and is well satisDed that its princi|)lcs are much 
better calculated to eniiance the welfare of the 
people than those laid down in any other platform. 
He has often been solicited to occupy positions of 
trust in the township but has preferred the more 
•quiet walks of life, and has served only as School 
Assessor of his district, a capacity in which he 
acted for twenty-one years in succession. 

EZRA WILSON HARVEY, M. D., a man of 
fine physique and commanding appearance, 
having in liini the noble qualities which 
come from the ol<l C^uaker stock, with these natural 
traits well supplemented by special training in his 
profession, has built up a large practice in Ban- 
croft, Shiawassee County. His parents, William 
and Druzella (Mills) Ilarve}', were born in Bucks 



County, Pa., of old Quaker families, and the}' made 
their early home in Canada where this son was born 
in Elgin County, near Sparta, August 13, 1853. 

In 1862 Mr. and Mrs. William Harvey came to 
Michigan and settled on a farm three miles from 
Pontiac, and four years later went to Lapeer Coun- 
t}- where the family still live. Their son, our sub- 
ject, remained at home until he reached the age of 
nineteen jears, attending first the common schools 
and later the Romeo High School. He began 
teaching near Imlaj' City,and tauglit there one win- 
ter and one winter at Attica. He had already be- 
gun to study medicine with his brother, Dr. James 
Harvey, a practitioner for twenlj'-five years .at 
Romeo, and for five years at Detroit. He took bis 
first course of lectures at Ann Arl)or in 1874 and 
1875, and spent the next two 3-ears at the Detroit 
Medical College, gr.aduating in a class of thirty- 
five students in 1877. 

Dr. Harvey next began practice at Vassar, Tus- 
cola Count}', Mich., but remained there only a 
short time, returning to L\peer County, and very- 
soon changing to Bancroft where he has since re- 
sided, with the exception of one year. His studies 
abroad have enabled him to take a prominent place 
in the profession. During 1882-83 he took hos- 
pital practice and clinics in London, Paris and 
Edinburgh. He was a pupil at St. Thomas Hos- 
pital, London, where the annual ticket cost ^700, 
and spent about a year at the Hotel Dieu in Paris. 
Upon resuming his practice he made a specialty of 
chronic and nervous diseases. During the spring and 
summer of 1890 he again went abroad, p.assing the 
season at (-linical work in London under special 
instruction in the hospitals, and devoting especial 
attention to gyniccology. 

Dr. Harvey's olfice work has largely increased 
since his European trips, and his success h.as been 
remarkable. He p.ays especial attention to surgical 
operations and is called to distant p;;rts of the State 
for special cases. He is a member of the County 
Medical Society, which is known as the Owosso 
Academy of Medicine, and is a prominent member 
of the State Medical Society. 

The domestic life of our subject is as worthy of 
record as his professional career. His marriage in 
1878, at Lningsburg, to Miss Lillian Belle Fox, a 



750 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



daughter of Dr. W. B. F'ox, not only gave hira an 
afcomplislied and lovely wife but connected him 
by marriage with that eminent physician whose 
fame is national. Mrs. Harvey was born in Illi- 
nois, and was for some years a teacher. One son, 
Wells B. Fox Harvey, is now twelve years of age, 
and Dr. Harvey's little namesake, Ezra, d'ed in in- 
fancy. Mrs. Harvey is a prominent member of the 
Congregational Church. The Doctor is a Repub- 
lican in his political views and was formerly an 
advocate of high tariff, but since his visits to Eu- 
rope lie has experienced a cliange of heart in this 
respect and now advocates free trade. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a lith- 
ographic portrait of Dr. Harvey presented on an- 
other page. 



FREDERICK W. NEWMAN, a retired flor- 
ist and landscape gardener who followed 
/ll, this line of work for many years in Ger- 
many, now residing in Owosso Township, .Shiawas- 
see County, Mich. He was born in the village of 
Griben, Prussia, November 28, 1828. His worthy 
parents, Christof anil Marie (Schroedcr) Newman, 
lived in the village just named, and tiie father was 
Inspector on a large plantation, and he and his wife 
silent tlieir days in their native country. Frede- 
rick was the youngest of four children, and entered 
school when only six years old, continuing in his 
studies until ho reached the age of fourteen years. 
He then went to Pottsdam, and there learned the 
trade of a Horist and gardener, continuing with his 
employer for three years, after which he took charge 
of a garden. He entered the Prussian Army at the 
age of twenty j'ears, and served two years in the 
regular army and three years in the Reserve Corps. 
He then returned to his business of superintendent 
of gardens. 

This young man like man}' another iiad learned 
of America, and of the opportunities for prosperity 
and progress to be found in the New World, and 
in 1856 he set sail from Hamburg on board tiie 
ship '■Humboldt," passing six weeks and three days 



on the ocean, and arriving at New York City, he 
journeyed to Cleveland. Ohio. He was in a com- 
pany of six families which had come together from 
his native land, vvho remained together until they 
reached Cleveland. Our subject then decided to 
go to Milford, Oakland Count}', Mich., and soon 
after secured a position in Detroit, taking charge 
of an extensive flower garden, where he continued 
for eighteen months. In 1858 he removed to 
Owosso, where he continued gardening and raising 
flowers, devoting his attention to new and choice 
varieties. 

In 18G1 this adopted citizen of our country en- 
listed in Company F, Ninth Michigan Infantry, 
Col. Dulfleld commanding, which regiment was as- 
signed to the Army of the Cumberland and took 
part in the following engagements: Murfeesboro, 
Stone River, Atlanta and Chattanooga, besides vari- 
ous less important fights. He continued in the 
service for two and one-half years, and then re-en- 
listed as a veteran in the same regiment, serving in 
all four years and three months. He was honor- 
ably discharged in October, 18G5. He held the 
rank of First Corporal, then was promoted to be 
Sergeant. 

After returning home this honored veteran re- 
turned to the pursuits of peace and clerked in a 
hardware store for two years for William Andrews, 
of Owosso, after which he took a |)osition in a gro- 
cery store, but finally returned to his much loved 
occupation of gardening and raising flowers. He 
built up a good business in this line, supplying 
plants and flowers to many localities throughout; 
the State, and also served the interests of the Ro- 
chester Nursery for two years. In 1881 he went 
to England, where he has a brother whom he visi- 
ted and remained five months; also spending seven 
months in Prussia with other relatives. Returning 
to his home he took up his business of gardener 
and florist, in which he continued until 1883. 

The subject of this brief sketch, was in 1857 
united in marriage with Louisa Frederaka Kar- 
sten, of Milford, Oakland County. She with her 
parents was of the party who came over the ocean 
on the same vessel with Mr. Newman; she was the 
daughter of Christof and Dora (Pangal) Karsten. 
She became the happj- mother of five promising 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



751 



chiUhcn, all of whom have lived to years of ma- 
turity', and have fully justilied tho fond expecta- 
tions of their parents. Louisa A. is the wife of 
Charles Briggnian; Clara Louise is the wife of R. 
B. Ketchuni, of Bay City; A<lolph R. is the fore- 
man in Robbins' Table Factory; Herman R. has 
gone to the Far West, and is located in New Mex- 
ico; and Bertha M. is at home. Mr. Newman owns 
three residence properties in Owosso which 3'ield 
him a good rental, besides his pleasant home at No. 
215 State Street, corner of Linn. He is a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He 
still pays some attention to gardening for various 
residents of his town, although he does not make a 
business of it. Politically he is a Republican. 




lOBERT CLARK. A good type of the Eng- 
lishman who has become thoroughly 
Americanized and who combines the push 
and energy of a citizen of the United 
States with the persistence and steadfastness of na- 
tives of the Mother Country, can be found in the 
person of Robert Clark, a resident of Eureka, Clin- 
ton Count}\ He was born in Lincolnshire, March 
16, 1835, being a son of Robert and Ann (Anson) 
Clark. He remained in bis native land until he 
reached his twentieth year, and then took passage 
at Hull on the sailing vessel '-Richard and Harriet" 
and after an ocean voyage of over six weeks landed 
at Quebec, Canada. He came direct to Wayne 
Count}', this State, but made only a short sojourn 
ere removing to Ionia County, where he followed 
his trade for a time. He had been apprenticed to 
a blacksmith when about fourteen years old, and 
had served five years, becoming an expert at the 
trade. 

About 18G2 Mr. Clark abandoned his trade and 
engaged in the sale of raorcliandise in the village 
of Eureka, where he had been living some six 
years, but working as a racelianic. He was the 
second bl.acksmith to locate in the pl.acc. After 
turning his attention to mercantile i)ursuits he 
gained the full confidence of the business circles 
with which he came in contact, and was soon re- 



garded by his patrons as one who was ready to 
cater as far as possible to their needs, and who 
woul'l treat them with marked courtesy at all 
times. In his dealings ho has been honor.able and 
straightforward, and his success h.-is been well de- 
served. 

The lady whom Mr. Clark made his wife, .Tuly 
10, 1858, was kown in her maidenhood as Han- 
nah Shire, and to them were born four children 
— Robert S., Nellie, (iettie and Anna May. Nel- 
lie is the wife of Addison Hulse, and Gettie is 
now the widow of the late R. E. Davies. Mr. 
and Mrs. Clark are lavish in their hospitality, and 
the home, which is pleasingly adorned and kept 
in perfect order by the wife, is often invaded by 
their friends, who are sure of a cordial welcome 
there. Besides the residence, Mr. Clark has con- 
siderable land in the locality, and worldlj' goods 
sufficient to insure him against want unless some 
unforeseen calamity befalls him. He is not only 
one of the leading and inilucntial citizens of 
Eureka, but is recognized as one of the substau- 
tip.l men of Clinton County, and one whose example 
can be noted as affording encouragement to others. 
Politically he is a Democrat, but with quite lib- 
eral ideas regarding party policy, and sociallj- he 
is connected with the Masonic order in St. 
John's. He and his wife belong to the Christian 
Church. 



El^^^- 



, OLLINS S E R G E A N T. The gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch is a dcsccnd- 
JJ ant of a good old New England family, 
and is proud of llic fact that his ancestors, both 
on the paternal and maternal side, have played no 
inconspicuous part in the early history of the 
Colony. Collins Sergeant, who resi.ies on his 
farm on section 21, Sliiawassee Township, was 
born in Sodus, Wayne County, N. Y., November 
29, 1818. Ills father, Richard 1!. .Sergeant, was 
born in Massachusetts, in which .State he and three 
brothers were enlisted in the War of 1812, and 
stationed at Sodus Point, N. V. This point, how- 
ever, proved not to be on the field t)f action. 



752 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



His mother, Hannah (Flarkness) Sergeant, was born 
in the oltl Bay State, where she met and married her 
husband. 

Our subject remained at home until about 
twenty years of age, and wlien he readied his 
m.ajority, in 1839, came to Michigan, where his 
uncle Stephen had already settled in the year 
1837. In 1841 he made an investment in land and 
the next year secured the place where he now 
resides. In tlie meantime he had been at work 
in the mill at Shiawassee. During the intervals 
of his work at the mill he spent the time in 
iinpioving the farm, getting ready a home to 
which he anticipated bringing iiis bride. 

Mr. Sergeant was united in marriage December 
31, 1846, .ind in 1847 he came to the farm, iiaving 
previous to this built a house. He has made his 
home on this place ever since. He is a public- 
spirited man, who, though modest about asserting 
liimself or his claims, has been pleased to assist in 
everything that promises to benefit the locality in 
which he lives. In politics he is a Republican, hav- 
ing voted for William H. Harrison in 1840, and 
again for his grandson in 1888. Since his malority 
he has not missed casting his vole at a single Presi- 
dential election. 

Mrs. Sergeant was known in her girlhood as 
Minerva Lemon, and she was a daughter of John 
and Julia Ann (Trowbridge) Lemon. The former 
was a native of Ireland, and tiie latter of New Jer- 
sey. The)' met in this country and were married 
in Steuben County, N. Y., where they located June 
29, 1823. In 1831 the family came to Micliigan, 
where they located in Troy, Oakland Count)-. In 
1840 the)' removed to Shiawassee County, about 
one mile north of their present home. Her fatlicr 
died soon after her marriage, at the &ge of fifty-six 
j'ears; her mother died in 1864, at the age of sixty- 
three jcars. Mr. Sergeant has a line family, all of 
whom are men and women wlio have taken their 
positions in life and are all useful members of so- 
ciety. Tlio eldest daugiiter, Elizabeth, married P. 
V. Shaefer and resides in Buffalo, N. Y.; Frank 
lives at home; Georgiana is Mrs. Rudolph Colby 
and resides in Sliiawasseo Township. Tlie son 
Frank has taken to wife a lady whose maiden name 
was Margaret H.adley. Our subject and his wife live 



all alone on tlieir pleasant farm. Their son Frank 
has a very beautiful home immediately adjoining 
the paternal estate. Two children, Ned and Lucy, 
brighten their home life. 



-^m- 




=^ ETII J. BARKER. The original of our 
sketch is a farmer located on section 8, 
Vernon Township. He was born in Her- 
kimer Count)', N. Y., in the town of 
Schuyle-, July 19, 1819. His father was Isaac 
Barker, a native of Massachusetts, wlio went to 
New York with his parents when a very small child. 
There he was reared and became a farmer. He 
came to this State in 1836 and settled in Lenawee 
County, wliere he located on a farm which had four 
acres cleared. He immediately planted all the 
available land in wheat, preparing other ground for 
the same crop as fast as possible. 

When our subject's father first settled in Vernon 
Township there was only part of a log house on the 
place. He finished this primitive habitation and 
moved in with his family. The work of clearing, 
fencing, putting up new buildings, plowing, plant- 
ing and reaping occupied the years until he died, 
at the hale old age of eighty-four. He was Repub- 
lican in politics and a member of the Baptist 
Church. Our subject's i)atornal grandfather, Paul 
Barker, was also a farmer in Massachusetts. 

The maiden name of our subject's mother was 
Hulilah Whaley, whose place of nativity is not 
known to her son. She lived to be eighty-four 
years old. Herkimer County, N. Y., was tlie place 
of their marriage. They were tiie parents of six 
children, all sons, three of whom are now living. 
The origin.al of our sketch is the third son. His 
first school-days were sj'cnt in Jlonroe County, N. 
Y., and when he came to Michigan with liis par- 
ents, a young man of seventeen years, he was at the 
age to anticipate much pleasure from the adven- 
tures that would be met in pioneer life. He re- 
mained at home until he reached his majority, when 
he entered the service of neighboring farmers, 
working by the month until he came to Shiawassee 
County and settled in Vernon Township, one 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



753 



mile south of Vernon where he purchused a place. 
He improveil the farm to a great extent, at 
first building a log house, the modest dimensions 
of which were 18x22 feet. In 1865 he sold out 
his farm and moved into Vernon, where he re- 
maincil for six 3- ears. 

In 1871 village life having lost its attraction for 
him, he moved to the farm where he now resides. 
In 1816 Mr. Barker was united in marriage with .lane 
Harrington, a native of New York. They were 
the parents of four children, two daughters and 
two sons, two of whom died in infancy. Romaine 
died at the age of fifteen years; Nellie, who became 
the wife of W. E. Parish, died at the age of thirty 
years, leaving one daughter, who is now a member 
of our subject's family'. Mrs. Barker died in 1881 
and Mr. Barker was again married, taking for his 
wife Celia, daughter of Archibald Purd^-. .She was 
born in Shiawassee County, Bennington Township, 
March 16, 1841, and was reared and educated in 
the same place. She was formerly' married July 1, 
1860, to C. S. Clark, by whom she had three daugh- 
ters. They were named respectively : Fanny, the 
wife of Case Reed, who resides in Vernon Town- 
ship; they have two children, a son and a daugh- 
ter. Carrie is at home; Ella died at the age of 
three years. Mrs. Barker's father, Archibald 
Purdy, was one of the earliest settlers in Shiawas- 
see County. Mr. Barker has a fine farm of one 
hundred and two acres and devotes himself to gen- 
eral farming. He is a Rei)ubiican in i)i)iilic>, iiis 
first vote having been cast for William H. Harrison 
in 1840, and since that time he has never missed 
l)ut one I'residential vote. 



eHARLES II. PHILLIP.S. This Union vet- 
eran is carrying on a prosperous career as a 
farmer and is known to many as one of 
those to whom Lebanon Township, Clinton Counlj', 
owes its agricultural status. His property forms 
l)art of section 20, the estate consisting of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres, a large part of which was 
cleared and broken by himself. .Mr. Phillips is a 



Wolverine, born in Wayne County, May 21, 1830. 
His home was there until 1862, since which lime he 
lias been identified with the progress of Clinton 
County. He first bought eight}' acres of land here 
and afterward added a forty and in due time had 
the whole under excellent improvement. 

Mr. Phillips traces his ancestry to an old \'er- 
mont family, his grandfather, Jonathan Phillii)S. 
having been born in the Green Mountain Slate. 
That gentleman w.as twice married and reared a 
famil}' of seventeen children. His eldest son was 
in the War of 1812. David, tiie direct progenitor 
of our subject, w.as a j-ear old when the family re- 
moved to New York, journeying in a w.agon drawn 
bvoxen. He lived in Ontario County until he was 
about twenty-five years old, and in 1826 came to 
Michigan and setiled in Wayne Count}'. He was 
the first to locate in Plymoutii Township and his 
eldest son was the first while child born there. He 
endured all the hardships of pioneer life, but by 
hard work made a line farm of the quarter- section 
of land from which he removed the forest growth 
and on which he broke the viigin soil. He was 
first married to Parna Ikillur and their children 
were Oscar, Jonathan, Charles, Benjamin P., 
Amanda, Davidson and Daviii. His second wife 
was Jane Sackelt and her children were Sarah, 
Mar}', Martha, J. C, Millon and Clarissa. The 
father died in 1881, at a good old age. 

We would fail to do credit t,o the character of 
Charles II. Phillips were we to omit from this 
record a mention of his work as a soiilier. He en- 
listed August 12, 1862, in the Twenty-first Michi- 
gan Infantry and was assigned to Company K. 
He took part in many campaign duties, including 
hard marches and skirmishes (jf greater or less im- 
portance and fought in llio battles of Bentonville 
and Stone River. During the latter he was 
wounded and taken prisoner the last day of De- 
cember, 1862. He was held but live days, then 
paroled and until May 20 he remained in the hos- 
pital at Murfreesboro. Thence he was taken to 
Nashville and about the first of October was ex- 
changed. He returned to his regiment and re- 
mained with it until the close of the war anti 
received his discharge in June, 186"). He was one 
of the participants in the eight days' siege of Sa- 



754 



I'ORTKAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



vannali and he difl what he could on many a field 
to keep the old flag intact. His army life is kept in 
memory through his connection with Russell Post, 
G. A. R., in Hubbardston. In exercising the 
right of suffrage Mr. Pliillips always uses a Repub- 
lican ballot. 

The lady to whom Mr. Phillips owes tiie comfort 
of his home became his wife in Wayne County, in 
1856. She is the daughter of John Stringer, who 
came to this State during its early settlement, lived 
on a farm but followed the carpenter's trade most 
of his life. The given name of Mrs. Phillips is 
Phebe A. To her and her husband one child has 
come, a son, Benjamin F., wlio lives on a farm in 
the same townsiiip .as bis parents. He married 
Miss Minolta Winans; they have one daughter, 
Gracie. 



— ^-^^^^^^^-S- 



^(_^IRAM WKHSTP]R, M. D. The gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch is a practic- 
ing physician at Byron. He was born in 
Ogden, Mcnroe Counl3', N. Y., Marcli 13, 
1821, and was the son of Dr. John and Susan (Al- 
len) Webster. The former was born in Berkshire 
County, Mass., where he was reared. He took up 
his residence in Monroe County, N. Y. in the year 
1800. There he read medicine, was gi-.iduated and 
began liis practice, which he continued until his 
death. His wife also died there; she was horn in 
Js'ew York Stale. The fi.lher of our subject was 
a Democrat and held numerous local oflices. Both 
he and his wife were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He was a man who secured a 
comfortable competence dining his lifetime, but 
probab'y considered that his chief treasure was his 
children, of whom he had eleven. Eight of his sons 
reached years of maturity and one daughter lived 
to call her parents blessed. The gentleman of 
whom we wiile was the youngest son. 

Dr. Webster remained at home in his native town 
until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went 
to l>ockport, N. Y. and began reading medicine 
with Dr. Samuel T. Teall, and subsc(iuently was 
graduated at the American Eclectic Medical Col- 



lege at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854. Previous to his 
graduation he had practiced medicine in New York 
State under a license. In 1851 he came to Byron, 
this State, where he had been engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession, with the exception of some 
short intermissions spent in travel and in attending 
lectures in the East. Dr. Webster enjoys the dis- 
tinction of being the oldest practitioner of Byron 
and one of the oldest in the county, having been 
in practice here fcu' forty years. 

Owing to the advanced age of our suljject, he is 
gradually retiring from practice and is giving 
more or less of his lime and attention to agricul- 
ture. He owns a farm of tliirty-livo acres in Burns 
Township, Shiawassee County, part of which is in- 
side the corporate limits of Byron. Here he takes 
delight in the raising of small fruit, giving special 
attention to that most delicious of fruits — grapes. 
It is not Dr. Webster's desire to make a business of 
this work, although there is a great demand in the 
local markets for the gr.ades of fruit which he 
delights in cultivating. He also has a fine aviary, 
giving much attention to bee culture. 

He whose name heads our sketch started in life 
with only what nature had given him, and the 
advantages that he .acquired in his school-life. He 
says that when he landed in Byron in 1851 he was 
not worth ten cents and was a total stranger. So 
energetic and pushing was he, however, that it was 
not long before he had a large and lucr.itive pr.ac- 
tice. He is a well-reacj jihi'sician, one who was 
never content to stand still in his profession, real- 
izing that the i)ossibilities in medicine are without 
limit. He is a man in whom all have great confi- 
dence, both personally and as a physician. In pol- 
itics he is a Democrat and his party have shown 
their confidence in his integrity .and sim|)li(ity of 
purpose by bestowing upon him several of the best 
otliees of the township. He has at various times 
times been Clerk, Justice of the Peace and Health 
Oflicer, Village Trustee and is a member of the 
M.asonic order, in which he has a Master liegree — 
being one of the oldest members of the lodge. 

In 1811 Dr. Webster was married to Miss Betsey 
Odle of Niagara County, N. Y. She was born at 
Plattsburg, N. Y. about 1826 and was a daughter 
of MiloOdlc. Mrs. Webster died in 1850. Dr. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



755 



Webster was for a second time united in marriage, 
tliis time to Miss Adelia Cargiil of Genesee County, 
this State; siie was born in New Yorii State, March 
11, 1829, her native place being Canandaigua, On- 
tario Count}'. She was the daughter of Hartford 
and Alice (Paul) Cargiil, who were among the 
first settlers of Genesee Coimty, this State. Dr. 
Webster and wife have had four children who are 
•IS follows: Estella, wife of William L. Dibble of 
Shepard, this State; Charles, who died at the age 
of three years; Elvira, wife of D. G. Roycc, post- 
master and merchant at Byron and Lucy A., who 
died at the age of eleven months. 



-^1^ 



1—1-3 






/p^EOHGK W. PRIE.ST, one of the foremost 
iij (— ^ pioneers of Shiawassee County, residing on 
^5^ section 8, "N'enice Township, is a member of 
an honorable old New England family, and a son 
of Joshua Priest, a \^errcont farmer, born in 1781, 
who fought at the battle of Sackett's Harbor and 
was there wounded and became a pensioner of the 
Government. The mother of our subject, Polly 
Edmunds, a Vermonter and a relative of Senator 
Edmunds, was born in 1788. 

The parents of our subject entered the marriage 
state in Jefferson County, N. Y. and resided there 
until 183G, when they removed to Michigan, set- 
tling upon a farm in Washtenaw County, but after- 
ward removed to Clinton County, where they 
died, he in 1846, and she in 1872. Of their large 
family of fourteen children, four only are living, 
namely; our subject; Electa, Mrs. Smith; Lucina, 
Mrs. Culver; and Alzina, Mrs. Church. 'I'lie father 
was a Democrat in liis political views. 

Jefferson Count}', N. Y., was the native home of 
our subject who was l)orn March 25, 1814. In his 
early boj'hood he went to the district school a dis- 
tance of from two to four miles and left home 
when he was twenty years old. During the first 
year he had occupation upon the farm at |I0 a 
month. After a sliorl visit home he went to Rod- 
man, Jefferson County, N. Y. and hired out to care 
for horses and cows, at 115 a month. After about 
six months service here he drove a team of horses 



to Michigan, making Marshall his objective point. 
He did teaming for a season, but being alllicled 
witli inllamniation of the eyes, he returned to his 
father's home, which was tliei. in Washtenaw 
Count}', and there he remained unlil his marriage, 
at the age of twenty-five years. 

George Priest married Judith A. Luther, May 
18, 1839. Her parents, Martin and Hannah, (Ed- 
munds) Luther, were natives of ^'ernlont and Mas- 
sachusetts respectively. The father disappeared iu 
some mysterious way many years ago and the 
mother died in 1823. Judith was then adopted by 
a Mr. Robinson, in New York State, who came .to 
Michigan in 1830, and settled in Lodi Township, 
Washtenaw County. After attending the district 
school she taught for some time. 

After marriage the young coui)le made their 
home in Shiawassee County, upon the farm where 
they now reside. They took up eighty acres of 
Government land all timber, in beech, maple, 
basswood and oak. Indians and wild animals 
abounded and only two other families were near 
enough to be called neighbors, namely : the house- 
holds of IMr. Wilkinson and I\Ir. liunce. Mr. 
Priest built a log house thirteen logs high, every 
log in which was rock elm. With the help of nine 
men and a yoke of cattle he raised a log barn 
24x26 feet and did it in one day. For years it was 
the only barn in that neighborhood. He was very 
enterprising from the first and the very first spring 
planted corn among the logs and potatoes, after 
which the neighljors hel|)ed him to log the licld. In 
the fall he ()ul in wheat which came up finely, but 
an unexpected and heavy frost on June 10, cut it 
down. A second crop was put in and grew well 
but it was affected by the rust, and he cut it down 
and fed it for fodder to his one cow. During the 
first eight years he did not possess $8 In money, 
but worked out to obtain everything which he did 
nut raise ujjon the farm. He passed through 
severe struggles in thus eslal)lishing a new home. 
lie manufactured black salts and as he had the only 
team in the neighborhood he was able to haul the 
salts to Pontiac and thus procure provisions. 

It was January 4th that they first made their 
home in this wild place and it was the month of 
.lune before Mrs. Priest set her foot outside the 



756 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



woods, so isolated was her life. They had religious 
services and when they went to cliurch the whole 
neighborhood went on a sled drawn^by two yoke of 
oxen. Mrs. Priest had a silk dress which was a 
|)OSsessioi) in those days, .is there was none other 
here. The log cabin sheltered them for twenty 
years and then they built in 1861 the home in 
which they now reside. In preparing to build the 
log house he bad no boards and no broad ax with 
which to hew out puncheons. lie borrowed one 
from a neighbor who lived five miles away and 
after a few days returned it at the appointed time, 
and trudged off five miles in another direction to 
borrow another which he had to return soou as it 
was needed. Thus he hewed out basswood punch- 
eons for the Boor. Tbere was no chimney and uo 
door to this log house, and a quilt was hung up to 
serve as a portiere, although that word was then 
unknown to these sturdy pioneers. They greatly 
felt the lack of fruit and the following spring 
sowed some rutabagas to serve in its place. 

Mr. Priest now has one hundred and ninety acres 
of land more than one-ninth of which is improved, 
and most of this he cleared with his own strong 
right arm. He has now retired from active work 
and he allows his son to run the farm. They have 
five children of their own and one adopted daugh- 
ter. Their oldest, Laura, born in 1840, married 
Gleason Youngs and lives in this township with her 
husband and two children: Albert, born in 1842, 
married Sarah J. Morrison, and has two sons; he is 
living in Hancock. Helen M., bom in 1843, the 
wife of Norman Leland, lives in Owosso. Joseph, 
born in 1844, married Sarah Wilkinson and lives 
in Corunna and has three children. George, 
born in 1848, married Priscilla Nichols and has 
three children; he lives on the farm. The adopted 
daughter — Minnie Van Ness — born in 1858, is 
the wife of Henry Lyons and lives in Hazelton 
Townshi|). 

The mother of these children is an earnest and 
devoted member of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
Priest has always been inlerested in political move- 
ments and has held the ollice of Highway Com- 
niistioner. He is a member of the Masonic order, 
having taken the Hoyal Arch degree. He helped 
to organize ^'enicc Township and has been a 



member of the local School Board. They are both 
in good health and spirits and are regarded in the 
most friendly manner by all their neighbors far 
and near. When he first came to Michigan, after 
getting settled, he had thirteen shillings in his 
pocket, with which to carry his family through the 
winter. Letter postage was then two shillings and 
a letter came for him after his money was all 
gone. He had to borrow the twent3-five cents for 
thirty days in order to get it. 



♦-^^^ 



E^ 



ifp^RED R. DARLING. When a young man 
it^gV' shows his mettle by assuming the care and 
/li ^ responsibilities of a family in earl}' boyhood 
and successfully carries through his undertaking, 
one naturally expects that he will attain promi- 
nence in everything that he endeavors to do. Our 
subject, who is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 
21, Fairfield Township, Shiawassee County, was 
born November 25, 1858, and is the son of Oscar 
and Charlotte (Tillotson) Darling, natives of New 
York and Ohio respectively. 

Our subject's father moved to Ohio in his early 
manhood, and here he met and married Charlotte 
Tillotson, their union taking place October 15, 
1851. They began their married life together in 
Ohio and there remained for three j-ears, when in 
1854 they came to this State and located at the 
home occupied at present by the original of our 
sketch. The tract was at that time a dense forest, 
there being not even a road any place near. The 
father died on the farm August 6, 187G. Our 
subject was a youth of eighteen years at that time, 
but he soon came to the front and showed his 
ability to manage, seconded by the counsel of his 
mother. He is one in a family of five, namely: 
Dilla, Ida, our subject, Masy and Annette. The 
eldest daughter married Allen Biadshaw and lives 
in Clinton County, this State; Ida became the wife 
of Charles Bennett and lives in I>iiplain, Clinton 
County; Mary is the wife of Hudson Goodrich 
and lives in Rose, Oakland County, this State. 
The youngest sister married Wilbur Johnson and 
lives in Antrim County. 











RtlSIDEMCe or A. C. BENMETT_,5ec.l^.,DUPLAIN TR, CLINTON CO. .MICH, 



>^-~<^' ■•^^^•-^**- ■-" 




RE51DEMCE OF FRLC. DARLING, SF.C . 21. , FAl Rfl ELD -TP., SHI AWA5SEE CO., MICH , 



PORTRAIT AND HJOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 



759 



Mr. Darling was man-iod Xoveraber J, 188;"), to 
a lady whose maiden name was Adda Cunninghani, 
a daughter of Joseph aud .lane (Culver) Cunning- 
ham. Mrs. Darling was born in Canada, as were 
her parents. Iler natal day was January 1 1, 18fio. 
The original of our sketch is the father of two 
children: Clarence O., who died January 25, 1889, 
and Blanche Elizabeth, who was born February 
19, 1890. Our subject has a good farm of eighty 
acres, which formerly belonged to his father but 
v.'hich he has acquired by buying out the interests 
of the other heirs. Only a common-school educa- 
tion was cnjo3'ed by Mr. Darling, but he is a bright 
progressive ^-oung man for whom native intelli- 
gence and ability does much. In politics he is a 
Republican but has never been an oflice-seeker. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a view 
of the comfortable homestead owned and managed 
by Mr. Darling. 



^flLBERT C. BENNETT, one of the pioneers 
of Duplain Township, Clinton County, is 
[/ Isi there carrying on a prosperous business as 
farmer and stock raiser. He was born in 
Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio, his natal day 
being September 18, 1831. Oliver R. and Eliza- 
beth (Ford) Bennett were his p.ircnls, the father 
being a native of New Hampshire and the mother 
born in the old Bay State. It was in that com- 
monwealth the}' united their fortunes in marriage 
in 1816 and after living a number of years in New 
York they Ijccame pioneers in Jledina County, 
Ohio. 'I'he subject of this sketch was next to the 
youngest in a large family. There were seven 
brotliers and one sister, but the sister was called 
from earth while quite young and the seven 
brothers grew to manhood side by side. Four of 
them emigraleil to Michigan and two of these have 
been laid to rest here, leaving families to mourn 
their loss. 

Albert had reached his niajority liefore coming 
West and had been careful!}' Iraincd liy his parents 
in the duties of the home and farm as well as 



received a good common-school education. The 
father, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, was 
given a land warrant on account of his services 
during that period of conllict. He entered land in 
Michigan for his sons and our subject located upon 
an eighty-acre tract which was thus obtained. 
Tills bad been given to two of the brothers but 
Albert bought out the interest of the other one. 

The marriage of our subject with Caroline iM. 
Sexton, daughter of Henr}- and Minerva (Feel) 
Sexton, took place November 1, 1855. Mrs. Ben- 
nett's father was a native of the Empii'e Stale and 
her mother was from Connecticut. Caroline Sex- 
ton was born February 19, 1835, in Wolcotl, New 
Haven County, Conn. The family resided for 
many years in Medina Count}', Ohio, before com- 
ing to Duplain Township, Clinton County, where 
they settled in 1850. Three children have blessed 
this union: Clara M., born October 8, 1858, who 
• makes her home with her parents; Nellie M., born 
November 2, 1862, now the wife of John Caswell, 
whom she married November 20, 1884, and by 
whom she had two children, Ina Belle and Lcnn B. ; 
Eva, born July 31, 18G6, was married to Marion 
L. Tillotson January 14, 1886, and is the mother of 
one child, Fred. 

Mr. Bennett is proud to claim a Scotch ancestry, 
as he believes that he inherits much of value from 
that sturdy, persevering and lionorable race. He 
was a Whig in his early days and cast his first 
Presidential vote for John P. Hale, who failed of 
election to the Presidential chair. He has of late 
found his political convictions emliodied in the 
declarations of the Re|)ul)lican party and casts his 
ballots for its candidates. 

When our subject moved to his present home in 
1855 there were only four square rods cleared and 
the road ran for only a few rods north of his home. 
In order to reach a point where he had promised 
to assist at a raising, only four and oiic-li:ilf miles 
from his home, he had to go by such a circuitous 
route as took him into four counlies. In those 
days wild game aliouiidcd and deer, bears and 
other wild animals came alinosl to his doorstep. 
Many a night have he and his family listened to 
the howling of the wolves. Those pioneer days 
are now all passe<l, ;ind the |)ros|)erity which has 



760 



JfORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



corae to 111 is worthy family is a just reward for 
ILeir iiiilustry, uiillagginf^ perseverance ami enter- 
prise. 

Mr. Bennett lias a fine homestead, a view of 
wliieli appears on another page. Of this place he 
may be justly proud, for it is an ornament to the 
township. 



-^ 



-^^ 



-}- 




NDREW M. VAN DEUSKN. The name 
at tiie head of this sketch is that of the oc- 
cupant of the farm on section 16, Fair- 
field Township, Shiawassee Count}'. He 
was born July 30, 1847, in Medina County, Ohio, 
and is the oldest of a family of ten children, five 
of whom grew to years of maturity and four of 
these are still living. He is the son of Ralph Henry 
and Marictte M. (Rockwell) Van Deusen, the 
father still lives in the vicinity in Clinton County. 
The mother is deceased, having died in .lune, 1891. 
When our subject was only eight years of age he 
removed from his native place? with his [larenls 
and came to this State. His early life was spent 
on a farm and he received but a common-school 
education. His natural iiiclinations, however, are 
of a literary turn and he has ever been an omniv- 
crous and intelligent reader. 

When seventeen years of age o'irsubject enlisted 
in the war of the rebellion, August 24, 1864. The 
conipany which he joined was Company E, Twenty- 
ninth IMiehigan Infantry. During his service he 
saw much lis.rd fighting. He was in the battle at 
Decatur, Ala. and at Stone River, al-o at Nashville 
and vvas a participant in several other eng.agements. 

He was detailed to do telegraph duty, which 
was considered a most dangerous post but was so 
fortunate as to escape without injury. At the end 
of the war he was honorably discharged, Se|)teraber 
25, 1865. 

Three years after Mr. \'an Duesen left the army 
he was united in marriage, May 10, 1868, to Miss 
Hattie E. Cifford, a daughter of Ara and Abby 
Cifford. He immediately went to work at farm- 
ing, which calling he has ever since followed. Our 
subject's wife was born in Northville, Fulton 
County, N. Y., April 5, 1849. She movutl with 



her parents to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, when about 
two years of .age ami from there to Tuscola County, 
Mich., when in her fifth year. She went to Oakland 
County when fourteen years of age and thence 
came to Shiawassee Count}' when in ihe full bloom 
of maideniiood. Our subject and his wife arc child- 
less, and the interest that they would naturally have 
given to the little ones had they come to their home 
has been devoted to the helpless and friendless and 
to the development of the resources within their 
reach. 

Mrs. Van Duesen is a member of the United 
Brethren Church. Our subject is a man full of un- 
usual intelligence and has a vast fund of general 
information. He is of great generosit}' of nature 
and though limited in means, does his share in .ad- 
vancing every interest of the communit}-. He has 
been awarded a pension for his services in the late 
war but it is less than he deserves. 

The parents of our subject's wife were natives 
of Fulton Couiity, N. Y. Her father was born 
August 20, 18;i2, and the mother's natal day was 
March 31, 1837. Mrs. Van Deusen vvas her par- 
ents' only cliild; her father was a farmer of good 
financial siaiuliiig. 

If^ ASON WOOD. The firm of M. Wood & 
Co., is one of the most prominent in 
Owosso and is carrying on a money-mak- 
ing business. The work in which they are 
engaged is the manufacture and sale of all kinds of 
hickory handles, vvhillie-trees and neck-yokes. They 
make a s|)ecialty of ax handles, but have also a 
large a demand for those which are used on other 
tools, paiticularly ra'lroad and miners' picks and 
the heavy tools of mechanics. The capacity of the 
plant is two thousand iiandles per day and the es- 
tablishment is a building 14.\60 feet, with an en- 
gine room 24x50 feet. Improved machinery is 
used, some of the lathes being of Mr. Wood's own 
invention, and a force of nearly a score of men is 
employed. 

Mr. Wood is of English ancestry and former gen- 
erations of the paternal branch lived in Mass.achu- 



PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAFHlCAL ALBUM. 



761 



suits, while liis mollicr's family bclonfjcd to anotlicr 
part of New England. The parents of our subject 
were Joel and Phebe ( Yeomans) Wootl, natives of 
Massachusetts and New York respective!}', who, 
after their marriage settled in Chenango County. 
There the father carried on a farm until 1847, when 
he went to Medina County, Ohio, anil made that 
his home until 1882. He then came to Owosso, 
where he died some three years later. His wife had 
been removed from him by death in 1875. Their 
family consisted of five children, but three only 
survive, and Mason is the second on the family 
roll. 

Our subject was born in Chenango County, N. 
Y., February 19, 1826. He attended school in llu! 
neighboring town of Preston and then worked on 
a farm until he was nineteen years old, when lie 
began to make fanning-mills. He ne.\t learned the 
trade of a gunsmitli, at which he busied himself 
twelve years, having come to this State in 1855. 
FiCaving the work of a gunsmith he spent four 
j'cars in blacksmilliing, and then spent eighteen 
months in a tour in the Northwest and in mining 
in Idaho and Montana. 

Returning to Owosso Mr. Wood spent two years 
in farm work, and then put up a shop and worked 
at gunsmilhing about two years. In 1871 he be- 
gan on a small scale the business in which he is 
now engaged, doing all work by hand, then put 
up a lathe in compan}' with Charles C)sburn, car- 
ried on the business six months. The lathe did not 
work properly and he resumed liand work and 
jilanned ira|)rovements on the machine, i)erfecting 
them within a few years. He next formed a part- 
nership with David A. Gould, and the business 
was placed upon a solid footing. After his death 
his son, E. A. Gould, assumed his father's interest 
in the firm. The mechanical skill and ingenuity 
of Mr. Wooil is now made available for the arl van- 
tage of the firm, and by the aid of skilled workmen 
and Orst-class machinery they are enabled to turn 
out products which are serviceable and reliable. 

When in his twenty fourth year Mr. Wood was 
married to Miss Maria CJilbert, ilaughtcr of Orin 
Gilbert ami a native of Portage County, Ohio. To 
them has been born one daughter, AUie M., who is 
with her parents. The family occupies an attrac- 



tive residence on the corner of West Main and 
Lansing Streets in a delightful neighborhood. Mr. 
Wood is a Republican and has been from the time 
he was al^le to exercise the right of suffrage. He 
is identified with Owosso Lodge, No. 88, I. O. O. 
K. He has an e.Kcellent reputation in business cir- 
cles, and his somewhat checkered career has given 
him a large fund of experience and observation 
from which to draw items of interest and instruc- 
tive facts. 



mi^^~)\'^^m 




RED S. RUGGLES, M. D. The ills that 
flesh is heir to are so numerous and com- 
mon that he who is proficient in the science 
of healing has a strong hold upon his fellow-men. 
If to his ability and a knowledge of book lore he 
adds a knowledge of human nature and is strongly 
sympathetic, a man cannot fail to succeed in his 
chosen profession. Dr. lluggles, who is a promi- 
nent man in Shiawassee County, Mich., and who 
almost has a monopoly of the practice of medicine 
in his vicinity, is a plain, unassuming but keenly 
intelligent man whose personal power over his fel- 
low-men, and especially his weak patients, has 
assured him a high standing in his profession: 

Dr. Riiggles was born in Lydon, Caledonia 
County. Vt., June 15, 185G. He was a son of 
Ephraim H. and Susan (Stoddard) Ruggles, who 
are natives of Vermont where they still live. The 
father of the subject of our sketch has been a 
farmer all liis life, but now having acquired a com- 
petency and having a delightful home, living in all 
the comforts that early effort could secure, he has 
retired from active business. He is a Repulilican 
in sentiment, but has never held any office. He 
and his wife are members of the Frec-Will Baptist 
Church. They have three children, namely : Hal- 
sty, Charles, and the original of our sketch, Fred 
S., all of whom are living. The eldest two sons 
still live in their native State and county. 

The original of our sketch was reared in his na- 
tive town on the farm, and received his education 
in the district schools and from the Lydon Literaiy 
Institule. He remained with his [jarents until he 



762 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



reached his iwentj'-tliird year, when, desiring spec- 
ial instruc.ljn in medicine, lie came to Ann Arbor, 
Mich., there entering the homeopathic department 
of medicine. [lere he gr.iduated in the spring of 
1881. .Soon after leaving college he located in 
Brighton, tJiis Slate, where he began his practice. 
Dr. Ruggles reuinined here, however, only three 
months and then went to Ypsilanti where he also 
practiced a few months. In 1882 he came to By- 
i-on, Shiawassee Count}', and has been constantly 
engaged in the healing art ever since at that place. 

For the past six years Dr. Ruggles, besides his 
medical profession, has carried on the drug busi- 
ness at Bj'ron. He is a member of the Michigan 
State Homeopathic Society. He holds a Master 
degree in the Masonic order and is a Knight of the 
Maccabees. In politics he is an ardent Republican. 

June 29, 1881, the gentleman of whom we write 
was united in marriage to Miss Effie A. Knapp, of 
Salem, Washtenaw Count}', Mich. Tlie lady was 
born in the place of her marriage and is the daugh- 
ter of INIyron E. and Amanda Knapp. Dr. Ruggles 
and lady have had one child, a daughter, Agnes M. 



,R. ARTHUR H. KEN YON is one of the most 
prominent dentists in St. .John's, liaving a 
large and lucrative practice by which his 
time is fully occupied. He is a native of the Empire 
State, born in Clinton, Oneida County, May 22, 
185.5. His father, Henry B. Kenyon, was a native of 
Brookfield, Madison County, and in his early years 
was a farmer, but later became a clerk in a general 
produce house in ("linton. He died when but 
fort}' years old, leaving six cliildren, the youngest 
of whom was A. H. Politically he was a strong 
Republican and religiously he was an earnest Meth- 
odist. His father, ^'arnam Kenyon, w.as a native 
of Schoharie County, N. Y., whither his parents 
had gone from Connecticut. 

The wife of Henry Kenyon, and mother of our 
subject, bore tlie maiden name of Chloe Lamb. 
She was born in Brookfield, N. Y., and her father, 
Amos Lamb, was a native of Connecticut. He was 
a farmer and a man of means, spent a great deal of 



time and money in carrying on religious work and 
was a leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
near liis home. As an exhorter he labored to up- 
build tlie cause of Christianity. His father, wlio 
was a Revolutionary soldier, was one of the early 
settlers in Madison County and named Colchester 
Township after his old home in the "Land of Steady 
Habits." Jlrs. Chloe Kenyon is now quite ad- 
vanced in years, having i)een born in 1818. She 
is living in Brookfield, Madison County, N. Y. 

Dr. Ken}on lived in his nalive place until lie 
was about nine years of age, when, his father hav- 
ing died, his widowed mother retnined to the home 
of iier youth with her family. For two years the 
lad remained with his Grandfather Lamb and he 
then worked out r> year on a farm for his board 
and clothes. The mother married Loreu Burdick, 
a farmer of Madison County, and A. H. spent two 
years willi her, having the opportunity of attend- 
ing school during the winter. He then began 
working out again, now securing wages, and he 
kept on as a farm hand until 1872. He then spent 
two years in a machine shop, after which he was 
a clerk about the same length of time. 

In February, 1874, young Kenyon came to this 
State and for five months he lived with Mr. Camp- 
bell in Greenbush Township, Clinton County. He 
then spent some three years in the employ of the 
St. John's Manufacturing Company and then took 
up the study of dentistry, spending a year in the 
office of Dr. E. F. Sanders. He next returned East 
and spent a summer at the old home in Brookfield, 
N. Y., still studying dental surgery. Returning to 
St. John's he studied a year longer and in 1880 
opened an otlice. He has not only been successful 
in securing a reputation that brings him plenty of 
work, but he has acquired some property, including 
a farm of eighty acres in Bengal Township, which 
is under good improvement and rents for a fair 
sum. 

Dr. Kenyon was married in Ovid in 1883 to 
Miss Mary Allen, a native of Pontiac. She was 
reared and educated at her native jjlace, had good 
schooling and careful i)arental training, and under- 
stands how to make her home cosy and attractive. 
She and iier husband have many friends and stand 
well Willi their associates. The Doctor votes the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



763 



Republican ticket. As a solf-mado man in the 
tniosl sense, lie is deserving of commendalion, and 
such lie receives from all who know the dilHculties 
under which he labored and through which he ad- 
vanced to his present position. 



<il lilLLIAM T. DAVIES, a prominent and 
\/\jI/ P''Osperous citizen of Clinton Count}-, and 
\^^ a member of the well-known lirm of >V. T. 
& R. E. Davies, manufacturc-s of the celebrated 
Greenbush Fanning Mills, was born in Ilytlie, Kent 
County, England, August 30, 1829. He is a son 
of Robert and Mary A. Dnvics, and a brother of 
his partner, of whom a sketch ap|)ears in this vol- 
ume, lie was reared to manhood in his native 
country and there received a fair education, yet he 
is largely self-educated, as he has always kept his 
eyes open and sought out means and sources of in- 
formation. This young man emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1851, taking passage at London on a sail 
vessel, and making what was then considered a 
short voyage of tv,'enty-six and one half days, 
making port at New York City. He went to Lyons, 
N. Y.. ami there served an apprenticeship of 
three ) ears at the fanning mill tra<le. He sub- 
sequcntl}' came to Michigan and for a short 
lime worked as journeyman at his trade in Grand 
Rapids. 

In 1 S;).5 the subject of tiiis sketch and his brother, 
R. E. Davies, established themselves in Greenbush 
Township. Clinton Count}', where they have since 
continued. They first commenced manufacturing 
fanning mills on a small scale, and the celebrated 
"Greenbush Fanning Mill" is their special i)roduct 
and the)- also put out a large supiily of milk safes. 
The marriage of Mr. Davies with Miss Jeannette 
M. Sevy, a sister of Ozi 15. Sev)', of whom a sketch 
appears in this Ai.uum, occurred in Greenbush 
Township. To them have been born six children, 
five of whom are still living, namel)-: Hattie E., 
Mary L., .lennie, William T., and Nettie. Mr. 
Davies is identified with the Masonic order at 
Eureka, and is in every capacitj- a public-spirited 



and enterprising citizen. He is pre-eminently a 
self-made man and a successful one. He owns 
one-half interest in a large body of land in which 
his brother is also interested, and these brothers 
work together harmoniouslj' in the fanning mill 
business. He is a stanch Republican in his polit- 
ical views, and favors every effort to improve the 
social and industrial conditions of the county. 
A more extended mention is made of the manu- 
facturing plant and business of which he is one- 
half owner in the sketch of his brother, Robert E. 
Davies. For a more complete recital of the ances- 
try of Mrs. Davies the reader will please consult 
the biography of IMr. O. 15. Sevy, her brother. The 
Sevy family is among the most prominent of the 
early pioneers of Clinton County. 

The beautiful rural home of our subject is al- 
most directly across the road from the residence of 
his brother, and both the external surroundings 
and the internal arrangements indicate a high de- 
gree of culture and relineinent. Mr. Davis posses- 
ses many of the sterling qualities and virtues of 
the sturdy English race which has made that nation 
the world's colonizer and civilizer. While not de- 
sirous of holding offices of trust, 3'et he takes a 
lively interest in the politics of his township and 
count}'. He has an excellent reputation for a 
sound business judgment and financial ability, and 
both he and his family arc highly esteemed in so- 
cial circles. No manufacturing firm of Clinton 
County bears a better reputation among iiiisiness 
men than that of W. T. it H. E. Davies. 







TEPHEN H. VALENTINE. This aged 
man is now residing on a small farm in 
Ovid Township, Clinton C()unt\-, to which 
he came in 1872. He is a skilled farmer 
and a good business man, who has demonstrated 
his ability in other than .agricultural lines, but has 
never given over his interest in farmers and their 
work, and has almost continuousl}- been in some 
wise connected with them. I'lie property on which 
he now resides is pleasantly located, well improved 
and sullicicntly productive to satisfy ever}' need 



764 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Mr. Valentine and his good wife, while not 
large enough to burden them with cares. With 
their future secure, the}- are enjoying life and its 
pleasures in a reasonable waj% and are making 
themselves useful as members of a common family. 

Mr. Valentine was born on Long Island, N. Y., 
on August 9, 1819, and is the son of James and 
I'hebe (Hendrickson) Valentine, who were also na- 
tives of the island. Prior to his eighteenth year 
he made his home undei the parental roof, pursu- 
ing the customary course of study, and taking a 
part with his father in the work his parent was car- 
rying on. He then went to the city of New York, 
and became a clerk in the wholesale grocery house 
of a brother, remaining there about four j'ears. 
He then took up his residence in Yates County, 
where for ten or twelve ye.ars he was engaged in 
farming. Thence he came to Michigan, settling on 
a tract of land just across the road__from the one he 
is now occupying. He made some improvements 
here, such as building a good house and barn, but 
after a time traded for a farm in Erie Count}', Pa., 
and removing to the new place carried on his work 
there about three years. 

The next move of Mr. Valentine was to return 
to Yates Count}-, N. Y., where, having sold his 
Pennsylvania farm, he entered into the grain busi- 
ness at Shingle Point, on Seneca Lake. During the 
three years he spent at that place he handled about 
one hundred thousand bushels per annum, and he 
also conducted a grocery store there, serving at 
the same time as Postmaster. The warehouse hav- 
ing been destroyed by fire he bought a farm on 
the outskirts of Hem rods, and platting it began to 
-sell town lots. After a time he exchanged what 
remained in his possession for twenty acres in Can- 
andaigua, Ontario County, and engaged in the cul- 
ture of grapes. From that locality he returned to 
Rlichigan and settled where he is now living. Mr. 
Valentine takes great delight in hunting :md making 
trips to various localities where game can be found. 
He also enjoys fishing, and often goes out with his 
rod to catch the finny tribe. Mr. Valentine is a 
taxidermist of considerable notoriety, having had 
some of his work reprosenlcd .at the Centennial in 
1876. 

The wife of Mr. Valentine was reared on the 



banks of Seneca Lake, in Yates County, N. Y*". 
Her maiden name was Almira Longcor, and her 
union to our subject was solemnized March 25, 
1843. The only child born to them is Gordon B., 
whose natal day was November 18, 184.5 ; he is now 
married and living Chicago, 111. He was formerly 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. Mrs. Valentine 
is a lady of good breeding and fine character, a 
devout member of the Baptist Church, with which 
her husban'l is also connected. Mr. Valentine is 
a Republican in politics. He has never aspired to 
ofKce, but has yielded to the wishes of his neigh- 
bors and served as Township Supervisor. Hus- 
band and wife are well respected and number their 
friends by the score. 



^ 



^^^ 




OBERT G. STEEL, Secretary of the St. 
John's Mercantile Company, is the son of 
Robert M. Steel, whose biography appears 
^(ft, 121 this volume. He is one who may be 
said to be "favored by the gods," as he has wealth, 
education and high breeding, and has also the hon- 
est, straightforward and upright character that wins 
respect. He was born in St. John's, October 4, 
1867, and reared and educated here. He was grad- 
uated from the High School in 1886 and at -once 
began an energetic business life. He had been 
reared with the idea that it was necessary for him 
to apply himself with energy and zeal to whatever 
he had in hand, and from the age of fifteen years 
had been given much responsibility. While his 
father and his brother George were 'n Oregon he 
had looked after their business interests to a con- 
siderable extent, and under their discipline he w.as 
well prepared for the battle of life. 

After his graduation young Steel gave his entire 
attention to his father's business here, looking after 
the real-estate interests. When the Mercantile 
Company w.as organized in 1888 he became a stock- 
holder and was elected its Secretary. He h.as re- 
tained the position, applying himself closely to the 
duties devolving upon him, and as the enterprise 
is a most extensive and successful one, they have 
been by no means light. He is also Secretary and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



765 



a Director of the Electric Light, Hent it Power 
Company, and a stockholder and Director in the 
St. John's Gas Companj', and the St. John's Evap 
orator & Produce Company, and somewhat inter- 
ested in the St. John's Manufacturing Company. 
He is estimated to be wortli some ^50,000, and it 
is certain that no man of his 3'ears in this or any 
other county, is a more thorough business man or 
more energetic and alive to his interests. 

Mr. Steel belongs to the Knights of the Macca- 
bees and is a Knight Templar. He is a stanch 
member of the Republican party and without being 
a politician in the common acceptation of that 
word, he aids the party of his choice in many wa^'S. 
He keeps himself well informed regarding news of 
the day and manj- topics which scholarly minds 
enjo}' and in his manners exhibits the qualities of 
the true gentleman. 



-M-—^— 



^^RANK CONN. Among the enerprising 
young business men of Clinton County a 
l^ prominent place belongs to this gentle- 
man, who is a Deputy County Treasurer, as well as 
Secretarj' of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company. He promises in the maturity of his 
powers to take a conspicuous rank among the citi- 
zens of the county and State, and his life thus far 
proves that success may be attained by persever- 
ence and industry, even though moneyed capital 
be wanting. He was born in Bingham Township. 
August 23, 1856, and is the son of Bemsly P. 
Conn. The latter who was a native of Crown 
Point, N. Y., was born February 24, 1828, and was 
the son of George Conn. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
farmer by avocation and was born in New IIam|)- 
shire in 1806. His grandfather came from Ireland 
at a very early day in the history of our country 
and settled in MassaclHisetts. George Conn was 
an early settler on Lake Champlain, where he car- 
ried on oi)erations as an agriculturist. The mother 
of our subject, Harriet E. Newell, was born on the 
shores of Lake Champlain and was a daughter of 
Joshua Newell, a farmer, who engaged in the War 



of 1812, and finally died at the old home. Harriet 
E. Newell was born January 20, 1830, and wlien 
about nineteen years old w.is united in marriage 
witli Bemsly P. Conn, November 14, 1849. Her 
father was born in Vermont, August 10, 1792, and 
married Harriet Foster, their union being blest by 
the birth of two sons and five daughters. Joshua 
Newell was of the fifth generation from Thomas 
Newell, who left Hertfordshire, England, in 1630 
and settled in Farmington, Conn., in 1G40. The 
maiden name of his wife was Rebeckah Olmstead. 

In 1854 the father of our subject came to Michi- 
gan and entered land in Bingham Township, Clin- 
ton County, where he now resides. He added to 
his original purchase of eighty acres until he has 
now one hundred and sixty-five acres, and he has 
improved the farm until the farm yields bountiful 
harvests of golden grain. Seven children came to 
brighten his home, three of whom have passed 
away leaving two sons and two daughters in the 
family circle. Our subject, who was the third in 
order of birth, was reared under the parental roof, 
and at an early age began to assume responsibili- 
ties. He managed the home farm successfully, and 
although he had few opportunities for gaining an 
education, he is well informed on all topics of 
interest and importance. 

Responsible positions in public affairs have been 
given to Mr. Conn. In 1886 he was appointed 
Secretary of the Insurance Company above named, 
in which he is interested, and still retains this po- 
sition to which he has been twice re-elected. He 
is really the responsible head of the whole business, 
which he manages with great ability and strict in- 
tegrity. He is also active in the Grange and his 
counsel goes far in deciding questions of expedi- 
ency. For two years he was Master of tlie County 
Grange, and for three years he held the same po- 
sition in the sub Grange. He was also Secretary 
of the County Grange two years and officiated in 
the same capacity for three years in the sub Grange. 
He is alw.ays activel^^ interested in and an earnest 
promoter of all movements to aid the farmers, and 
is an earnest advocate of the single tax movement. 
In January 1891, he was made Deputy County 
Treasurer, and to the duties thus imposed upon 
him he is bringing the same faithfulness and tact 



766 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



whicli characterizes him iu all positions in life. 
His political attiliations are witli the Democratic 
party and he is a man who commands respect for 
his opinions even amoni; those who are of a differ- 
ent political faith. 



ellRISTOPHER T. COOK. Michigan owes 
an incalculable debt to tliose of her sons 
who cheerfully and bravel}' responded to 
their country's call in time of peril and rallied 
under the old flag. Many who lived to return 
from the battle field, sacrificed greatly in health 
and strength during the marches and encampments 
which fell to their lot. It is well known that more 
died from exjiosure than from the bullet and 
among those who suffered seriously in this w^ay was 
our subject. He is a f.irmer who resides on sec- 
tion 31, Rush Township, Shiawassee County, and 
is a naiive of this county being born in Benning- 
ton Township, August 23, 1844. His father^ 
Jonas C. Cook, a farmer and shoemaker, was born 
in Genesee County, N. Y., April 18, 1810. He 
had a common-school education and at the age of 
eighteen came to Oakland County, Mich., with his 
parents. 

Jonas Cook was tlie third child in a family of 
eight and when he was nineteen 3'ears old his fath- 
er died and ho undertook the support of the fami- 
ly. At the age of fourteen he had learned the 
trade of a shoem.aker and he availed himself of this 
knowledge in his great undertaking. He remained 
at home till he reached the age of twenty six years. 
In 1836 he was married to Paulina Shadbolt, one 
of a family of five children. 

Jonas and Paulina C^ook, had six children, but 
all of the little ones were snatched from their arms 
in infancy and the mother died in 1812. In 1843 
Mr. Cook married Rebecca Demming who was born 
ill Kingston, Canada, May 28, 1819. She was the 
youngest of three daughters. Jonas had moved to 
Pontiac when his lirst wife died and resided there 
until 1844, when he made his home at Bennington, 
Shiawassee County. There he bought eighty acres, 
but in 1851 sold and bought otlier land in the same 



township, which he disposed of and went toOwosso 
to eng.age in the shoe trade. In 1855 he removed 
to Ovid, where for three years he carried on the dry 
goods business, which he finally disposed of, 
and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
in Owosso Township, and remained there till his 
death, which occurred in 1886. He had been be- 
reaved of his wife three years before, and thej- are 
both i3'ing in Oak Hill cemetery. They were con- 
sistent and earnest members of the Protestant 
Methodist Church. He was an active man in the 
Democratic party and w.as at one time Highway 
Commissioner. 

The gentleman of whom we write is the eldest 
son in a family of four and received a common- 
school education. He remained under the parental 
roof until he reached the age of twenty-five years 
and then purchased forty acres of land in Owosso 
Township, upon which he remained until 1874. In 
1869 he married Frances Farrar of Corunna. She 
is the daughter of John and Louisa J. (Beech) 
Farrar, New Yorkers, who had four children, of 
whom Frances was the second child and second 
daughter, being born August 8, 1852. 

In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Cook moved to Rush 
Township and bought one hundred and twenty 
acres on section 31. This farm was an unbroken 
forest and he has cleared about seventy acres of it. 
Two children have blessed this home. May Edith 
and Charles G. Mr. Cook is identified with the 
Masonic order and has been since 1866. He be- 
longs to the Ovid Lodge No. 227 and is a member 
also at Burton of the Oaks Lodge No. 107, I. O. O. 
F., also the Quackenbush Post, G. A. R. of Owosso. 
He has been an Odd Fellow for twenty-si.x }-ears 
and has filled all llie chairs. 

In [lolilics Mr. Cook espouses the cause of the 
Democratic part}' and is a worker in its ranks stead- 
fastly declines to fill any office. lie was a soldier 
in the late Civil War, enlisting in 1864 in Com- 
pany E, Second Michigan Infanlry, which w.as sent 
at once to Nnshvillc. Through severe exposure 
the young soldier was taken sick and was finall}' 
sent to the hos()ital where he remained about six 
weeks. He was then sent home on a furlough for 
three months. After this he returned to N.ashville 
and from there went to Louisville and Jefferson- 





/^TT^^ty^ t/ )-Z^ 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



769 



ville, but being still iioGt for duty was again given 
a siiort furlougb and sent iiome. After being borne 
for a brief period iic reported for duty at Detroit 
but tlie severit}' of his sic]<ness had so weakened 
liis constitution that he was considered fit on!}' for 
tlic liospital to wiiicb he was relegated anil soon 
after was discharged. He has never regained his 
full quota of health and strength, as the attack of 
congestion of the lungs, whicii was brought on by 
his exposure in the army, thoroughly undermined 
his constitution. 

aAPT. WILLIAM E. CUMMIN, whose por- 
, trait is presented on the opposite page, has 
I been variously occupied at C'orunna, and is 
well known, not on!}- in the county seat but over a 
wide extent of country. During the late Civil 
War he did good service in the defense of the old 
flag and looks bsck to a long list of engagements 
in which be took part. He is of remote Scotch 
ancestry and traces his lineage to the Curamin Clan 
who fought with the renowned Sir William Wal- 
lace. The Emerald Isle was the home of several 
generations of his ancestors, and his grandfather, 
Alexander Cummin, was born in County Down, 
Ireland. 

This grandfather was a manufacturer of cloths 
and linens and a cloth merchant and he became 
quite well-to-do. lie took part in the Irish Rebel- 
lion and participated in the battle of the Boyne. 
He finally sold his property in Ireland, eanie to 
America accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, and 
lived with their son James at Corunna. There be 
died at the venerable age of eighty- two 3'ears. In 
their religious beliefs he and his goo<l wife were 
rigid Presbyterians. Their remains are interred in 
the Pimtree Cemetery at Corunna. 

James Cummin, father of the Captain, was born 
in County Down, Ireland and came to this State a 
young man. He worked at the carpenters' trade 
in Detroit in the '30s and acquired eight acres of 
land in the citj'. He sold the tract and came to 
Shiawassee County, and was one of the first to 
make a home in Perry Township. He lias followed 



farming and the real-estate business and has bought 
and sold more lands than an3' other ten men in 
Shiawassee County, at one time owning over three 
thousand acres. He was a stockholder to the ex- 
tent of 18,000 in the Detroit A Milwaukee Rail- 
road and also had 11,000 in the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad, the most of which was a 
free gift to the railroads to aid in their construc- 
tion. He also gave one-third of the land necessary 
to the Corunna Car Company, organizeil for the 
purpose of manufacturing railroad freigbt cars. 
In order to put in the requisite machinery, he en- 
dorsed notes to the amount of several thousand 
dollars and lost every cent of it. 

Mr. Cummin was also a stockholder with United 
States Circuit Judge Longyear and others in Lan- 
sing, in the State Insurance Company. He was 
Director in the company, where he invested 15,000, 
all of which he lost. He purchased of Hugh Mc- 
Curdy his entire stock in the First National Bank, 
and was a large stockholder in tiiat organization 
for many years. He was a war Democrat and dur- 
ing the late unpleasantness did grand service in 
securing recruits in several townshijjs, acting at the 
request of a committee of citizens. He was County 
Treasurer from fourteen to sixteen years, and 
Supervisor for a long time. He was engaged with 
the late ex-Gov. Andrew Parsons and others in the 
location of the county se.at, which after a long and 
bitter contest was finally located at Corunna. 
James Curamin was also the founder of the Ex- 
change Bank of J. B. Wheeler & Co., the first 
bank in Shiawassee County, and was one of its prin- 
cipal stockholders. He now owns from five hun- 
dred to six hundred acres of land, and was at one 
time the largest taxpayer in Shiawassee County. 
He is now in his seventj'-sixth year. 

The mother of Capt. Cummin bore the maiden 
name of Julia A. Beale. She was born in Roches- 
ter, N. Y., and educated at Mrs. Allen's Female 
Seminary. Her father, an early settler of Roches- 
ter, was engaged in the sale of merchandise there, 
and later in Detroit, this State, and for several 
years he was Sheriff of Monroe County, N. Y. 
From Detroit he went to Lansing, where his death 
took place. He was the owner of considerable city 
property. He was a native of Connecticut, of Eng- 



770 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lisli extraction, anri his given name was James. 
Mrs. Cummin died in Coninna in 1880, and tlie 
esteem in which she was held was shown b}' tlie 
extremely large altendance at. her funeral. All 
stores and places of business were closed during 
the last services over her mortal remains. She was 
the mother of ten children, four of whom died 
when small, and one in later 3'ears. The fourth on 
the family roll was William E., who was born in 
Perry Township, August 17, 1844. 

Capt. Cummin lived on the farm until he was 
five years old, then he came to Corunna, where he 
studied until he had almost finished the high- 
school course. In the meantime he ga'/e some 
{(ssistance to his father in farm work and in the 
Treasurer's office. In June, 1863, while still a 
student, he began raising a company, assisting 
Capt. Shepard and Myron A. Converse. On July 
25 he was commissioned First Lieutenant of Com- 
pany F, Tenth Michigan Cavalry. At a large 
meeting of the citizens of Corunna, held in the 
courthouse, Hon. J. N. Ingersoll, on behalf of the 
citizens, presented Lieut. Cummin with a handsome 
sword, sash and belt, which he carried with bravery 
and honor. 

Lieut. Cummin was mustered in and took the 
oath of oflSce in Grand Rapids, and being sent to 
the Soiith, took part in some thirty engagements in 
Tennessee and the surrounding country, prior to 
receiving a serious wound at Flat Creek Bridge. 
In that engagement he was leading a charge with 
fourteen men, two of whom — Henry Kimberk and 
Charles Russell — were killed. The Captain bad 
two horses shot from under him and was himself 
pierced through the right hip, the ball passing 
through the pommel of the saddle and out through 
the cantel of the saddle, then through his right hi[). 
He got into a cornfield among some raspberry 
bushes and was then brought to camp and two days 
later taken to Lamar Hospital. The wound was 
received August 24, 1864, and he remained at the 
hospital until w-cU enough to come home,whea he en- 
joyed a leave of absence, rejoining his regiment in 
November. Prior to this, however, the Captain in 
August, 18C4, led a charge with thirteen of Com- 
pany F, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, at Greenville, 
East Tennessee, against Maj. Arnold's command, 



I and captured Lieut. Davis, of the Third North 
Carolina Cavalry, and Lieut. Carter, of the First 
Tennessee Cavalry with his own hand, throwing their 
bridle reins over his arm and turning them over to 
Col. Foote in person. 

I After his return to the scenes of conflict Lieut. 

■ Cummin took part in a dozen or more b.itlles, prin- 
cippall}- in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennes- 
see, and January 7, 1865, was promoted to the 
rank of Captain. He had previously had command 
of the company, and had often led the boys in tiie 

1 thick of the fight. In the battle of Abbotts 
Creek, N. C, on April 10. 1865, he was injured by 
a fall. While in command of a detachment of the 
Tentli Michigan Cavalry he burned several iron 
railro.ad bridges in the Roanoke Yalle}', Va., in the 
spring of 18G5, while on the Stoncman raid. He 

' was mustered out November 28, 1865. after having 
conducted himself as a true man and a valiant sol- 
dier. He was on staff duty with Company I, Tenth 
Michigan Cavalry, for several months, with Gen. 
James E. Smith, commanding at IMemi)his, Tenn. 
He had charge of the records of the regiment, with a 

' detail of men under his command, and for this rea- 
son he was discharged seventeen days later than his 
regiment. 

Returning to Corunna, Capt. Cummin became 
Postmaster in 1866, and after holding the place 
three years became clerk in the Exchange Bank. 
He had been pa\-ing some attention to reading law, 

! and ill the fall of 1870 entered that department at 
Harvard Univerity and studied diligently a twelve- 
mouth. He was graduated in 1871 with the degree 
of LL. 15. and at once opened an office in Corunna. 

' In 1878 he bouglit the Shiaw.assee mill plant and 

' took up the manufacture of flour in the town of 
that name. He had excellent water power, in fact, 
the best on the river, and the product of his mill 
was strictly first-class. In 1881 he took a consign- 
ment of flour to Glasgow and visited England, 
Scotland and Ireland, taking special interest in the 
birthplace of his father and the old hoifle of his 
grandparents. In addition to his milling Capt. 
Cummin was engaged in the manuf.acture of oak 
heading for oil barrels at Morrice and shipped to 
the Standard Oil Corai)any at Clevelanil, in one 
month shipping eighty-six car loads. In 1885 he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



771 



sold his mill, and coming to Corunna, located on 
laud whicli extends into the corporation. 

Capt. Cummin was marrieil to Miss Annie E. 
Field, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and one of the 
leading ladies of Corunna. She is a member of the 
Pres^byterian Church, Treasurer of the Christian 
Aid Society and an eflicicnt worker in various 
branches of religious work. She is conductor of 
the Woman's Relief Corps and one of its promi- 
nent members. Capt. Cummin belongs to Henry 
F. Wallace Post, G. A. R., in Corunna, to the Ma- 
sonic Lodge at Corunna, and the Union Veteran's 
I'nion. He was for many years a stockholder to 
the extent of 84,000 in the First National Bank. 
While he was Postmaster he was also Deputj' In- 
ternal Revenue Collector under Col. Raymond, of 
the Sixth District, which then embraced the upper 
peninsula. In politics Capt. Cummin is a Demo- 
crat and he has frcquentlj^ been a delegate to 
county. State and Congressional conventions, and 
attended the Democratic Naliomil Convention in 
Chicago in 1884. At that lime he was President 
of tlie Cleveland Club. 



■fwlEROME B. FRASIER. One of the most 
I sturdy pioneers of Venice Township, Shia- 
wassee County, bears the name which ap- 
pears at the head of this paragraph. He is 
a son of Reuben R. Frasier. a noted native of Chau- 
tauqua, N. Y., and of Sophia (Wright) F"rasier, 
who was born in Bolton, N. Y. Their marriage 
took place in llieir native Stale and there they 
made their home until October, 1813, when thc\- 
emigrated to the AVolverine State, and settled in 
West Iiloomficld Township, Oakland County. After 
remaining tiiere one year they came to Shiawassee 
Countj', in the beginning of 1844, settling on sec- 
tion 22, of Venice Townshi)), upon an unbroken 
tract of land, and building a pioneer log cabin. At 
the town meeting that spring there were but nine 
voters, and only two more men were living in the 
township. 

Nine shillings constituted the fortune in hand of 
this young pioneer when he made his lK)ine in this 



county, and he had no team to help him in this 
work. He had eighty acres and at once began 
clearing it of timber, and at the time of his death 
he owned one hundred and thirty acres most of 
which was cleared. Indians and wild animals were 
plentiful, and the nearest mill was at Pontiac. 
There was but one wagon in the township and no 
roads on which it was comfortable to use them. Ox- 
teams were the onl}' means of locomotion, and all 
the neighbors were poor men. No churches nor 
schools were yet established. Reuben Frasier died 
in May, 1860, in the prime of life, having reached 
the age of forty-seven years. His faithful wife who 
still survives him has now attained to seventj'-seven 
3*ears and makes her home in the old homestead. 
Seven of her twelve children are still living to 
comfort and cheer her in her declining j'ears. Thej' 
are Helen, Mrs. Totlingham; our subject; Martha, 
Mrs. W. Reed; Angeline, Mrs. G. A. Frazier; Ma- 
lissa, Mrs. Michael; Reuben and Frank. The father 
took an active interest in both politics and religion, 
being an efficient worker in the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and having allied himself to the Dem- 
ocratic party. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born, 
March 7, 1841, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and 
was only a child when he came West. There were 
no opportunities for schooling until he had reached 
the age of fifteen or sixteen, and then the schools 
were not of a higli order. As he was only nineteen 
years old when his father was called from earth, 
and was the eldest son, the cares of the family fell 
upon him. He sta3'e(t at home and helped to care 
for his mother and the children until he was Iwen- 
t3'-five years old, and all his laliors went for their 
benefit. 

Jerome Frasier married Marj' E. Sawtelle, .IUI3' 
5, 186G. Her parents, Neely C. and Abigail (Al- 
lis) Sawtelle, were both natives of New York, who 
came to Michigan in 183G, and made their home in 
Avon Townsliii), Oakland County, this State, and 
in 1842, came to this count3' and settled upon an 
unbroken farm in Venice Township. Here he built 
a log cabin to shelter his famil3', and cutting a 
road for three miles through the woods hnilt the 
first l)ridgc across Rushbed Creek which lasted for 
fort3'-thrce years. He was a liard-worUIng man. 



772 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and had eighty acres of land which he put in a fine 
condition. Thej- finally removed into the village 
of Vernon and resided there until his death, Sep- 
tember 13, 1867, at the age of sixty-two years. 
They were the parents of five children, three of 
whom are now living: Emeline (Mrs. Yerkes) Lu- 
ther, and Mrs. Frasier. 

Mrs. Jerome Frasier was born April 18, 1838, iu 
Oakland County, Mich. She received an excellent 
training in the schools and her parents brought her 
up in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
After marriage she removed with her husband into 
Vernon for a short time and then went to live upon 
a farm in a little frame house in which they lived 
until six years ago. He has now added fifty acres 
to his original eighty, and he has cleared one hun- 
dred acres of that himself. He has now built an 
excellent frame residence and two double barns as 
commodious and neat as are to be found in the 
county. His land is in an excellent state of culti- 
vation and a fine orchard has been set out. Besides 
his own farm he has cleared between five and six 
hundred acres for others. Five of their six chil- 
dren are now living, namely: Bertie J., born April 
23, 1867; Bertha Estella, June 24, 1868; Frank B., 
April 3, 1870; Myrou H., December 7, 1871, and 
Myrtle M., May 13, 1875. 

Jerome Frasier is a member of the Farmers Alli- 
ance and is prominently identified with the Patrons 
of Industry. He is deeply interested in educational 
movements and has occupied a position upon the 
School Board, and provided for his children a good 
district school education. He is intelligent in his 
political views and indepentlent in politics. His 
neighbors have raised him to the office of Higliway 
Commis.sioner, which he fills with efficiency and to 
the satisfaction of all concerned. He has been a 
tremendously hard worker all his life and has ac- 
complished great things. 

In March, 1865, Mr. Frasier enlisted in Com- 
pany E, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, and 
joined the regiment at Camp Butler, Springfield, 
III., but remained there until his discharge, as the 
war closed soon after his enlistment. Theonl^' way 
in which he was allowed to suffer for his country 
during his short period of service proved to be a 
serious one indeed. He was vaccinated with poor 



virus and it nearly proved his death and his con- 
stitution will probably never entirely recover from 
the injury thus inflicted. 

Six j'ears ago our subject removed to the farm 
where he now resides, where he has eight}' of his 
ninety acres of land under cultivation. He has 
removed the stumps from it, and built a handsome 
residence three jears ago. A granary and an ad- 
dition to his barn make liis outbuildings a credit 
to the township. He is active in carrying on his 
work, and. does not yet talk of retiring from the 
cares of the farm. His father was a noted hunter 
in the early days, and ever}' fall they laid in meat 
for the winter which they had procured by- the shot 
gun, and he still keeps up this practice. Last fall 
he and his two sons went to Ogemaw Count}-, and 
killed eighteen fine deer, some of which weighed 
two hundred and twentj'-flve pounds when dressed. 
When he was fifteen years old he shot an old bear 
with his smooth bore shotgun and an ounce ball 
and killed her. He then chased the cub about 
forty rods and up a tree and killed it with the same 
gun. Mrs. Frasicr's father and her brothei'S were 
also famous as shotsmen, and killed and caught in 
their time nearl)' twentj' bears. 



-€-*-^- 



<*, IfclLLIAM T. BAIR, residing on section 21, 
\rJ// Greenbush Township, is one of the promi- 
Vi/W nent and prosperous citizens of Clinton 
County, the sketch of whose life will be read with 
interest by everyone who takes up this volume. 
The biographer found him to be a courteous gen- 
tleman and one well informed on the general topics 
of the day. He is the present efficient and popu- 
lar Master of the Keystone Grange, with head- 
quarters in Greenbush Township. In this position 
he exerts a wide and wholesome influence by rea- 
son of his sound ideas and good judgment respect- 
ing the many social, political and financial prob- 
lems with which that order h.'>s to deal. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born Jan- 
uary 3, 1848, in Ohio In Tuscarawas County. His 
parents, Jacob and Mary (Sliffe) Bair, were natives 
of Penns3'lvania, whence they removetl to Tusca- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



773 



rawas Countj', Ohio, in the early days and became 
pioneers. They were of German descent. To 
them were born eleven children, nine of wliom are 
now living. Their eldest, Benjamin, lives in 
ALansBeld, Ohio; Simon, and .Susan, who is now 
the wife of John Shoewalter, both live in Tuscara- 
was Countj'; Jacob was a soldier in the Civil War 
under the command of Gen. Banks and was killed 
while upon the Red River exi)edition ; Lydia, the 
wife of John Dorsey, lives in Davis County, Ind., 
and George in Mansfield, Ohio; William T. is the 
next son, and Franklin, the youngest, lives near 
the old home in Tuscarawas Countj', Ohio; Leah, 
now Mrs. LaFajette Meyer, of Tuscarawas Countj', 
Ohio, and Elizabeth, wife of Ilenrj- Bowers, of the 
same place. 

The earlj' training of our subject was upon the 
farm and he has followed agriculture all liis life. 
His schooling was scan tj' and was far from tho- 
rougli and systematic, and he lias been obliged to 
educate himself in manj' ways since reaching man- 
hood. He was united in marriage Februarj' 21, 
1875, with Mary E. Bomgardncr, a native of Ohio, 
whose father, Benjamin, lived near the old home- 
stead of the Bair family in Ohio. Three interest- 
ing children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Bair, namely: Clark, born Februarj' 1, 1877; Clar- 
ence P., September 27, 1878, and Mary B., April 
27, 1888. 

The father of these children came to Clinton 
County in the spring of 1878 and here he has 
made his home ever since, in Greenbush Township, 
upon a splendid farm of one hundred and twentj' 
acres, which he has put in the finest possible con- 
dition. He has served as School Director and was 
elected in January, 1891, M.aster of the Keystone 
Grange, No. 226, in Greenbush Township. 

The political views of Mr. Bair have always led 
him to affiliate with the Republican party, with 
whom he has generallj' cast his vote, but he is a 
strong Prohibitionist in his principles, and always 
works against the liquor power in every waj* that 
he can do it, by voice or vote, and ever strives for 
the moral and social elevation of tlie people of his 
townshi|). And now wc find Mr. Bair enrolled 
with the Prohibition party, voting and acting for 
Prohibition, first, last and all the time. Both he 




and his excellent and intelligent wife are active 
members of the Methodist Ei)iscopal Church, in 
which he acts as Steward. Thej' are respected 
members of society and enjoy the friendship of a 
large circle of acquaintances. 



EANDER C. TABER. Although not a 
ive of this State Mr. Taber recalls few 
scenes that are not connected with the 
commonwealth, and his labors in life from his 
earlj' boj'hood have been performed here. During 
the greater part of the time his home h.as been in 
Clinton County, and for a number of jcars past he 
has been numbered among the enterprising farm- 
ers and stock-raisers of Greenbush Township. In 
the spring of 1865 he settled on section 31, where 
he has continued to reside and now has one hun- 
dred and fortj'-fivc acres of land, the most of 
which is under thorough cultivation and improve- 
ment. Having seen the country grow up around 
him he takes just pride in that which his eyes 
behold and in the fact that he aided in bringing 
about the result. 

Mr. Taber is the eldest son of Moses and Sallv 
(Bancroft) Tabor, who was born in the Empire 
State and lived there until the son was about two 
years old. The little lad was born in Monroe 
County, January 4, 1835. When the family left 
their Eastern home thej' came to Oakland Countj', 
this State, and lived there some six years, their 
surroundings being such .as make up the familiar 
storj' of early settlements. They then removed 
to Olive Township, Clinton C)ounty, and here thej' 
again made their home in a sparsely settled local itj' 
where the scenes that met their eyes were of a 
primitive nature. Young Taber attended the 
earlj- schools such as the pioneers often established 
before they were scarcely settled and although he 
did not studj' many branches he became well 
acquainted with the few. In the intervals of 
school life he worked on the farm, devoting more 
and more time to agriculture as he grew older and 
stronger. He decided to follow the occupation, 
but occasionally has paid some attention to the 
work of a carpenter and joiner. 



774 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Believing that it is not good for man to live alone 
Mr. Taber won for his wife Miss Mary, daughter 
of Seeley and Arvilla (Seeley) Harger, to whom 
he was married September 7,1857. This young 
lady was born in New York and her home life and 
educational privileges were similar to those of her 
husband. She has had three children, to whom 
have been given the names, Edwin M., George S. 
and Charles J. The second son is deceased. 

During his early years Mr. Taber did much 
chopping and logging and other pioneer work. He 
has so carried on business affairs as to secure the 
confidence of those with whom he has had dealing, 
and his sterling integrity is well known. Industry, 
perseverance and good management are attested 
by the fine condition of his property and the 
goodly number of acres included in his farm. 
Mr. Taber has served as School Director and has 
always shown a warm interest in educational affairs. 
He is a believer in and a supporter of the princi- 
ples of the Republican party. He is a member of 
the Farmers' Mutual Fire Association and is classed 
an.ong the most intelligent and thrifty agricultur- 
ists of the county. 



<^ IfcARREN WOODWARD is one of the prom- 
\rj// inent business men of Owosso, being a 
^f/^ manufacturer of as well as dealer in furni- 
ture, and also carrying on the undertaking busi- 
ness. He was born in Steuben County, N. Y.,May 
27, 1840, and is the third son of William A. and 
Miranda (Wing) Woodward. Ilis father was born 
in Cohocton, Steuben County, September 5, 1809, 
and was a son of Lyman AVoodward, a native of 
Brattloboro, Vt., and of English descent. The 
mother of our subject, Miranda Wing, was born in 
Middlesex, Yates County, N. Y., SeiHember 14, 
1812, and was the third child of Elnalhan and 
Hannah (Watkins) Wing, natives of Massachusetts. 
The parents of our sul)ject wore married .Tanuary 2, 
1832, and removed to Owosso, Mich., in 1869. 

The gentleman of whom we write was educated 
in his native county, attending the village school, 
after which he took an academical course at the 



Rogcrsville Seminary. At the age of eighteen he 
began teaching school and followed this work for 
three years. His last school numbered one hundred 
scholars. He began his business career as an archi- 
tect and builder in 1862 and followed it for four 
years. He came to Owosso in 1866 and began the 
manufacturing of sash and doors, associating him- 
self in this business with two of his brothers, under 
the firm name of Woodward Bros. They purchased 
the planing-miU of White Bros, and continued the 
business at the same stand, adding to it the manufac- 
ture of furniture and building up a large business. 
In 1890 he sold his interest to his elder brother, L. 
E. Woodward and retired from the firm. 

In July, 1890, Warren Woodward establisned his 
|)resent business of furniture dealer and undertaker, 
in which he carries a large and complete stock of 
the finest goods, and in connection with which he 
still continues manufacturing to some extent. His 
present location is on the corner of Maine and Ball 
Streets, where his business occupies four floors. 
From his long experience in the manufacture of 
furniture and his thorough knowledge of the busi- 
ness, he is enabled to serve th-j public most satis- 
faetordy. 

Mr. Woodward was married in 1864 to Miss 
Dora Faulkner, a daughter of John P. Faulkner, of 
Steuben County, N. Y. She died in July, 1868, 
leaving one son, Elbert W.. who is his father's chief 
assistant in his business. The lady who now pre- 
sides over his pleasant home became his wife in 
1871. Sjie is Agues, sister of his first wife. By 
this marriage three cliiltlreM have come to bless 
this home, namely-: Francis II., who is now a stu- 
dent in Uie high school; L. Fay died May 8, 1885; 
and Dora P., at home. 

The gentleman of whom we write has lield 
numerous positions of trust and responsibility, to 
which he has been chosen by his fellow-citizens. 
In 1868 he was Alderman of the First Ward, has 
served as member of the School Board for six years, 
is a prominent member of the Shiawassee Agricul- 
tural Association and President of the Hoard. 
He is also a member of the Board of the Young 
Men's Christian Association and President of the 
Board of Trustees of the Congregational t hurch. 
He is identified with the Owosso lodge, No. 88, 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



775 



I. O. O. F. Hia commodious and attractive home 
is the center of a plensant social life and within its 
walls he and his delightful familj' welcome the 
friends who are drawn to them by their true- 
hearted and congenial dispositions. Politicnlly he 
has alw.ays been a Republican. 



— >->^^<:^^^^:5<^ 




r-V 



IJGO WESENER. Many citizens of Shia- 
wassee Countj-, who are worthy of notice 
in this Album are not native-born Amer- 
(^) cans, but have proved themselves true and 
worthj' adopted citizens by making their homes 
permanently in this country and taking upon 
themselves the duties and allegiance which the 
Nation expects of those who would identify them- 
selves with our people. Among such we count 
the gentleman whose name heads this paragraph, 
a capitalist who has retired from active business 
and is now managing the valuable estate which he 
has gained by years of persevering industry and 
thorough-going enterprise. He possesses consid- 
erable proi)crt3' in Saginaw, also in Owosso, owning 
the three story block known as the Wesener Block, 
consisting of three store rooms, and also some 
Bne residence properties, including the one where 
he resides. He was born in the city of Werne, 
GermaPN', July 2'J, 1830, and is the only son of 
.Joseph and Johanna (Knipping) Wesener. The 
father was a dealer in real estate and died in the 
old country when our subject was but twelve years 
old. The boy attended school from the age of six 
to that of fourteen years and remained with his 
mother until he reacihed his sixteenth year. 

The 3'outh now entered the German armj' for 
one year but was held for three years on account 
of the revolution in Germany. After his discharge 
he emigrated to America in company with his 
mother, sister anil brother-in-law. He landed in 
New York City, where he staid four months and 
from there came directly to Michigan, making 
his home in Saginaw for some twenty-seven or 
twenty-eight years. He then engaged in business 
for himself and continued until the outbreak of the 
Civil War when he enlisted in ConiiKiny K, Fifth 



Regiment Michigan Infantry, under the command 
of Col. Terry. 

The regiment w.as assigned to the Army of 
the Potomac and at its organization he was chosen 
Second Lieutenant. Upon their reaching Fort- 
ress Monroe Lieut. Wesener was taken sick and 
was placed in a hospital for some weeks. He finally 
resigned his position as Second Lieutenant and 
was discharged on a surgeon's certificate. He re- 
turned to- Saginaw and there engaged in the dry- 
goods business. He finally drew out his interest 
in the store and in 1875 came to Owosso where he 
bought the stock of goods which was being carried 
by Mr. Goodhue and continued the business at the 
same stand. A year later this merchant moved into 
his own building on Washington Street, where he 
remained until 1885, when he sokl his stock to 
Brown & Mahaney and retired from the mercantile 
business. He soon after erected the Wesener Block, 
a fine building three stories in height with base- 
ment, since which time he has lived a retired life, 
looking after his business interests in Owosso, East 
Saginaw and West S:iginaw. 

The marriage of Mr. Wesener, in December 1835, 
was with Miss Bertha Wingut, of Saginaw, a native 
of Germany and daugl.ter of Ferdinand Wingut. 
They have had nine children, only three are now 
living, viz: Hugo G., a book-keeper for a large 
lumber firm in East .Saginaw; August C, a clerk 
for Osburn Bros, in Owosso; John A., a graduate 
of the I'niversity at Ann Arbor and now Professor 
in two medical colleges of Chicago, where lie holds 
the Chair of Chemistry; Bertha M. died at the a<'e 
of nineteen, in 1889; she was highly educated and 
and a fine singer, and her untimely death from 
typhoid fever was a heavy blow to this affectionate 
family. They also had a daughter Elsie who lived 
to be eight years old and ilied six years .ago: Ferd- 
inand died at nine years of age; the others died 
when ([uite 3'oung. 

The political allilialions of Mr. Wesner are with 
the Republican party and religiously he is con- 
nected with the Congregational Church. He is a 
member of the Owosso Lodge No. 81, F. A A. M., 
and of Chapter No. 87, R. A. M., of the Corn una 
Conimandery, Lodge No. 21. K. T. He is also idcn- 
tilicd with the t^uackenbush Post, No. 25, G. A. R. 



776 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



His pleasant home at the corner of Michigan and 
Clinton Avenues is finely situated and the center 
of a pleasant social circle. The sister of our sub- 
ject was tlie wife of Dr. Lewis Fiankc, of Saginaw, 
Mich. She died in 1885, leaving eight children. 
Mr.Wesener's mother brought to the United States 
over 120,000. She died in 1890 in her ninetieth 
year, having belonged to a family who are noted for 
long life, many of them living for nearly a century. 



#-^ 



-<f'^^ 



'^ AMES D. SANDERSON, who is engaged in 
farming on section 2, in the town of Sciota, 
claims New York as the .State of his 
nativit}'. The date of his birth is March 
4, 1823, and the place LeRoj', Genesee County. 
His ancestors were early established in New Eng- 
land and his parents, Pliny and Lydia (Weller) 
Sanderson, were natives of Massachusetts and Con- 
necticut respectively. Their marriage _was cele- 
brated in the old Bay State and after a time they 
took up their residence in Genesee County, N. Y., 
where they made their home until 1836. In that 
year they removed to Ohio, settling in Riclilield 
Township, Lucas County, on a farm where the 
mother spent her last days. 

After the death of his wife Pliny Sanderson came 
to Shiawassee County, Mich., where his death oc- 
curred some years later. His last days were spent 
in the home of our subject. By occupation he was a 
farmer, which business he followed throughout his 
entire life. He became quite well o£f but through 
unfortunate business transactions lost much of liis 
property. He served as Cai)tain in the War of 
1812, and in politics was a Whig and later a Re- 
publican. In liis religious views he advocated the 
teachings of the Christian Church of which he was 
long a member. The family of Pliny Sanderson 
and his wife numbered six children, four sons and 
two daughters — Sallie, Lydia, David, Jonathan, 
James D. and William. 

We now take up tlie personal history of our sub- 
ject, who in the usual manner of farmer lads was 
reared in the State of his nativity until thirteen years 
of age, when he accompanied bis parents on their 



emigration to Ohio. His education was received 
in the schools of New York and Lucas County, 
Ohio, and his education thereby acquired has been 
largely supplemented by reading and observation. 
He remained at home with his father in Ohio until 
1852, when be determined to try his fortune in the 
West and came to Michigan. He cist his lot with 
the early settlers of Shiawassee County, and pur- 
chased eighty acres of land, from which he de- 
veloped a farm that has since been his home. Only 
two acres of the land were partially improved at 
that lime but now the plow li.as turned the entire 
sod, and rich and fertile fields are seen in the place 
of the once wild and heavy timber. The first home 
of the family was a log cabin which Mr. Sanderson 
built on his arrival, but that primitive structure 
h.as long since been replaced by a good frame resi- 
<lence, a view of which is shown on another page 
together with otlier buildings necessary for the pro- 
per management of the farm. 

As a helpmate on life's journey, Mr. Sanderson 
chose Miss Luc}' Richmond, and on the Itli of 
March, 1849, the words were pronounced that 
made them man and wife. At the time of her mar- 
riage, Mrs. Sanderson was living in Maumee City, 
Ohio. She was born in Summit County, that 
State, December 21, 1830, and is a daughter of 
John and Salinda (Martin) Richmond. By tlieir 
marri.age six children have been born but they lost 
their eldest cliild, a daughter, Salinda. Tlie living 
are Orice, Lydia, Allen, James and Edrice. Lj'dia 
married Henry Bolton and lives in Rush Townshi[), 
this county, where he owns one hundred and four 
acres; Orice became the husband of Ella Isham and 
they own a farm in Saginaw County, this State; 
Allen B., who married Clara Cobb, owns and oper- 
ates forty acres iu Sciota Township; James R. mar- 
ried Anna Brown and they also live in Sciota 
Township, where he has sixty-seven acres; Edrice 
W., who was united in marri.age with Eva Emery, 
resides with his wife under the parental roof. 

Both Mr. .Sanderson and his wife are members of 
the Universnlist Church and in the social world 
they rank high, liaving man3' warm friends who 
greatly esteem them for tlieir sterling worth. In 
politics he is a Republican and a member of the 
Patrons of Industry. He hiis taken no active part 




RES.OF MR. J.D.SANDERSON, SEC. £.,SCIOTATP^SHlAWASSEE CO., MICH. 




:-r^a>o^->;:'-^-r-- 



.xES.OF WILL BALC0M,SEC'S.4fiL5.,SCI0TATP,SHIAWA.5SEE CO.,MICH 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



779 



in public life but has devoted his entire time and 
attention to his business interests and with great 
success. He is now the owner of one of the finest 
farms in Sciota Townshii), its well tilled fields, good 
improvements and excellent buildings, all indicat- 
ing the enterprise and tlirift of the owner. For 
almost forty years he has made his home in this 
community anrl therefore justly claims the honor 
of being an eye-witness of Shiawassee County's 
growth. But he has done more than this, for in 
the upbuilding and development of the county he 
has borne an active part. 



W)ILL A. BALCOM, one of the wideawake 
and enterprising young farmers of Sciota 
Township. Shiawassee County, residing on 
section 4, has f ()ent his entire life on that farm, 
which is the old Balconi homestead, having been 
purchased bj' his father in 1850. His |)arents, 
Charles and Caroline f Hills) Balcom, were natives 
of New York and came to Michigan in April, 1850, 
locating on the farm where our subject now resides. 
The mother is now deceased but the father is still 
living and makes his home with his son. He is a 
Republican in politics, and one of the esteemed 
early settlers of the community. Of the five chil- 
dren of the family the eldest and youngest are now 
deceased, namely: Cornelia A. and Eva A. The 
surviving members are Walter C, Julia E., and 
Will A. 

The subject of this sketch was born September 
11, 1854, and under the parental roof spent his 
boyhood days. As soon as he was old enough he 
began work upon the farm and the occupation to 
which he was reared be has chosen as the means 
whereby to obtain his livelihood. He is now the 
owner of the old homestead which comprises one 
hundred and eleven acres of land, ninety of which 
being divided into fields and highlj' cultivated, are 
yielding a golden tribute to his care and labor. He 
possesses excellent business ability, and allows 
nothing to come between him and his duty. Never 
for a month at a time has he been away from his 



farm. He is enterprising, industrious and progres- 
sive, which characteristics arc sure to win prosper- 
ity. 

On the 14th of November, 187(5, Mr. Balcom led 
to the marriage altar Miss Annie IMontague, of 
Victor Township, Clinton County, where their 
union was celebrated. The lady is a native of 
Canada, and a daughter of Henry and Mar^' (St. 
Clair) Montague, natives of Canada of English de- 
scent. The home circle includes this worthy couple, 
Howard E., their ten year old son, and Charles 
Balcom, the grandfather. Their residence a view 
of which is shown on another page, is a neat and 
substantial two-story frame dwelling, comfortably 
and tastefully furnished, and supplied with manj- 
of the comforts, and some of the luxuries of life. 

By those who know, the farm is acknowledged 
to be one of the best in the township, and the many 
improvements seen thereon arc monuments to the 
thrift and industry of Mr. Balcom or his father. 
As a citizen, our subject is luiblic spirite<l, mani- 
festing a commendable interest in all that pertains 
to the welfare of the community, and aiding in all 
enterprises that arc calculated to upbuild or ad- 
vance the best interests of town and county. There 
are many who hold him in high esteem, and those 
who have known him from his boyhood and have 
been witnesses of his entire life are among his 
stanchest friends. 

ANDERVILLED.GROW. The attention 
/ \\\ ^^ every stranger in Owosso is attracted 
to the handsome (Jrow Block, the finest 
business structure in the city and a credit 
to Owosso. It was erected by the gentleman 
whose name heads this paragraph, a modest yet 
successful citizen who h.as from small beginnings 
accumulated a comfortable competenc}' through the 
exercise of honest industry', unswerving integrity 
End undaunted perseverance. He was born in 
Cortland County, N. Y., in the town of Homer, 
January 16, 1831. He is the second son in a family 
of four children. His parents are Stillman T. and 
Derinda (Graham) Grow, being born the former in 



780 



I'ORTUAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Connecticut in 1806 and the latter in Cortland, N. 
Y. Slic (lied in Oaidand County, Mich., when her 
son was twelve years old. The father followed the 
double avocation of agriculture and the ministry 
and was for forty years a preacher in the Baptist 
Church. His faliier, Elisha Grow, was of English 
descent, anil .Stillinan (irow spent most of his 
mature jears in Micliigan, dying in Genesee 
County, in 1887. 

The subject of this sliclch was eight yeais old 
when he removed with his parents to Michigan, 
maising iiis home in Springtield Township, Oakland 
County, where lie attended the comniou-schools 
for five years. Ilis parents then removed to Atlas, 
Genesee County, where the father died in 1887. 
Here the family resided for some years. The mar- 
riage of Mr. Grow in his twenty-third year united 
him with Eliza Mitchell, a lady of Atlas, who was 
boru in Niagara County, N. Y. and is a daugiiler 
of George Mitchell. 

After marriage the young couple made their 
home in 1854 in Sliiawassce County, locating on a 
farm in Bennington Townsliip, where Mr. Grow 
carried on farming and stock raising. He made a 
si)ecially of sheep-raising, iiavingan excellent flock 
of slieep of two hundred or more and remained on 
the farm in the successful pursuit of agriculture 
until April, 1887, when he removed to Owosso. 

Tlie family of Mr. Crow consists of four children, 
tliree sous and one daughter. The eldest, Frances, 
is now the wife of William Rood; Lasell married 
and resides in Owosso; Wray is also married; the 
youngest, Lynn, is at liome. In 1890, Mr. Grove 
erected tiie fine building whicli is known as Grow 
lUock, which is tiuce stories and a basement in 
height and 44x85 feet on the ground floor. The 
first floor is occupied by stores and tlie second 
rented out for oflices, while the third floor is used 
as a public hall called Grow Hall, which place of 
assembly is a great convenience and credit to the 
city. Mr. Grow resides in a comfortable home on 
Gute Hill. The house faces upon Gutc Street. 
The grounds comprise some five acres and since his 
retirement from active farming he has devoted 
himself largely to fruit raising and has upon this 
place choice fruit of all descriptions. VV^hen he 
began life for himself his capital did not exceed 



$300 and be has gained all his handsome property 
through his own exertions, seconded by the efforts 
of his devoted wife. This lady is possessed of a 
lovely Christian character and is an active member 
of the Baptist Church at Owosso. Mr. Grow is 
identified with the Owosso Lodge, No. S8, I. O. O. 
F. In politics he is a Republican. 



-^-^^ 



W^.ILLIAM I. CARUSS, the present ellicient 
Road Commissioner of Greenbush Town- 
ship, Clinton County, is a native of Wyom- 
ing Count}', N. Y., and w.is born December 23, 
1830. His parents, Henry C. S. and Temperance 
Caruss wei'c both born in New York State, and his 
paternal grandfather was an Englishman and was 
in the British Army during the Revolutionary War. 
His maternal grandfather was a soldier on the other 
side. 

The emigration to the West of this family was in 
1833 and here they found a home in OaUrand 
County, and became pioneers of that region. The 
mother died soon after coming there, but the 
father lived until 1884 when he died. The children 
were reared there, and there our s'nbject was reared 
to manhood. He saw all the rough sides of pioneer 
life and suffered with many of the children the 
deprivations of scanty education and limited social 
advantages. Mr. Caruss' education is that which 
he mostlj' has himself obtained through a habit of 
reading, which he has indulged in through life. 

Upon May 15, 1858 Mr. Caruss took to himself a 
wife, in Oakland County. His bride bore the 
maiden name of Caroline Hosner, and she was- a 
native of Oakland County and a daughter of 
Thomas Hosner, an old settler there. One son only 
blessed this union, DeLoss. In 18G5 this family 
emigrated to Clinton County, an<l made their home 
upon the farm where Ihey now resi((e upon section 7, 
Greenbush Township. Here they began life anew 
in the woods in a log cabin and gained the ex|)eri- 
ences of the pioneer. 

Through all years since our subject has come to 
Clinton County he has been a useful and prominent 
citizen, being always ready to serve his fellow- 



PORTRAIT AND lilOURAPHlCAL ALIJUM. 



7«1 



citizens in any way wliich would promote the best 
Hood of tiic eomiiiunily. lie has been lli^jliway 
(,'ommissioner of the townsliii) anil is a Republican 
in bis political views. His one liundreil and forty- 
live acres of land are in a sijleiitUd condition, beinjj 
thorouj^hly cleared and well cultivated. He is 
identified witli the Masonic order in which organiz- 
ation he is well known. Mr. Caruss has the repu- 
tation of being the most efficient Highway 
Commissioner this township has ever been so 
fortunate as to elect, and he has probably ilone 
more than any man within its precincts to bring the 
highways up to their splendid state of efliciency, 
and receives the gratitude of the community for 
this invaluable service, while he has the coafidence 
of the entire business community for his inlegiity 
and honorable dealings. 




ULLIAM B. MtCALL. I'eriiaps no better 
representative of both agricultural and 
mercantile interests could be selected 
among the citizens of Duplain Townshi]) than Mr. 
^>IcCall, of Elsie, who was born in Owosso, Shia- 
wassee County, this Stale, October C, 185'J. His 
intilligent and worth}- parents were bolii born and 
l)roughl up in Westmoreland County, Pa., and 
bore the names of John H. and Angeline H. 
(Byerly) McCall. Tliey were early settlers in 
Michigan, as they came to this State April 30, 
1859, and made their home upon a farm near 
Owosso. Here the father carried on agricultural 
pursuits in connection with auctioneering. 

No startling events or unusual occurrences mark 
the boyhood and youth of our suliject. He had 
the advantages of a common-school education, but 
beyond that was not favored in the educational 
line. As a dutiful son, he ma<lc his home with his 
parents, serving them as best he could through his 
minority, learning from his father the best methods 
of farming and growing up to a vigorous and ro- 
bust manhood. His father died in October, 1880, 
the very month in which his son reached his ma- 
jority, and his grave is to be found in Owosso. 

The son now began life for himself as a farmer 



upon the old place in Owosso Townsliip, and car- 
ried on the work tliere until four years ago, when 
he found a puichascr for his property, and dispos- 
ing of it, moved into Owosso and entered into 
business with Lawrence, Ilamblin it Co., running a 
general store at Elsie. After three months' 
experiment Mr. McCall decitled that he would [)re- 
fer to be more independent in his work, and he 
bought out the firm and undertook the business on 
his own account. 

The marriage of Mr. McCall with Miss Anna 
Strchle, of Owosso Township, was solemnized April 
20, 1881, and has resulted in the birth of throe 
children — Nellie M., born March I, 1883: Myrtle 
May, October 21, 188G; and Glen Ellsworth, De- 
cember 10, 1888. 

The subject of this sketch is carrying on quite 
successfully his venture in the mercantile line, and 
handles groceries, queenswarc and crockery, dealing 
largely also in farm produce. In his political views 
he is a Republican, and one of the most active men 
in public affairs in the village, lie has been made 
a village Trustee, and he takes an active interest 
in educational matters, promoting by hl.s counsel 
and voice the upbuilding of the schools of the 
place. lioth he and his intelligent and amiable 
wife have been for the past four j'cars active 
and earliest members of the Methodist E|)iscopal 
Church. 



JAMES II. GLNNISON. Among the fami- 
lies of early settliirs who came to Clinton 
County, none probably excel in solidity of 
character an<l a worthy ambition the family 
which is represented liy our subject. The father, 
Elihu Gunnison was born August 28, 1803, in 
Newbury, N. II. After clerking for a time in a 
store he removed when a young man to Lansing- 
burg, N. Y., and there learned the trade of a comb 
maker. He came to Michigan in 1829, making 
most of his journey on foot and settling in .Superior, 
Washtenaw County, ami there established and car- 
ried on a store. His marriage March 1 1, 1833 was a 
worthy union with a lady of high intelligence and 
great loveliness of character. Her maiden name 



782 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was Ruth Ann Pr^'ei- and she was born near Batavia. 
N. Y., M:i3 15, 1815. This union resulted in tlie 
birth of eight children, seven of whom grew to 
maturity and bore the following names: Alfred G., 
James II., ArsaniusB. Hannah E., Joseph W.. Ann 
L., and Nancy Livonia. The parents of tliese chil- 
dren tlirough all the trials of pioneer life main- 
tained a high standard for their children, and 
sought for them above all things, the attainment 
of a lofty character and a sound and liberal educa- 
tion. 

James H. Gunnison was born in Victor Town.- 
ship, Clinton County, May 21, 1837, and is the 
second white child born within the limits of the 
county. His early education was taken in the old 
schoolhouse under the rate bill system and the 
teacher of the school boarded round. When a 
little older he and his brother Alfred, two years 
older than himself attended school at the Wesle3'an 
Methodist Seminar}' at Leoni, Jackson Count}', and 
the two brothers walked back and forth whenever 
the}' went home and boarded themselves at Leoni. 
They also went to Lansing and worked for their 
board while attending the public school there for a 
j'ear. They attended the State Normal .School at 
Ypsilanti, Mich., for three or four years walking to 
and from home when they made their visits home 
and boarding themselves at Ypsilanti. The}- also 
attended for three years in the same way the Agri- 
cultural College after it opened at Lansing. 

The young man remained at home until he was 
about twenty-four years and then went to Knox 
County, 111., and taught school for two winters, 
working on a farm during the summer month. 
While there lie took a horseback trip to Iowa. He 
then returned here and settled on the home place 
which he carried on for his father until the death 
of that parent when it came to him by will. 

The marriage of James H. Gunnison with Celia 
Southworth took place September 29, 1864. This 
lady was born in Saline, Mich., on Christmas Day 
1843 and was reared in that village. Her parents, 
Luther and Sarah A. (Graham) Southworth, were 
natives of New Hampshire and Ireland respectively. 
Mrs. Southworth was born in the North of Ireland 
and came to America when a girl of thirteen. Her 
husband was a shoemaker by trade and came to 



the West in 1862 and owned forty acres of land 
on section 27, DeWitt Township, where he died 
November 29, 1879, at the age of seventy-three 
years. His wife Is still living and makes her home 
at Lansing, having passed her eighty-second year. 
The wife of our subject died November 12, 1889. 
She was an active worker in the Methodist Church 
here, and a lady of lovely Christian character. Her 
daughter Hallie, born in 1871, a young lady of un- 
usual beauty and accomplishments and endowed 
with a liberal education keeps house for her father. 
The subject of this sketch has one hundred and 
forty acres in his home farm, over one hundred of 
which are under cultivation. lu politics he was 
long a Democrat but is now an earnest Prohibition- 
ist. He has served .as Highway Commissioner and 
ran for County Treasurer on the Prohibition 
ticket in 1890. He is an active member of the 
Sons of Tein|>erance and also of the Farmers' Alli- 
ance, of which he is now President of the County 
Organization. He was the first Worthy Master of 
the Sons of Temperance and helped to organize it. 
He gave $100 to help erect the building which is 
used together by that temperance organization and 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He will attend 
as State Delegate the National meeting of the Sons 
of Temperance which is to be held in Saratoga, 
N. Y., in July, 1891. He is a member of the 
Masonic order which he joined in 1863. His pleas- 
ant home is delightfully shaded by large forest 
trees which he has preserved for their beauty. He 
is a man of excellent mind, broad education and of 
a most genial and kindly disposition, being wide- 
awake to the interests of his neighbors and of all 
with whom he comes in contact. 



" S -i'I' i ' S " 



I 



|7 OMAN WILCOX. In noting the present 
11 ((§) appearance of the country included in Clin- 
JL^ ton County one docs not alw.ays remember 
that it is not a work of chance, but that it required 
arduous toil on the part of the early settlers to 
bring about the present condition, .and that they 
are entitled to the undying gratitude of their suc- 
cessors, who can scarcely realize the privations 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 



783 



thej' endured. Among those who have had a part 
in the self-denying toil b^- means of which Cireen- 
bush Township was reclaimed from the wilderness 
is Liunan Wilcox, who has long been living on 
section 36. In the spring of 1849 he cut the first 
stick of timber on a tract of land here, and as soon 
as a little clearing was made put up a log cabin 
about 16x20 feet in dimensions. From that time 
he has resided on the same farm, but long ago ex- 
changed his cabin home for a more convenient and 
attractive residence. 

The paternal ancestors of our subject were En- 
glish, and it is supposed that his mother also de- 
rived her descent from citizens of the mother 
country. His parents, Jabez and Dorcas (Louns- 
bury) Wilcox, were born in Connecticut and were 
living in New Haven County when their son Lu- 
man was born, January 15, 1811. He and asisteri 
Mrs. C. C. Wilcox, of Bingham Township, are tlie 
onl^- survivors of the parental family. When 
he was fifteen years old our subject accompanied 
his parents to Monroe County, N. Y., where he 
attained to man's estate. He received but a very 
limited education as far as schooling goes, but 
gained much practical knowledge not found in text 
books. January 1, 1834, he was married to Miss 
Lucy Richards, a native of Cortland County, N. Y. 
and daughter of Obadiah and Asenath Richards. 
In due time there came to the young couple two 
children, upon whom they bestowed the respective 
names of Earl and Hannah. When the daughter 
grew to maturity she became die wife of H. B. 
Smith. 

In 1837 Mr. Wilcox removed from the Empire 
State to Portage County, Ohio, and established 
himself about eleven miles southeast of Ravenna. 
He remained in the Buckeye State until the time 
already noted as the period when he became a citi- 
zen of Michigan. Here he and his efficient wife 
toiled and [ilanned, gradually seeing the result of 
their efforts and the fruition of their hopes in the 
better appearance of their own property', the ttdded 
comfort of their home, and the increase in the 
society of the neighborhood. He owns about one 
hundred and eighteen acres of good land, and his 
farm is a standing monument to his capability and 
industry, as when he came liither he had very little 



means. The journey from Ohio w.as performed in 
a twohorse wagon in which a limited supply of 
household goods were packed. 

For several years Mr. Wilcox served as Super- 
visor of Greenbush Township, and he has also been 
Highway Commissioner, Treasurer and Justice of 
the Peace. He and his wife belong to the Christian 
Chuich, and Mr. Wilcox is a Prohibitionist in poli- 
tics. Both are connected with the Clinton County 
Pioneer Society, and are highly esteemed by .all 
who know them .and understand how well they have 
siieut their lives and how useful they have been. 



»*^>«^>t?» 



<tf5<^»<^<f-^ 



<* jiALLlAU P. SCHANCK, one of the old set- 
\/\l/ '-1<^''* ff Clinton County, now resides in St. 
W^ John's, where he is engaged in raising 
standard -bred horses and buying and shipping 
stock. With his partner, W. T. Church, he has 
charge of a largo and handsome meat-market. He 
was born near Fredcricktown, in Knox County, 
Ohio. His father, Peter, and grandfather,AVilliam, 
were Eastern men, the father being reared in New 
York and having learned the trade of a mason. 
He married after emigrating to Knox County, Ohio, 
and carried on both masonry and farming, having 
a fine reputation as a brickl.ayer and plasterer. 

Mr. Schanck was not entirely satisfied with his 
surroundings and decided to locate at some other 
point, so he took a trip on foot, in January, 1849, 
in company with Addison Ilulse, of Greenbush 
Township. After prospecting about the}' decided 
to buy land in Essex Township, Clinton County. 
They returned to Ohio on foot and in April Mr. 
Schanck returned to his new home by team and 
wagon. The roads were very bad and in some 
places he had to cut new roads, and he was seven 
weeks on the journey'. Often he could make but a 
very few miles a day. He finally reached the de- 
sired location and took up one hundred and sixty 
acres of land and built a log house. He worked at 
his trade and hired others to cultivate his land for 
his work was very much needed. Atone time there 
was not a house in Majde Ivupids that had been 
plastered by any other hand than his. He also did 



784 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tcfiiiiins and dicw luinber with his ox-team from 
Elsie to Imild tlio (iist house in Maple Rapids. Me 
worked also at his trade in St. John's in those early 
times. 

Mr. Schanck had not l)cen in the new country long 
before the whole family was stricken with the ague, 
lie was unalile to work for some lime and the}' 
sar ver3' hard times. When the next pajment on 
the farm fell due he was unable to meet it and was 
obliged to sell some forty acres in order to gel the 
ifelOO to pay for what was left. Later when more able 
to purchase he bought the same property again for 
?<1,600. The original one hundred and sixty acres 
arc now well improved. He died in 1887, on the 
25th of April. 

The wife of Peter Schanck and the mother of our 
subject, bore the maiden name of Ilachael Jcflfrejs. 
She was born in New Jersey'. Her father, Parsons 
Jeffreys, was a weaver by trade which he followed 
in connection with farming in Knox Count}', Ohio. 
His wife was a daughter of Capt. Dickerson, who 
served in the Revolutionary War and was of Ger- 
man descent. He trained his daughter to be a fine 
weaver and she was able to manufacture cloth for 
the family in the early days. She was a devout 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
died in 1885. She was the mother of five children. 

Our subject came to Michigan when only four 
years old. He remembers distinctly crossing the 
Maumee River on a scow. He was early set to 
work on the farm and when eleven years old was 
counted as a full hand in following the plow. He 
early took charge of the farm, releasing his father 
to do mason work. He helped clear up the farm 
and had a notable record in the neighborhood as an 
ox-driver. He went to school in the winters until 
he reached the age of sixteen j-ears and then he was 
put to work, driving a team from the woods to St. 
John's and other places on tiie Detroit &, Milwau- 
kee Railroad, hauling staves. In 18G1, when eight- 
een years old he went to Kansas, hiring himself to 
a brother-in-law who was in the livery business at 
Ft. Scott. He stayed there only three months and 
then came back to take charge of two hundred 
acres of land in Essex County which belonged 
to his brother-in-law. In the fall of 18G.J he went 
to Color.ado, going by rail to fifty miles beyond 



Dubuque, Iowa, then staging it to Omaha; there he 
engaged to handle freight and drove five yoke of 
wild steers to Denver. He afterward went to 
Central City, and engaged in mining in the Pewa- 
bic mines. In July, 1866, he started out prospect- 
ing, crossing the wilderness and snowy ranges of 
mountains into a corner of Utah, after which he 
returned to Central Cit}'. 

When out prospecting, our subject with a party 
of eight, stumbled onto a troop of Indians. There 
were thirty of the warriors and they at once sur- 
rounded the whites and searched them. They found 
that they had fish with them and said "White man 
steal my fish, I take his biscuit," and the}' did, 
taking most of their provisions from them and let- 
ting them go. In the fall the young man returned 
to Iowa and took the railroad for home. 

In the fall of 1867 Mr. Schanck entered into a 
matrimonial alliance with Miss INIar}' C. Helms, 
who was born in New York. The young married 
couple settled on a farm in P^sscx where they lived 
for three years and in 1870 went to Isabella County 
and purchased an hotel, whicli the}- managed for 
thirteen months. Mr. Schanck then bought a stage 
line from Jit. Pleasant to Clare, and from Mt. 
Pleasant to St. Louis. He managed the business 
for about fifteen months and it jjaid him well until 
1873. In 1874 he worked at rarming and lumber- 
ing in the pine woods and in 187G he rented his 
father's farm on shares for three years, and during 
a part of that time took charge of three hundred 
and twenty acres in Essex Township. For ten 
years he managed the largest farm of any man in 
that vicinity. 

Our subject gradually dropped his farming in- 
terests and located in St. John's, purchased a resi- 
dence and other property in the city and entered 
into p.artnership with Mr. Church. This firm en- 
gages largely in buying, feeding and shipping stock 
antl also in raising standard horses. Among their 
finest horses arc '-Charles Dickens" sired by "Je- 
rome Eddy," "Lucy M." with a record 2:29J and 
"Belle Jackson." 

Mr. Schanck has but one child, Orby, who is at 
home. The father belongs to the Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons at Mai^le Rapids and is a member 
of the Grange at Essex. He is a Democrat in his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



785 



polilicnl views but. not radical. lie has liad liie 
tender of some township otiices but declined liiem 
as he preferred to devote his attention to his busi- 
ness. He is a very enter|)rising man and lias made a 
success of life, beginning in this new country when 
St. John's was a mere hamlet and had but one small 
store. He lias seen hard times in pioneering and 
has a corresponding enjoyment of the comforts of 
the present time. 




TNAM, who IS engaged in 
ling on section 2, Sciota Town- 
vassee Count}', has spent his en- 
tire life in this community. He was born on his 
father's farm near liis present home, February 5, 
18'>"J, his parents, Barnet J. and Melinda (Cone) 
Putnam, being early settlers of the county. His 
father was a native of New York, and in 1836, 
came to Michigan. Not long afterward Miss Cone, 
a native of the Buckeye State, sought a home in 
this locality, they became acquainted and were mar- 
ried in Sciota Township where they are still living. 
Unto them have been born four children — Adell 
E., Edson B., Frances M., and (ieorge B., and the 
family circle yet remains unbroken. 

No event of special importance occurred during 
the boyhood of our subject. As soon as old enough 
he was put to work upon the farm where he labored 
during the summer season, while in the winter he 
attended the district schools where his education 
was acquired. He was also a student for two years 
in Ovid, Mich., and for a short time pursued his 
studies in Valparaiso, Ind. He afterward taught 
several terms of school in this county but farming 
lias been his life occupation. He remained with 
his father and gave him the benefit of his labors 
until twenty- two years of age when he began farm- 
ing on his own account. On the 2d of July, 1885, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. 
Moulton, of Middlebury, this county. The lady 
was born in Steuben Count}', N. Y., and is a 
(huighlcr of Hiram and Betsy (Ilaight) Moulton. 
Her father is now deceased but her mother still 
survives him and is living in Middlcijury. 



Mr. and Mrs. Putnam began their domestic life 
upon their present farm and their home has been 
brightened by the presence of two children, sons — 
Mark K., aged four j'cars; and Earl M., three years 
of age. The farm upon which tiie family resides 
and which Mr. Putnam .owns, embraces one hun- 
dred and ten acres of valuable land on section 2, 
Sciota Township, about 8.5 acres of which is un- 
der cultivation and well improved. He raises all 
kinds of cereals adapted to this climate and is 
meeting a good success in his line of business. 
He is a well-informed man and a great reader, thus 
keeping conversant with all general topics of inter- 
est aud with political issues as well. In politics he 
is a supporter of the Prohibition partj'. In 1890, 
he was a candidate for the otiice of Supervisor of 
his township. The election resulted in a tie and on 
drawing cuts Mr. Putnam was found to be the suc- 
cessful candidate. So ably and well did he fill the 
ollice and discharge its duties that in 1891, when 
again made a candidate, the election returns showed 
him to have won by a majority of fifty-three. 
Both Mr. Putnam and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Church and he also belongs to the Pa- 
trons of Industry. He is a wortlij' and valued cit- 
izen of the community who takes an active interest 
in everj'thing pertaining to the advancement and 
welfare of the community and is an upright, hon- 
orable man whose life is in liarmon_v with his pro- 
fession. He has thereby won the confidence of all 
with whom he hos come in contact and is both 
widely and favorably known. 

MLLIAM I. IIINMAN. The owner of the 
^-,lll farm located on section 30, Caledonia 
^>^ Township, Shiawassee County, was born 
December 20, 1823, in Canada. His father was 
James Hinman, a native of New York State. He 
w.as a carpenter by trade but later in life became a 
farmer. His mother was Bailey (Bonestecl) Hin- 
man, a native of Canada. After their nvirriage in 
Canada they removed to New York wher(! they 
made their home in Rochester until he came 
to Michigan. Mrs. Ilininaii died .May 12, 18.52, 



786 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and three years afterward Mr. Hinman came to 
Michigan where he worked at his trade, first build- 
ing a house for a man in Genesee County. 

In the fail of 1855 the father of our subject came 
lo lliis county and settled on section 30. He, how- 
ever, soon after sold this and after moving to two or 
three places he returned and died here shortly before 
the breaking out of tlie Civil War. lie had been a 
soldier in the War of 1812. The couple were mem- 
bers of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, of which 
the father was a Class Leader, Steward and Trustee. 
In politics he was a strong Democrat. They were 
the parents of four children, three of whom are 
living — our subject, John B. and Henry .S. 

At an early age the gentleman of whom we write 
removed with his father from Canada to Rochester, 
N. Y., where he grew to manhood. He lived at a 
distance of two miles from the schoolhouse and until 
the age of thirteen years had a poor chance to ac- 
quire an education. After that time he spent only 
one winter in school, beginning life for himself at 
the age of fourteen. 

At first Mr. Hinman was employed on a farm and 
later as a laborer on public works, being engaged 
on the Genesee Valley Canal, his uncle, Col. Walker 
Hinman, having a contract on tlie same. This gen- 
tleman has recently died at the age of ninety-six 
years. Our subject at the age of twenty -one years 
began learning the cari)entcr's trade; he then 
formed a partnership with his father and elder 
brother and the three took contracts together. 

Ill October, 1855, our subject came to Michigan 
and located on his present farm. The conditiora 
of the roads may be judged of from tiie fact that 
lie had to pay 130 to have two loads of goods 
drawn from Fentonville to this place. That 
year tlie farmers were hauling their wheat from 
Caledonia to Pontiac and got forty-five cents per 
bushel for it. The next year he helped to build 
the freight house in Owosso, the railroad having 
been finished to tiiat point on the 15lh of .luiic. 
The farmers took their wheat and emptied it into 
the cars, receiving $1.22 per bushel for it. 

At the time Mr. Hinman settled on his present 
Iilace there were no improvements, whatever, it 
being a dense forest. He himself helped to cut 
the road that passes his lioine. He built one of the 



first frame houses in this locality. lie divided his 
time between his trade and the work of clearing 
his farm, which now consists of fifty acres of land, 
forty-five of which are now under cultivation. His 
present residence was erected seven years ago. He 
was his own architect and builder and has erected 
a very attractive, convenient and commodious 
home. 

On the 7th of October 1847, our subject was 
married to Sarah Jane Frazer, a daughter of James 
Ci. and Mary G. (Hawkins) Frazer, the former being 
a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Connect- 
icut, in which State they were married. They 
soon came to Pittsford, N. Y., where they resided 
until they removed to Illinois in 1853. Mrs. Fra- 
zer's death occurred in 1861 and her husband fol- 
lowed her in 18C7. They were the parents of nine 
children, six of whom are now living. 

Mrs. Hinman was born September 26, 1827, in 
Monroe County, N. Y. In her girlhood she was 
full of enterprise. At the age of thirteen she was 
no longer dependent upon her parents and ever 
after until her marriage provided herself with the 
necessities of life. In their early married life Mr. 
and Mrs. Hinman lived in Rochester, N. Y., for 
eight years and then came to this State, of which 
they have ever since been residents. They are tiie 
parents of iwo children — Frances A., whose natal 
day was May 14, 1850, and who became the wife 
of William A. Richardson; they live in Owosso and 
are the parents of two chililren — Mabel Leora and 
Ivah W. The second child, William James, was 
born June 9, 1855, and died October 22, 1876. 
Both children received a common-school education 
at Corunna. 

The family arc kind!}'. Christian people and fol- 
low the Golden Rule, being ever ready to lend a 
helping hand to those in need. Mr. Hinman is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
at Corunna. He has ever taken an interest in pol- 
itics, having formerly been a Republican but is now 
a strong Prohibitionist, being ardent in his work 
in the [larty. The famil}' were formerly members 
of the Good Templars. Mr. Hinman has been 
Highway Commissioner here. 

Our subject and his estimable wife have experi- 
enced mail}' of the hardships incident to pioneer 





4^^ 



n^> 




</n- 




PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



789 



life, but lliere are some fc:iUires wliicli uaii now be 
enjoyed as savorinii: strongly of the ludicrous. Tlie 
first night spent in Ibis loeality llie family slept 
in a log house, owned by .loiin B. Ilinman, where 
there were evidentl3- no provisions made for ;i large 
fauiily, but by stretching a i)ijint tliey accommo- 
dated them and nine persons slept in one bed. 
They lived in a shanty, which afforded but slight 
protection from rain or cold, for six weeks. 

Mr. Hinraan's father was Captain of a eom)5auy 
of farmers in Canada and after the War of 1812 
they held themselves in readiness for dc'fen.se 
against being taken by the British army for serving 
in the American ranks. 



\t)OFlN BENNETT. Honorable industry al- 
ways travels the same road with enjoyment 
and duty, and progress is altogether impos- 
sible without it. The idle pass through life 
leaving little trace of their existence, but the in- 
dustrious stamp their character upon their age, and 
influence not only their own, but succeeding gen- 
erations. The career of Mr. Bennett may be 
pointed to wiiii piideby his posteritj', for not only 
has be been a successful agriculturist but at the 
time when the Union was threatened, he offered his 
services in behalf of his country, and on Southern 
battlefields fought for freedom and equal rights to 
all. lie was a brave soldier, and his military rec- 
ord can be pointed to with pride by his friends. 

Mr. Bennet was of English descent. His pater- 
nal grandfather, John Bennett, was a native of 
England, and he and liis good wife, Ann, reared a 
family of five sons and three daughters. Among 
the former was Joseph, who was born in England 
in 1817, and there married Sarah Walkins. Of 
this union the following children were born: John, 
Cynthia A., James J., Henry P., Joseph R., Will- 
iam, Charles and Herbert. In 1813 the father 
ci.rae to America, locating fiist in Canada, and ten 
years later removing to Detroit, whence after 
spending one winter he went to the village of St. 
Clair. After three years he returned to Canada for 



a year, and then coming to Port Huron lived in 
Michigan until his death, which occurred in Ionia 
County. His gt)od wife, now seventy years olii, 
still resides on a farm in that county. 

The father was a Methodist in faith, l)ut at the 
time of his death was connected with the United 
Brethren Church. He followed both farmiug and 
preaching during the years he spent in Clinton and 
Ionia Counties, and was universally esteemed for 
his many noble qualities of heart and mind. Ik- 
had a commission from the (^ueen of England as 
Ensign Bearer. In early life he was a teacher, and 
was an English professor in Calais, France. A 
thorough scholar and linguist, he understood 
French, German and Latin, and was well versed in 
Greek and Hebrew. 

The subject of this sketch was born November 
26, 1840, in London, England, and when two 
and a half years old was brought by his parents to 
Canada and afterward acconi|)anied them to Mich- 
igan. He remained with them until he reached his 
majority, accompanying them in their various re- 
movals, and assisting them in the farm work. After 
he started out for himself he worked on a farm for 
H. L. Porter, in Gratiot County. He continued 
with this gentleman until August 15, 1862, when 
he enlisted in the United States service in Com- 
pany' G, Fifth Michigan Cavahy, and served until 
May 30, 18G5. He was with the Army of the Po- 
tomac during the entire period of his services, and 
is personally acquainted with Gov. Alger, of Jlich- 
igan, who was Colonel of the Fifth Michigan Cav- 
alry until near the close of the war, when he wiis 
promoted to be Brigadier-General. Mr. Bennett 
participated in the following eng.agements: Littles- 
town, June 30, 186.'}; (Gettysburg, Monterey and 
Williamsi)ort, Md., Boonesborough, Culpepcr, 
Haccoonford, Robertson River, James Cit^', Brandy 
Station, Buckland Mills, and Morton's Ford, Va., 
the raid to Falniount, Kilpatrick's raid, the battle 
of Trevilian Station, and many engagements of 
minor importance. Our subject was slightly 
wounded in tlie right shoulder, and Las ever since 
had poor health. He returned to his home at the 
close of the war, having been honorably discharged. 
For about eighteen months he rented a farm in 
Lebanon Townshi|p, Clinton County, and on l>e- 



790 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ceniber 1, 1866, purclmsed the farm where he now 
resides. This estate comprises eighty acres of fine 
and fertile soil, and is consiilered one of llie most 
pleasant homesteads in the count)'. It is embel- 
lished with substantial buildings, and in 1885 a 
counnodious residence was erected \>y Mr. Bennett 
for the abode of his famil3'. 

A few montlis after returning from the field of 
war, Mr. Bennett was married August 15, 1SG5, to 
Samantha Murwin, and one son was born to them 
— Clifton J. The wife died in 18G9, and on Jan- 
uary 2, 1871, Mr. Bennett was again married, 
clioosing as his wife -Mrs. Melinda Blaine: Of this 
happy union one child has been born, a daughter, 
.Sarah M. Mr. Bennett is a member of Billy Be- 
gole Post, No. 127, G. A. R., at Maple Rapids. 
Formerly" he was a Republican, but he now adheres 
to the Democratic part3^ lie has served his fel- 
low-citizens in various official capacities, has been 
Justice of the Peace for five j'ears, and has also 
served as .School Moderator and School Director. 
He joined the Methodist Church at the age of six- 
teen J'ears, and has since been a faithful member of 
that organization. The other members of the fam- 
ily belong to the Baptist Church. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Bennett appears 
in connection with this biographical sketch. 




ARSIIALL HAND. It is doubtful if Clin- 
ton County has a resident more highly re- 
spected by his acquaintances than Mr. 
Hand, whose home is on section 1, Olive 
Township. He is now engaged in farming, and is 
successfully operating one hundred and seventy 
acres of land which forms one of the best regu- 
lated and most thoroughly developed farms in the 
county. On every part of the estate the visitor will 
find evidences of good judgnuMit, and the buildings 
are substantial and neat. Mr. Hand has not always 
been engaged in farming, but has had much experi- 
ence as a school teacher, and as a public odicial, as 
will be seen by the perusal of the accomp.inying 
paragraphs. 

The Hand family came from New York to Michi- 



gan, and in the Empire .State its members had 
lived for several generations. Jonathan Hand, 
grandfather of our subject, was born there, and so 
too was his son Hiram, the j'car in which the latter 
entered upon the stage of human existence being 
1816. 'I'hat gentleman married Jane Sutfin, who 
was also a native of the Empire State, and born 
May 18, 1821. To them were born four children, 
the eldest of whom is Marshall. He opened his 
eyes to the light in Yates County, N. Y., March 
10, 1841, and was just entering his teens when his 
parents removed to this State. His father took up 
forty acres of Government land on section 1, Olive 
Township, being among the first to settle in the 
locality. Deer and other wild game still abouniled 
in this region. Mr. Hand died April 24, 18G0, but 
the mother of our subject is still living. 

Marshall Hand began his education in his native 
State, and after he came to Michigan had to pursue 
his studies in a log schoolhouse much more primi- 
tive than the buildings at his old home. When he 
was seventeen years old he began teaching, his first 
school being in the Krei)ps district, where he did 
nearly all his work. The first three months were 
taught for the sum of 125, but before he had given 
up pedagogical work he received as high as $40 
per month, which was first-class wages for the time. 
He taught twenty-three terms, all but two of which 
were in the same district, and many who studied 
under his direction acknowledge the benefit they 
derived from his teachings, not only on the topics 
written of in their text books, but on the principles 
of true living. Mr. Hand was nineteen years old 
when his father died and he had to take the place 
of his parent as best he could and look after the in- 
terests of the family. He did not give up teach- 
ing, but devoted himself to that work during the 
winters only, living upon the homestead and carry- 
ing on farm work. 

In the fall of 1880 Mt. Hand was elected Regis- 
ter of Deeds for Clinton County, and in order lo 
discharge his duties with the utmost faithfulness, 
he removed to St. John's, and began his official 
work in January, 1881. He was re-elected in 1882, 
and was the only county official on the Republican 
ticket who made tlie race that year. He continued 
in the ollice until January, 1S85, and then spent 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



791 



several months aiding his successor in discharging 
the duties of the station. In tiie fall ho returned 
to the farm, where he ha5 remained, devoting him- 
self with renewed energy to his agricnltural work. 
In 186S Mr. Eland was married to Miss Martha 
A. Isahell, a native of this State, whose wedded life 
was brief, as she died in April, 1801). Mr. Hand 
lived a widower some seven years, then in 1876 
was married to Miss Mary E. Faucett. She too 
was born in this State. To this union there have 
been born two children, May and Verne. As in 
timated in mention of his official work, Mr. Hand 
is a steadfast Republican. He was Clerk of Olive 
Township fivej'ears in succession, Supervisor seven 
consecutive j'ears, and at another time served in 
the latter capacity one year. He was Township 
Superintendent of Schools one year, and is now a 
member of the Board of Review. He stands high 
in the community, and his opinions are valued and 
his society sought, while the influence of his life 
ami character extends far beyond his home. 



^^^EOROK I). KIPP. Among the residents 
III g-, of Clinton County, may be found many 
^^^J) men who began their career at the bottom 
of tlie financial ladder and having climbed upward, 
round by round, until the}' have reached a height 
far above the level from which the_v started. One 
of this numlier is Mr. Kipp, an enterprising farmer 
of Olive Townsliii). His hoini^ fatra is not so large 
as some, but is made valuable and attractive by a 
complete line of substantial farm buildings and a 
homelike residence; while elsewhere he has other 
real estate and "much goods." In Saginaw County, 
he has eight}- acres of land and he has given his 
eldest son an equal amount there, and in Clinton 
County his landed estate consists of one hundred 
and twenty acres. 

Tlie father of our subject was James Kipp, a 
native of Wayne County, N. Y. who came to this 
State in 1833 and carried on farming in Wayne 
County some ten years. He was then called hence, 
at the early age of forty-two years. His wife, 
mother of our subject, was known in l.er maiden- 



hood as Mary Westfall, and she loo was born in 
the Empire State. She lived to the good old age 
of eighty-two years, |)assing away in 1889. Our 
subject was born in Wayne County, this State, 
January 12, 1834, and passed his boyhood and early 
youth amid the surroundings of a comparatively 
new region. His home was on a farm and his 
schooling was obtfuned in the home distr'cl, where 
he pursued the curriculum usual under such cir- 
cumstances and gained a practical knowledge of 
the important branches only. He was bereft of his 
father's care when in his tenth year and in his 
youth became possessed with a desire to visit the 
Pacilic Coast. 

When but nineteen years old young Kipp ni.ade 
his arrangements for a journey westward and left 
Wayne Station Maich 27, 1854. The Missouri 
River was crossed May 7, and the party picketed 
their horses in the American Valley in Northern 
California, July 15. They had seen two hundred 
Indians but had had no trouble with the red men. 
The experiences common to all travelers across the 
plains by the overland route, have been related so 
often that we will not enter into detail. Suffice it 
to say that Mr. Kipp takes pleasure in recounting 
to interested listeners the scenes and incidents of 
his memorable journey. He remained in California 
two years working in the mines, and returned by 
the ocean route, bringing with him as the result of 
his labors iji 1,800 worth of the |)recious metal for 
which men strive. 

Mr. Kip[) next spent five years working in a 
grist-mill in W.ayne (bounty and after learning the 
miller's trade had charge of a mill three years. He 
next bought a farm in Kent County but ere long 
sold out and changed his place of residence to 
Clinton County. In 1864, he bought a tract of 
woodland from which he has developed the fair 
fields of his present home. He swung the ax 
manfully, grubbed industriously, and soon began to 
see the result of his labors in a clearing that grew 
until it extended over the entire acreage. Various 
buildings rose on the farm as need came for 
them, until arrangements were perfected for the 
convenient carrying on of all farm work. 

Mr. Kipp was married in Wayne County in 1857, 
to Martha Reed, who died in 1861 leaving one 



792 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



child — Jesse. In tlie same county Mr. Kipp con- 
tr.acted a second matrimonial alliance, wedding 
Thankful Axtell. Of this union there have been 
born five cliildren, named respectively: James, 
Mar3% Emma, William and Albert. The last named 
has spent the past two 3'ears in St. John's. The 
present Mrs. Kipp is a kindly capable woman, 
whose home is well kept and whose friends are 
many and true. Mr. Kipp has served his neighoors 
in the capacity of Commissioner of Highways and 
done well for the traveling public. He is a Demo- 
crat and has acted as a delegate in various con- 
ventions. One of the most distinguishing traits 
is the care with which he meets every obligation 
and the promptness with which he takes up a note, 
never letting one pass the time it is due. 



J ^ AMES K. DAVISON, a typical farmer of 
the progressive and thrifty class, occupies a 
farm on .section 11, Essex Township, and 
has an excellent position among the men of 
Clinton County. He possesses a good business 
ability as well as agricultural skill and his land is 
well tilled, furnished with good buildings and 
adorned with suitable features, such .as forest nnd 
orchard trees, etc. He is a native of Macomb 
County, this State, and was born May 2, 1845, to 
Andrew and Sallie (King) Davison. His father 
was born in Connecticut and his mother in New 
York and his ancestors are supposed to have 
been Scotch. His father was an early settler in 
Macomb County, coming to the State some time 
in the '30s, when but little h.ad been done toward 
the development of the physical resources of the 
Territory. The parental household included seven 
children, of whom three only now survive — George, 
living in Montcalm County; Nancy, wife of Charles 
D.Rice, whose home is in Essex Township; and 
James K., our subject. 

The latter was educated in the common schools 
of Macomb Count}' and has supplemented the 
knowledge gained therein by a course of reading 
and keen observation of n)en and methods, thereby 
becoming well informed. He was quite young 



when the Civil War began, but was anxious to aid 
in defending the flag and when not j'et twent}' 
3ears old he entered the army, March 27, 18C5. 
He enlisted in Company G, Sixteenth Michigan In- 
fantr}', and did guard dut}- principally in Virginia 
until the close of the war. He was In Washington 
during the Grand Review but did not i)articii)ate 
in the parade. His discharge was leceived in July, 
1865, and he leturned to his native State to resume 
the arts of peace and pursue an honored calling. 
In 1881 he settled upon his present estate in Clin- 
ton County, which consists of eighty acres. 

During the month of September, 1874, Mr. D.a- 
vison was married to Miss Stella Bentlcy and some 
time after her loss he won Miss Katie Perr^' to 
brighten his home. His marriage with his present 
wife occurred in November, 1880, and mutual hap- 
piness has been the result. Mr. Davison is of a 
somewhat conservative nature but ever ready to 
lend a helping hand to enterprises that will beneflt 
the people of this section and shows a greater de- 
gree of genuine public s|)irit than is usual among 
farmers. At present he is a member of the Board 
of Review. He is a Mason, belonging to a lodge in 
Maple Ra|iids. In matters of national import he 
casts his ballot with the Republican party, but in 
local elections considers the candidate rather tliau 
the political i)latform on which he stands, believing 
that the [lartles differ so little on minor points that 
the man is the all-important thought. He is more 
than ordinarily successfid in the affairs of life and 
has an honorable place among his associates. 



^/OHN COWELL, deceased. This martyr 
upon his country's altar, who died of star- 
vation in the rebel prison, was before his 
iiji^// enlistment a resident of New Haven Toww- 
shii), Shiawassee County. Mich., and was born in 
Ottawa County, Ohio, April 14, 1825. He re- 
ceived at the hanils of his parents a good common- 
school education, but his father died when he was 
a little boy and the child came to Macomb County, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



793 



Mich., to live with liis uncle, L.-iiiciiis IT.iskins, a 
farmer and miller, who was the owner of a carding 
machine, saw-mill and grist-mill. 

John Cowell remained with his undo and learned 
the trade of a sawyer, but in 1813 purchased eighty' 
acres of wild land, part of which lie cleared and 
then made sale of, going from that section to Ml. 
Clemens, Mich. In 185.5 he came to Shiawassee 
County- and settleil upon a farm of eighty acres on 
section 30, a tract of unbroken land which he pro- 
ceeded to clear of timber. He ii.ad ahead}- chosen 
his partner for life in the person of Margaret K. 
Tapking, a daughter of Ernest and Sophia (Felsta- 
liousen) Taiiking, who were Hanoverians from 
Germany. Margaret was their eldest born, her 
natal day being October 27, 1827, and she was twelve 
years old when her famil}' came to America and 
from that time has made her iiome in Macomb 
County. 

To John and Margaret Cowell were born two 
daughters and four sons, namely : Andrew, Juni- 
etta M.,^Lar3- M., Edward C, Henry F. and Eugene 
S. John Cowell was a Democrat in his views, but 
was what was honorably known in war times as a 
War Democrat. His heart beat warmly for his 
country's flag and he sprang to the defense of his 
nation's honor, enlisting under Capt. Geo. A. Drew 
October 11, 18G2, in Company G, Sixth Michigan 
Cavalry, at Grand Rapids, Midi., and was mus- 
tered in by Lieut. Col. J. R. Smith, October 11. 
1862, at Grand Rapids, Mich. He went from the 
latter p'ace to Washington and was in service 
with his regiment for a year and was captured by 
tlie enemy, October 10, 18G3. His capture took 
jilace at Culpcper and he was taken first to Libby 
Prison and tlien to Andersonville, where he suf- 
ered the unspeakable horrors of that prison pen. 
He died of slow starvation, expiring April 17, 
1861, thus sealing his devotion to his country with 
bis life. 

Mrs. Cowell has carried on her farming oper.a- 
tions with good success and has a line farm and 
good buildings. Slie added to the old farm in 1889 
some forty acres, which are situated on section 30. 
There are about ninety acres of the land cleared 
and thirty still in timlier. She is a woman of 
truly religious life and l)clief and a member of 



the Methodist Episcopal Church, and through her 
man}' trials has enjoyed the consolations of Chris- 
tianily. Owing to poor health she does not now 
take as active a part in church matters as she did 
in former years. 



^1/ ^ S. MY RES. The gentleman who owns the 

jVl farm on section 21, Vernon Township, was 

^ born in Erie County, N. Y., in Clarence 

^) Hollow, June 14, 1810. His father was 
Peleg Myers, a native of Pennsylvania and a miller 
by trade. He died a young man. His grandfather, 
Stei)hen Myres, vvas also a native of Pennsylvania 
and a farmer. Our subject's mother, whose maiden 
name was Nancy Sample, was born in New York, 
and was the mother of three children, one daughter 
and two sons. Stephen, eldest son, resides in Oak- 
land County, tliis State. Marv, the wife of James 
T. Durling, resides in Milford, Oakland County. 

The mother of our subject was united in mar- 
riage a second time, becoming the wife of Phineas 
Baits, and from this union there were two daugh- 
ters and one son. The eldest, Josephine, is now 
the wife of Halsey Toncray and resides in Dowagiac, 
this State; Lillian is the wife of Daniel Hollister 
and resides in Detroit; the son, Smith Baits, mar- 
ried Lydia Estler and resides in Dowagiac, Mich. 
Mr. Myres is the second child of the first marriage 
and was only eight j'ears of age when he came to 
Michigan. His Orst school days were spent in 
Milford, Oakland County, and be finished in the 
Ypsilanti Normal School at the age of eighteen 
3'ears, after which he at once commenced teaching 
school. 

His first attempt at teaching was in Livingston 
County, and lie also followed his profession in 
Oakland County, after which he taught successively 
two years at Parshallville, having two teachers; 
Hartland Centre two j'ears; and at Brighton, where 
he had four assistants. While at Hartland he was 
Townshii) Superintendent of schools two years. 
He has followed the profession of a teacher for 
twenty-eight years. Six months were taught by 



794 



PORTRAIT AND CIOGRAPtJlCAL ALBUM. 



him in Durand, after coining to Shiawassee County, 
and his last school was at District No. 3, Vernon 
Township,in said countj'; it was linown as the Homes 
School District. In 1883 Mr. My res gave up 
teaching and went to fanning, in which avocation 
he has met with flattering success. In 1871 he 
was united in marriage to MW.s Franc Ilarbacli, a 
native of Michigan, having been born in Holly, 
Oakland County, June 2, 1846. She was the 
daughter of Franklin Harback, and spent some 
j'ears in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Myres became 
the parents of one child, Jessie, who was born 
April 16, 1875, and who died at the age of 
eighteen months. 

Mr. Myres is a Democrat in politicks and the peo- 
ple of his township have shown their confidence in 
his integrity and intelligence by electing him Super- 
visor in the year 1883, which office he has held for 
eight successive terms. He has also been, and is 
at the present time, School Moderator of District 
No. 4. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, 
Durand Lodge, No. 161. At present Mr. Myres 
is a general farmer, devoting his time and atten- 
tion to the fertile acres that surround his home. 
He enjoys the pleasant consciousness tlist he has 
done what he could to aid u<any to a higher posi- 
tion in life than they would otherwise have occu- 
pied . 

-^^' 



•iT?OHN B. HINMAN is the owner of and resi- 
dent on the farm located on section 30, Cal- 
edonia Township and was born July 3, 1826, 
in Canada. His father was James Harve}' 
Hinman, a native of New York State, where he 
was horn November 17, 1793. His mother Bailey 
Bonesteel, was born May 16, 1796, in Canada, where 
she met and married iier husband. The young 
couple resided there nearly twenty years, and then 
removed to Ruciicsler, N. Y. The mother's death 
took place Ma J' 13, 1852, and in 1855 the family 
came to Michigan, the father's death occurring 
December 17, 18G2. They were the parents of four 
children, all of whom were boys. 

Our subject was his parents' third child. He re- 
ceived a district-school education and was about 



ten J'ears of age when the family removed to 
Rochester N. Y. When about thirteen years 
of age he left home and went to work on a 
farm until lie had reached his nineteenth year. He 
ihen bought his time of his father and continued 
to work for himelf on a farm. On October 24, 1 852, 
he was united in marriage with Harriet A. Wicking, 
a daughter of Ethelbert and Mary A. (Comber) 
AVicking, both natives of County Kent, England, 
his natal day being in 1810 and hers in 1812. 
Their marriage took place in England and their 
emigration to America occurred in 1841, after 
which they settled in Rittsford, N. Y., where he 
devoted him.self to farming and made a permanent 
liomo. Mr. and Mrs. AVicking died resi)ectively 
in 1860 and 1887. They were the parents of 
eleven children, seven of whom are now living. 
They were Episcoi)alians in church preference and 
the mother was for many years a teacher in the 
parish school in England. Mrs. Hinman's father 
was a stanch Democrat in politics. 

Mrs. Hinman was born March 22, 1835 in Eng- 
land, where she received the advantages of a dis- 
trict-school education. At the time of her mar- 
riage she was a resident of Rochester, N. Y. In 
1853 the family came to Michigan and settled in 
Genesee County on a new farm. Our subject 
built a frame shanty which was intended as a tem- 
porary dwelling and immediately began the work 
of clearing his tract of land. There they lived for 
two years and then removed to the farm wiiich 
they at present occupy. It also was new land and 
comprised fifty acres of heavy timber land. There 
were no roads and thcj- were obliged to make 
their way Ihiough the woods to the neighbors, 
guarding against losing themselves by blazing the 
trees. 

The amount that they paid for the land took all 
they had and the months and even years that fol- 
lowed were [)assed in a hand to hand struggle with 
poverty. It was often a question how the mouths 
should be filled. When Mr. Hinman moved into 
the county with his family his wife drove to their 
future home from twelve miles beyond Flint, find- 
ing her wa}' through the forest b}' marked trees. 
They stopped at Corunna and tlien proceeded to 
the farm where they at present reside. One can 



I'ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



795 



imagine tlie feelings of the wife as she (ksceniled 
before the unfinishoil log house in wliieh tlieie was 
but a single room, oni^- one door and an nnshingled 
roof. Mv. Uininan's brother William and family 
came at about the same time and for several weeks 
they all lived in tiiat one room. Our subject 
brought the first hogs, cows and liens into this 
neighborhood. The pigs were very small and had 
to be treated much like babies, being fed with a 
spoon. 

Mr. Ilinraan was obliged to work out for others 
in or(]er to get means to support the family. At 
odd times he devoted himself to clearing his land. 
At first they had to bring their drinking water 
from a distance of half a mile. The first team 
they had was a yoke of calves, and Mrs. llinman 
used to gather field sorrel for pics, '^he had no 
lard and was obliged to make her pastry of butter- 
milk and saleratus. But pies were luxuries to be 
enjoyed only on lare Sundays. Our subject's 
farm is now all improved and in a high state of 
cultivation. They have lived here for thirty-six 
years and now live in an attractive house that is 
very different from the one room cabin. His pres- 
ent home was built fifteen years ago. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hinman have never had children. 
Both are members of the Episcopal Church at 
Owosso, of which ho has been Treasurer and 
Warden for a number of years. Oar subject is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
in which he has held several offices. He is actively 
interested in politics, being an adherent of the 
Democratic i>art3-. He was in early days a Path- 
master. 

In pioneer times Hour was not alwa3's easy to 
be gotten. The family of whom we write were at 
one time out of this staple article, and Mr. Ilin- 
nian's father, who lived with them made a trip to 
Owosso with his ox-team in order to procure the 
fiour. He secured a barrel on credit, the barrel 
costing him $9. As Mr. Hinman rolled the barrel 
over the doorsill he made the discourop;ing remark: 
"There goes the cow," but the wife '.vas deterinine<l ' 
that that docile and and useful animal should not 
be sold, as it was not in the end, for she secured 
enough to pay for the fiour b^- nursing a sick per- 
son for a period of four weeks. It is a satisfaction to 



know that such privations as these we have men- 
tioned, were bravely endured and that success and 
comfort is the resullof their hard labor.perscverance 
and patience. Mrs. Hinman's brother, James Wick- 
ing, was a soldier in the late war, being a member of 
Company C, One hundred and Kifteentli New York 
Infantry. He w.ns a mounted Orderly to Dei)Uty 
Provost Marshal Gen. George S. Batclielor, and 
died in the discharge of his duty June 17, 1863, at 
Port Royal, S. C. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hinman, though having no child- 
ren, have alwa3-s been very charitably disposeil in 
regard to providing for unfortunate and homeless 
children, having at various times cared for sixteen. 
Their home is known far and wide as the '-House 
of Refuge for the homeless." 



&m?^^\ 



ii^E^EiP 




iHEODORE A. LAUBENGAYER, a success- 
ful business man of Owosso has one of the 
neatest and most attractive drug stores in 
Central Michigan. It is not only fitted up hand- 
somely and arranged with taste but his manage- 
ment has also secured the confidence of the com- 
munity and given him a large custom in his native 
city. He was born March 9, 1859 and is the old- 
est son of John F. and Sophia (Gerner) Lauben- 
gayer, both of whom are natives of Germany, who 
emigrated to the United States previous to their 
marriage and were united in the bonds of matri- 
mony in Ann Arbor, Mich. 

This German-American citizen became a gradu- 
ate of the pharmaceutical department of the Slate 
University, where he took his diploma in 1845. He 
opened up a drug store in Owosso in 1857 on the 
same site where his son's store now stands. His busi- 
ness was carried on in a small frame building in 
which he continued until his death in 1887 when 
he leached the age of fift^'-twoj caij. He began busi- 
ness with limited means and achieved a g(jod suc- 
cess. His wife and three children survive him, two 
sons and a daughter, namely: Theodore A., Ma- 
tilda D., (Mrs. Harry Osburn) and Alfred G.,a jew- 
eler with the Chicago Watch Company. 

Theodore A. Laubengayer spent most of his 



796 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



school daj's in Owosso and then entered the State 
University where he pursued liis studies for 
eighteen mouths, being able to shorten his couise 
on account of having assisted liis father for some 
lime in the store before going to the University. 
The young man now returned to his native iiome 
and continued with his father until the death of 
that parent when he succeeded in the business. In 
1889 he built a fire brick block which he now oc- 
cupies, a three-story building occupying 22x90 
feet on the ground floor. 

The marriage of our subject in 1873 united him 
with Miss Nettie Leonard of Kenton, Mich., a 
daughter of Mr. Harry Leonard. This worthy 
couple are members of the Lutheran Church and he 
is a Republican in his [jolitical views but a conser- 
vative one. He is also identified with Lodge No. 
181, Knights of Pythias. 






'^^" 



'S^^^IKRCE DYNES. Probiibly few farmers of 
11) Sliiawassee County are better kuown than 
^ Mr. Dynes, who is a highly respected citi- 
/ \ zen of Owosso Township, and has always 
been a hard worker and shrewd manager. He has 
after hardships and toils achieved a satisfactory 
success, and now has one of the finest farms which 
the county affords. He resides on section 35, of 
Owosso Township, and cultivates two hundred and 
fifty acres of land, one hundred and five of which 
are in Bennington Township, two miles from the 
home. A view of the homestead, which is under 
fine improvement, is presented in this volume. 

The subject of this sketch w.as born in County 
Down. Ircl.and, December 5, 1826, a. id is the son 
of Oliver and Mary (McCormick) Dynes. When 
twenty-five 3'cars old. Pierce in companj- with his 
sister Mar}', who now resides in New York, came 
to America. He found employment with a Mr. 
Stanley in Monroe Countj', N. Y., and worked for 
him for tiirec years at $9 a month. He then came 
to Michigan and secured the land where he now 
lives. He has paid for this property out of his own 
savings, as he had no capital with which to begin 
life except his own pluck, push and perseverance. 



When he came to this countr\- it was indeed an 
untamed wilderness. There were then but two 
stores in (Jwosso, and only one house on the road 
between Mr. Dynes' farm and that village. He 
bought eighty acres, paj'ing |!160 for it. and im- 
proving it to such an extent that it is now a frirm 
of great value and worth each year in its products 
many times the mone^' which he then paid out. 

Three years after coming to the Wolverine 
State young Dynes took to wife Sarah Jane, a 
daughter of Thomas Thompson. This intelligent 
and faitliful helpmate died October 3, 1883, under 
ver^- distressing circumstances. She was driving 
with her son Thomas and came near to wiiere a 
steam tliresher was in operation. The engineer 
was requested to move a little farther from tlic 
roadway so that tlie team miglil pass in safet3', but 
he declined to move, telling tiiem to drive along 
and that it would be all right; but just as the team 
was passing the machine the escaping steam fright- 
ened the horses and they began to run. Mrs. 
Dynes was thrown out and fell under the wheels of 
the wagon which went over her, breaking her hips 
.and inflicting internal injuries. Help cameatonce 
and she was lenderiy carried into Mr.Hopkins' house 
and her iuisbind and medical aid were at once 
summoned. Drs. Perkins and Knapp soon arrived 
upon the scene, but could do nothing more than 
to administer opiates to relieve her agony. She 
scarcely regained consciousness and four or live 
hours later breathed her Lost after intense suffering 

This terrible calamity has given Mr. D3'nes a 
blow which he cannot efface from his life. This 
faithful companion had for 3'ears labored together 
willi him for Uie attainment of a pleasant home 
and a comfortable independence, and just .as their 
ambition was gratified it is indeed hard that she 
should be taken away by so api)arently needless a 
calamity. It has saddened her husband's life and 
left a gloom upon the home. 

The f.amily of Mr. and Mrs. Dynes consisted of 
the following children: Robert, who died when 
three years old; Henry, who lived to be twenty- 
seven years old and passed away September 12, 
1887; Sallie, now Mrs. George McKinzie. of 
Owosso; Thom.as, who lives in Bay City; Jennie, 
who is Mrs. Miles Wiggins, of Owo.sso; John, who 




RESIDENCE OF PIERCE DYNES , SEC. 35., OWOSSO TR, 5HI AWAS5EE CO. .IVflCH 




RESIDENCE OF SYLVESTER BEEBEE, 5 EC. 23. GREEN BUSH TP, CLINTON CO.,MICH • 




RESIDENCE OF M. G. PHO EN IX ,SEC.34. BENNINGTON Tf., SHIAWASSEE CO., MICH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



799 



has a farm in Bennington Towiisliip; and Riciiard, 
Maggie, Lnla and Raymond, who are all at home. 
Mr. D^'nes is a devout member of the Episcopal 
Church and a man whose upright life and earnest 
oiiar.acter justl3' meet tiie ai)proval of an intelli- 
gent conscience. Were it not for tiie blow wliich 
has fallen ui)on him in the death of his wife, life 
would have only enjo^ ment and comfort for him. 



Ijy^ AXFIELD G. PHOENIX. One of the 
finest farms in Shiawassee County is that 
located on section 34, Bennington Town- 
ship, and owned by M. G. Plioenix who 
was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., April G, 
1830. He is the son of Ralph and Catherine (Daw- 
son) both of New .Terse}'. They came to St. Jose|>h 
County, this State, and located near White Pigeon 
in the year 1835, where the mother still re- 
sides. AVhen our subject was but seven years 
of age the faniilj' remove<l to Washtenaw County 
where they remained for two jears. The father 
being taken away when his son was but six years 
of age, his uncle, Lyman Bennett, took him into 
his family at the age of seven and brought him to 
Shiawassee County, where he remained un'il he vvas 
sixteen years of age. At this age the boy felt the 
responsibility of manliness and determined to go 
to his mother in order to assist her as much as pos- 
sible. This he did and returned to White Pigeon 
where he remained until 1854. 

It is .said that early impressions have a lasting 
influence both upon the mind and affections, and it 
is evident that Shiawassee County appealed to our 
subject for in 1855 he returned and i)urchased 
eight}' acres of land. At the time he moved on his 
farm it contained a log house, about which was a 
small clearing. He paid $1,100 for the place, going 
in debt to the extent of *450. He was soon mar- 
ried to Mary Card and began the work of life in 
earnest. Because of his straightened circumstances 
he had unusual didiculties to contend with. A 
team was a luxury not to be thought of and Mr. 
Phoenix broke land for other parties for three or 
four years, chopiiing wood on his own land in the 



winter. The farm now contains one hundred and 
twenty acres with good improvements. He has his 
house charmingly located on a commanding emi- 
nence from which can be Iiad a view of the sur- 
rounding country. He built this residenc; upon 
which he expended $1,200 and added a fine barn 
which cost him #1.100. His farm is well watered 
b}' means of pipes leading from a reservoir that is 
Qlled by a wind engine and the water is conducted 
to barns and sheds for stock. He has about eight 
hundred rods of tile and his farm is exceedingly 
well drained. The reader will notice on aiiothi r 
page a view of his attractive homestead. 

JNIarch 29, 18G5, Mr. Phoenix entered into a sec- 
ond contraetof marriage, this time to Miss Wealthy 
Brandt, a daughter of Frederick Brandt, who was 
born in Perry Township August 2(1, 1847. Our 
suliject has a pleasing family who are useful and 
prominent members of the community. The eldest, 
Jennie, is t!ie wiTc of Charles R. Bemiss and lives 
on the farm, being about thirty years of age; 
the others are Bertha, who has reached the age of 
nineteen years, and John who is now nine years 
old, Mr. Phoenix is a Republican in politics and 
is an ardent advocate of the measures that go to 
make up the jjlatform of that party. He is one of 
the prominent men of his township, having declared 
his ability by the way in which he has surmounted 
the dilHcullies of pioneer life and the success that 
he has made in a business way. 

YLVESTER BEEBEE, a venerable septua- 
genarian and a time-honored pioneer of 
Clinton County, residing ou section 2.'i, 
Ureenbush 'J'ownship, is a native of Herki- 
mer County, N. Y., where he was born Ajjril 14, 
1820. He is a son of Silas and Antha (Pardee) 
Beebee, natives of New York Slate. His paternal 
ancestors are English. Our subject was reared to 
manhood in his native county and has pursued 
farming since his boyhood. He received the rudi- 
ments of an education in the early schools of New 
York, which he attended in winter only as he was 
the eldest son of the family and could not be 




800 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



spared from the farm work in the summer after he 
became old enough to assist liis fatlier. The latter 
was very limited in financial resources and unaljle 
to hire tiie help which would have relieved our 
subject from labor, so he cheerfully turned his en- 
ergies toward helping to support the family. How- 
ever, he took what schooling he could get and 
constantly improved his opportunities for self- 
education and has throughout life been a thorough 
and systematic reader of the journals of the day. 
Mr. Beebee was first married in New York State 
in 1846. His wife, Abby Ann Vincent, a native of 
New York State, became the mother of two chil- 
dren — Emma L., the wife of William Bird, who 
resides in Duplain Township, Clinton County, and 
William F., who makes his home in Greenbush 
Township. The wife was snatched from his side 
by death while they still made their home in New 
York. The marriage of Mr. Beebee to his present 
wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Clara 
Osborn,took place April 17, 186 L To them were 
born two children — the daughter Antha A., now 
the wife of Frank Green, makes her home in Ovid, 
Mich.; the son, Charles E., has been called from 
earth. 

The subject of this sketch came to Clinton County 
from Pennsylvania in 186,5. He first resided in 
Essex Township but in 1870 he came to Greenbush 
Township and located on the farm where he now 
resides. Here he has forty acres of excellent arable 
land in a good state of cultivation. A view of this 
pleasant homestead ai)pears on another page of the 
Album. Mr. Beebee has risen from the poverty of 
his boyhood to the possession of a handsome prop- 
erty and all that he has is the result of his perse- 
verit g industry, enterprise and integritj'. He has 
also through all his struggles maintained the repu- 
tation of a good citizen and a man of honor and 
has the respect of the entire community. 

The citizens of Greenbush Township testified to 
their appreciation of Mr. Beebee's character by 
electing him Justice of the Peace in April, 1873, and 
re-electing him every four years up to the present 
time, thus keeping him in continuous service, as he 
is now serving his fiftii term. The "Squire" as he 
is called, is eminent throughout all that region for 
the judicial knovvlege which he displays in his office 



of Justice of the Peace. His decisions have be- 
come proverbial for their fairness and are at .all 
times rcndei'cd from an unbiased ami unpredjndiced 
standpoint. 

P^or nine 3'ears Mr. Beebee has been serving as 
School Director and was School Moderator of his 
district. Both he and his worthy wife are highly 
esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and are counted among the most useful 
members of societ3'. He enjo3'S the full confidence 
of all who have had dealings with him in business 
and is considered one of the most prominent citi- 
zens of Greenbush Township. It is with pleasure 
that we represent this aged pioneer in this volume 
among other luiblic-spirited and influential citizens 
of Clinton County who have done so much to de- 
velop Central Michigan and have by their labors 
and wise enterprise converted what was once a 
wilderness into what may be styled the "garden 
of the West" for its beauty and productiveness. 



^S 



E^- 




ICllAKL E. CARL AND. This gentleman 
is prominently identified with the business 
interests of Corunna and with the various 
projects by which the welfare of Shiawas- 
see County is advanced. He has been for some 
years engaged in mercantile puisuits and he has 
become one of the leading dealers of the city. In 
1879 he built a substantial block, one hundred and 
twenty feet deep and divided it into two stores. 
Here he has a large stock of dry goods, groceries, 
crockery and queensware, boots and shoes, car[)ets, 
wall paper — in fact everj'thing in the line of gen- 
eral merchandise that is likely to le called for. 
Not only the main floor, but the second story is 
used, and in every part of the establishment the 
work is systematiz(^d and the employes courteous 
and obliging. Mr. Garland has a partner in the 
business, his .associate being hit ne[)hew, John Car- 
land, who first eng.aged with him in the sale of gro- 
ceries. The present extensive business has grown 
out of the old trade and the firm of M. & J. Car- 
land is now the oldest in town. 

Mr. Garland was born in Kinsale, County Cork, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



801 



Ireland, .Inly 12, 1835, and was Imt a cliild when 
his parents emigrated. His fatl-er, Miehael far- 
land, was born in the North of Ireland, but had 
been taken to Connty Cork wlicn but a child, his 
parents removing on aoconnt of the Rebellion of 
1708. Michael grew to manhood and learned the 
trade of a tanner and currier in County Cork, and 
there married Mar^- Allen, who was liorn in Ban- 
don, County Cork. They came to America in 
1836, voyaging from Cork to Boston, and being 
nine weeks on route. Mr. Carland worked at his 
trade in the "Hub" a short time, then made his 
home in Mexico, Oswego County, N. Y., a few 
years. In 1838 he came to Detroit and worked at 
his trade as an emi)loye of the Kirbys. His wife 
died there in 1839. and the family was scattered, 
but in 1840 he returned to Mexico and with a rel- 
ative became interested in a tanner^'. He was in 
business there until 1816, then returned to Detroit 
and again worked at his trade for a time. He r.cxt 
bought a farm in AVashtenaw County, and during 
the winter, while ciossing one of the small lakes 
near his home, he was drowned, his boilj' not be- 
ing recovered until spring. He was one who took 
a decided stf nd on all questions which he took in- 
to consideration. In politics he was a Democrat 
and in religion a Catholic. 

There were six sons and daughters born to the 
parents of our subject, but only two survive — 
Michael an<l Alice, the latter a widow of George 
Sumner, of Sylvan, \Vashtcnavv County. One son, 
Richard, who was a soldier in the Second United 
States Artillery, was lost at sea, off Cape Ilattoras. 
from the steamer "San Francisco." John, the 
fourth child, was Captain of Company H, Twentj'- 
Third Michigan Infantry and rose to the rank of 
Major. He served through the Civil War and 
was later appointed Second Lieutenant in the Sixth 
United States Infantry and did duty in the Sioux 
camjiaign, the various stations at which he was 
posted being Fts. Hall, Douglass, Leavenworth 
and Abe Lincoln. His death occurred at Frank- 
fort, this State, in February, 1890, after he had 
gone on the retired captain's list. He had located 
in Shiawassee County in 1856, and farmed in Ven- 
ice Township two years. He then studied law 
with S. T. Parsons in Shiawassee County, was ad- 



mitted to the bar and was holding the offlce of 
Justice of the Peace when the war began. He 
raised a company during the early days of 1862, 
and from that time until the close of the war was 
in the Carolinas and the West. From 1865 to 
1867 he practiced his profession in Corunna and 
from that t'me until near his demise he was in the 
Regular Army. His ccnnection with that branch 
of the service covered a period of twenty-three 
years and during twelve of them he was Regi- 
mental (^luarterinaster and Commissary, having 
charge of the subsistence and arms of the regi- 
ment. 

John Carland was married in Mexico, N. Y., 
to Emily Calkins, who diei) in Corunna before the 
Civil War, leaving two sons, lluce and seven years 
of age. The^' wore reared by their uncle Michael 
and given every possible oi)portunity to become 
educated. One of them, John K., after being 
graduated from the Corunna High School, read 
law with Judge J. B. Shipraan, of Coldwatcr, and 
then with John G. Hawlej-, of Detroit. He was 
admitted to the bar and in 1877 went to Bismarck, 
Dak., where he w.as City Attorney and Mayor. 
He was appointid United States District Attornej' 
for th(i District of Dakota in 1885, and liy Presi- 
dent Cleveland was made Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court of tlie Territor3- of Dakota. When 
the Territory was admitted to the Union as two 
States, his official station necessarily became void. 
He is now engaged in [nactice in Sioux Flails, S. 
Dak. He was also a member of liie Conslitulional 
Convention of North Dakota and was Chairman of 
the Judicial Committee. The other son, Willis 
W., went West in 1876, and was in the Govern- 
ment em[)loy during the Custer campaign. He af- 
terward located in .Miles City. Mon., where he held 
the offices of Deputy Clerk of the U'nited States 
District Court and Treasurer of Custer Count3'; he 
is now engaged in the real-estate business in Chi- 
cago. 

The subject of this sketcth lias no recollections 
of an earlier period than his residence in Detroit. 
He lived in New York some six years and in 1816 
he returned again to this State, crossing the lake 
on the schooner "Essex." That summer he be- 
came cabinboy on the ''(ien. Anthony Wayne," 



802 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



whicli plied lietween Buffalo nnd Toledo, and in th'» 
winter he .vent to Port Huron and made iiis liorae 
with tlie late Elijah Birch. Ho liad a curiosity to 
go to Detroit to see his old acquaintances, and 
found liis sister Alice in the emplo}- of James F. 
.Toy and then learned of tiie death of iiis father. 
His sister persuaded him to live in the same family 
as herself and during the next two ^-ears he staid 
with Mr. Joy and attended school. He then went 
back to Mexico, N. Y., and made his home with 
his father's former partner until 1850, when he 
again came to this State. His sister in the mean- 
time liad become the wife of Mr. Sumner, who was 
foreman in a tanning and currying establishment 
in Van ISuren County. Young Carland became an 
a[)prentice there, serving until 1852, when he joined 
a company to cross the plains. 

The party was organized uniler Capt. George 
W. Peacock and the outfit consisted of ox teams 
and wagons. They trr.veled through Southern 
Michigan, Northern Indiana and Illinois to Ottawa, 
went down the river to St. Louis on a steamer, 
then on to ''St. Joe," where the}' crossed the Mis- 
souri River on a flat boat. The3' made their way 
across the Western plains, striking the South 
Platte at Ft. Kearne}', subsequently' crossing the 
North Platte and Sweetwater. AVhen within eighty 
miles of Salt Lake, Mr. Carland .and four others 
left their train and went to the Mormon capital, 
where our subject hired out to work at liis trade. 
He was quite contented, but five weeks later met 
a relative who persuaded him to go on to Cali- 
fornia. His employer at Salt Lake was a promi- 
nent Mormon and Mr. Carland did some work 
on the Temple. He was there when the fifth anni- 
versary of the entrance of tiie Mormc5ns into the 
Salt Lake Valley was celel>rated, July 21, 1852. 

Mr. Carland and his friend had one horse which 
they used in turn, traveling in company with a 
fieighter of whom they hired board. At Bear 
River, forty miles north of Salt Lake, his wagon 
broke down and he returned them the monej' they 
had paid him and also gave them some provision. 
The two continued their journey alone and made 
their way through to the Big Meadows at the Sink 
of the Humboltlt, where Mr. Carland hired to a 
horse trader. He crossed the desert with him. 



passed up the Carson Valley and across the Sierra 
Nevad.as, and reached Stockton, Cal., b}- way of the 
lone Valley. There he was discharged and going 
to Sacramento he traveled on foot to Placervilie. 
where he s|)ent the winter in mining. He spent 
the ensuing tw'o years in the neighborhood of 
Mormon Island, Sacramento County, still engaged 
in mining, and then went to San Francisco and se- 
cured employment with the Pacific Mail Steamship 
Conipanj-, running between San Francisco and 
Panama. He was on the route until the sjjring of 
1858, when he made a prospecting tour to British 
Columbia, taking special note of the advantages of 
the Fnizier River region. Thence he returned to 
Sacramento and for a jear was engaged in ranch- 
ing in the subuibs ot that city. 

Mr. Carland next returned to San Francisco but 
during the summer of 1859 worked on a farm near 
San Jose, then going again to San Francisco and 
entered the employ of Howes & \V3Miant, general 
commission merchants. In the winter of 1860 he 
made a trip to Washington Territory, in an oyster 
schooner which loaded in .Siioal Water Bay. and 
the next spring resumed his work in the couimis- 
sion house in San Francisco. He was there when 
tlie rebellion began, and with his employers and 
others undertook to enlist, but wlien told that they 
would be sent to fight the Indians on the plains, 
all decided not to become soldiers. In December, 
1862, Mr. Cailand sailed for New York via Pan- 
ama, and reaching the American metropolis, Jan- 
uary 3. 1863, came at once to Shiawassee County. 
Here he was married January 28, to Miss Sarah K. 
Calkins, a daughter of William A. Calkins, a well- 
known farmer whom he had known since childhood. 
The bride was born in Mexico, N. Y., and was a 
well bred and ca|iable woman. .SIjc died Ai)ril 26, 
1872, leaving three cnildren. The living children 
are Emily, now the wife of A. J. Erb and residing 
in Manistee, Mich., where he is engaged in prHctic- 
ing law; Kittie, a teacher in the Corunna High 
School, who studied here and attended Albion Col- 
lege two years; a daughter, Sarah E., died at 
the age of one j'ear, and M,ajor, twin of Sarah, who 
is a telegraph operator in the employ of the Mexi- 
can Central Railroad in Old Mexico. 

In the spring of 1863, Mr. Carland went to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



803 



Grand Rapiils and became engaged in a tannery 
owned b}' Mr. Taj-lor. In the fall ho went to Ven- 
ice Townsiiip, Shiawassee Count}-, and spent the 
winter, and the next spring took charge of Mr. 
Scott's tannery at Coo[)ersville, Ottawa County. 
Another winter was spent in Venice Towusliip, and 
tiie following spring lie located in Corunna and 
began work as a mason. In August following, be 
and his former schoolmate, M. Ormsby,became part- 
ners in the grocery business, but in 1868 Mr. Car- 
land disposed of his interest in the firm and in the 
fall engaged in business alone. lie soon after took 
his nephew, John, into the business and the work 
has gone on as before noted. 

In 18t!7 Mr. Garland built a residence and he 
can justly claim of having one of the most beautiful 
homes in Corunna. He made a second marriage 
in 1872, the ceremony taking place in W-nice 
Township and his bride being Miss Elizabeth Mc- 
Laren, who was born there. This marriage has 
been blest by the birth of twochildren — IJessie and 
Charles S. Husband and wife belong to the Meth- 
odist Kpisco|)al Church, and Mr. Carland is a 
Knight Templar and a Mason of the Royal Arch 
degree. He is a Democrat and has frequently been 
a delegate to county and .State conventions. 
When Corunna became a city he was elected Al- 
derman and served several terms. He h;vs been 
a member of the Board of Education almost con- 
tiiiuousl}' since he settled here, and has been 
President [)art of the time. He belonged to that 
body when the present schooliiouso was built. 
During one year he served as Supervisor of the 
First Ward. 



UDOE AMA.SA ANGEL HARPER, is a 
prominent figure among the old settlers of 
Corunna and was for eight j'ears Judge of 
the Probate Court. He has a beautiful farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the 
corporation of this city and makes his home in 
Corunna. He was born at .Junius, near Seneca 
Lake in Seneca County, N. Y., October i:», 1833. 
His father, Alonzo, was born near Ft. Ann, in 
Washington County, that Slate, and his grand- 



f.alher, Robert, was born in Vermont, and was a 
W.ashington County, N. Y., farmer, when he left 
home to take pait in the War of 1812. In 1835 
he removed from Seneca County to Lodi Township, 
Washtenaw County, Mich., where he became a 
prominent man, being Su|)ervisor of the Township 
and Justice of the Pe.ace, and occupying other 
official positions until his death. 

The father of our subject journe^-ed with his 
father by team from Seneca County, N. Y., to 
Michigan through Ohio, crossing tiie Maumee 
Swamp. Upon reaching Lodi he located some land 
in heavy oak openings and built a lo^j house witii 
mud and stick chimney. In 1876 he removed to 
Norvell, Jackson County, where he engpged in 
farming and where he now resides in his eight^-- 
first vear. He has long been a |)romineiii member 
of the Baptist Cliuieh and his political sympathies 
are vvilli the Democratic part}-. The inotlier of 
our sulijcct, Julia Cornell, was born in Washington 
County, N. Y., and was the daughter of William 
Cornell, a soldier in the War of 1812. Her dcatli 
took place April 3, 1891, when cight3-two years of 
age. Of her eleven children, nine now survive, to 
mourn her loss. 

The first recollections of our subject are of 
Michigan, as he was veiy young when he came here. 
He was early set to work guiding oxen and (Uiing 
other hard farm tasks. Both he and his lather 
were excellent shots and often brought down a 
deer for the family larder. The log schoolhou.se, 
and somewhat later niore convenient and more 
thorough schools at Chelsea furnished his oppor- 
tunities for education. 

Soon after the young man completed his twenty- 
first year he engaged in the general merchandise 
business at Chelsea, going into partnership with 
his uncle, Mason Har[)er. C)ne year later he bought 
out his uncle and continued for five years in busi- 
ness by himself. In 1858 he sold out his business 
and leaving Washtenaw County, located in Wood- 
hull Township, .Shiawassee County, where he bought 
eighty acres of nevv land upon which he worked 
for three years. After selling this propurty he 
located in Perry Township, where he bought a farm 
of one hundred and twenty- acres, which he culti- 
vated for some time. He then started in business 



804 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



with general merchandise at Perry, until he was 
elected Township Clerk. He filled this office for 
three years and then that of Township Treasurer 
for four j'cars. He became Superrisor in 1873 
and continued consecutively in that office until 
1880. He "was for a long while Chairman of the 
County Board. In the fall of 1880 he was nomin- 
ated for Judge of Probate Court on the Republi- 
can ticket and being elected he took charge of the 
office January 1, 1881, and made his home in Cor- 
unna. He was re-elected in 1884 and continued 
serving until January 1, 1881), when he declined 
further re-election. 

Judge Harper is now devoting himself to the 
improvement of his farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres and to the breeding of fine stock. He 
breeds Perclierons and also thoroughbred roadsters 
and full-blooded and graded animals of other kinds, 
and has a fine grade of Merino sheep. His home 
is a handsome brick residence, adorned with taste 
and pleasantly situated. His marriage in Chelsea, 
October 9, 1854 united him with Cornelia J. Bur- 
chard, the daughter of Uickson Burchard, a native 
of New York, who came to Michigan and located 
in Sylvan Township, Washtenaw County, about the 
year 1837. He was a Whig, Abolitionist and Re- 
pulilican, and was one of the successful pioneer 
farmers. He was also a member and an influential 
one in the Protestant Methodist Church and died 
in 1866. Mrs. Harper's mother bore the maiden 
name of Adelia Becker. She was a native of Scho- 
harie, N. Y., and died in 1858. Mrs. Harper was 
))orn in liradford County, Pa., January 7, 1836, 
and came to Michigan in 1837. Her education was 
completed in the Academy at Grass Lake, Jackson 
County, Mich. 

'1 lie two children of Judge and Mrs. Harper are 
Myrtle I)., who graduated at the Corunna High 
School and engaged in teaching until her marriage 
with John J. AVilkinson, with whom she now re- 
sides in Omaha, Neb., and Ilattie E., who is a grad- 
uate of the same school and then look a position 
with her father as Registrar of the Probate Court, 
which position she now occupies under Judge Bush. 
The Judge is a prominent Mason and has attained 
the rank of Knight Templar; he has been Secretary 
of the Commandcry for two years. He is a demitted 



member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
from Perry. lie is an influential Republican both 
in the county and this part of the State. He held 
the office of Ma3-or of Corunna in 1888-89. 
When on the United States Grand Jury he was one 
of the jurymen in the great tobacco suit with 
Rothschild. As a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church he is active and interested in all 
church work and occupies the position of Trustee. 



-^ 



OHN A. BARRINGTON. The man who 
sawed the first board that was manufactureil 
in Greenbush Township, Clinton County 
and ground the first bushel of wheat, which 
was turned into flour here, is still residing in this 
townsliip, and his name appears at the head of this 
sketch. Me is a prominent and influential citizen 
of Eurckn, and was born March 16, 1816. His par- 
ents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Ailment) Barring ton, 
were liorn in Ireland, where he also first saw the 
light. They brought him with them to this country 
when he was an infant of some eighteen months, 
and the family found their first home in the New 
World in Susquehanna County, I'a. 

Having passed his early boyhood in this section 
the youth learned the trade of a carpenter and 
joiner, and being naturally of a mechanical turn of 
mind took up architecture. This work he followed 
for many years and indeed until 1880, when he 
l)lanned anil put up for himself the last house 
which was erected under his hands, in which he now 
resides. His business has brought him largel}' into 
contact with the outside world and he has gained 
much in this way as well as by a course of extensive 
re.iding, all of which has aided in supplementing 
the education he received in his school days. When 
about seventeen years old he went to Mississippi 
and resided there for several years, after which he 
visited Kentuck}'. 

While living in Kentucky Mr. Barrington made 
the important clioice of a companion for life, and 
in 1841 he was married to Serei)ta Squires and a 
happy domestic life now began. Several children 
came to cheer the hearts of these parents, but have 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



805 



all liuLMi taken from tliem hy death as was alsotlieir 
inotlier in 1878. His union with Llie present Mrs. 
Banington was solemn izod Januarj- 23, 1879. He 
was then wedded to Mrs. Frances Tinklepaugh, 
widow of Eli Tinkle] )angh. This lady is a native 
of Lenawee County, this Slate, where she was born 
November 1, 1840, and is a daughter of Benson 
and ISIary IMiller. Mr. Miller died some years ago 
and somewhat later his widow married Nathan 
Ellis and now resides in Essex Township. Mrs. 
Barrington's first, marriage occurred in 18G2. 

It was in 185G when Mr. Barrington and his first 
wife came to Eureka, Mich., and here he soon built 
a sawmill and afterward a gristmill, and was thus 
the first mill-owner in Eureka. He carried on this 
business for a great manj- years and did a large 
amount of custom grinding. He employed steam 
power and had three sets of burrs and he had a 
large trade for many miles around. 

Our subject is independent in his political views 
and votes for the man in whom his judgment sees 
the best protector for the interests of the people. 
He owns eighty-five acres of land in Greenbush 
Township, and eighty acres in Gratiot County this 
State. He has been pre-eminently successful in 
business and may well be classed among the hon- 
ored and respected citizens of the county. 



JT AMES M. VANAL'KEN is the son of one of 
I the early pioneers of Michigan who came to 
li this State in the old Territorial days. This 
,^j_^ son, James, was a native of New York, 
being born near Lyons, Wayne Countj', February 
9, 1820. The father, Lewis, was a native of New 
Jersey,' who removed to Monroe County, N. Y., 
when quite a j'oung man and came to Michigan in 
18;55, making his home in Superior Township, 
Washtenaw Count}', on a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres, one hundreil acres of which was under 
cultivation. He sold it and came to Newburg, Shia 
wassec County. He was a Democrat in his politi- 
cal views and a man who was ever respected for 
his integrity and uprightness. He lived to the ex- 



treme old age of ninety-three years, four months 
and fourteen days. 

Anthony ^'anauken, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject was a native of New Jersey' and a soldier in 
the Revolutionary War. After that military' ex- 
perience, he settled down upon a New Jersey farm 
and lived to a good old age. The mother of our 
subject bore the name of Jane Westfall. Her son 
does not know her nativity but remembers that 
his parents were married in New York. The mother 
lived to be eighty-o'ie years old. Sixteen children 
gathered about their heartnslone, eight daughters 
and eight sons, all of whom grew to manhood and 
womanhood with the exception of one child. 

The son James was si.Kteen j'ears old when his 
parents decided to come West and ho traveled with 
them through Canada with team and wagon. His 
schooling was received in New York and his school 
books consisted of Webster's spelling book and the 
New Testament. He was lia|)pily married Decem- 
ber Ifi, 1841, to Elizabeth Bentley, a native of Ni- 
agara County, N. Y., who was born January 17, 
1822, and came to Michigan when agi"l of fifteen 
years. 

After young \^inauken was married he under- 
took the charge of his father's farm for one j'car 
and then rented a place for three years in Washte- 
naw County, after which he came to Vernon Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, where he now resides. 
When he took the place there was not a tree nor a 
bush cut upon it. He built the cheapest kind of a 
log house, and roofed it with shakes. The dimen- 
sions of the house were 18x21 feet on the ground. 
But luxuries were not what this young couple ex- 
pected. They were looking forward to the future, 
and were willing to work hard and do without 
many things to which Ihe^- had been accustomed 
in childhood, and it was not long before one hun- 
dred and twenty acres were cleared and under cul- 
tivation. In the early days Byron wiis the nearest 
town to this early home and Pontiac was for a 
long while the nearest railroad station. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Vanaukon there came no chilil- 
ren of their own, but they brought up one child, 
Henry W., son of Thomas and Melinda Smith, 
whose mother died when he wsis four weeks old. 
He w.as born March 10, 1851, and when he had 



806 



rORTKAlT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 



grown to manhood mairied Carrie Palmer, of A'er- 
non Township, a native of New York Slate. Four 
little ones blessed this home, F;ila Belle and Jim- 
mic living with their paicnts, the other two having 
died of diphtheria when quite young. 

It is ever a pleasure to record the life of an\- 
couple so worthy and so genial as those of whom 
we have just spoken. Mr. Vauauken has been a 
hard working man and has with his own hand 
cleare<l and improved the one hundred and sixty 
acres which belongs to his home farm. He carried 
his activities far beyond the limit of raost men in 
advancing years, and was known to cut four and 
one-half acres of heavy grain with an ordinary 
cradle after he had reached the age of sixty-one 
years. His good wife has been to him indeed a 
helpmate in everj' way anfi she is known through- 
out tlie neighborhood as a true-hearted friend to 
everyone who comes within tiie reach of her influ- 
ence. 

'if]OHN WALSH. The gentleman who owns 
the farm on section 8, Bennington Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, was born in County 
Down, Ireland, May 23, 1823. His parents 
were Tliomas and Grace (Todd) Walsh, and he was 
the fourth of a family of leu children, all of whom 
lived to l)e grown but one. who died at the age of 
ten; five are liviiiij al the present writing, (1891). 
In 1847 our suliject came to liie United Stales in a 
sailing vessel, proceeding at once to Birniiugiiam, 
Oakland Coiinly, where he was soon after followed 
by other members of the famil3'. 

On (irst coming to this county Mr. Walsh 
worked out by the month, ^10 being considered at 
that lime ample remuneration for his services. 
March 23, 181'.!, he was married at Birmingham to 
Elizabeth Ann Todd. This lady was born in 
County Down, Ojlober 13, 1826, her father being 
John M. 'I'odd, and her mother Grace (Montgom- 
ery) Todd. In 1>S!.'> the family located upon a 
farm two miles east of the town. Mr. Walsh oper- 
ated as a lenter for lifteen years, and then coming 
to Bennington purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres in the year 1865. The lime of his advent 



into the county was made memorable by the occur- 
rence of Lincoln's assassination just previous. 

At the time Mr. Walsh purchased the farm sixty 
acres were improved, and there was a log house 
built upon it. Now he has one hundred and forty 
acres under cultivation, and owns a fine large house 
which was erected in 1881 at a cost of ^2,000. He 
also has a barn upon his place which is 40x80 feet 
in dimensions with a basement in which to store 
grains; this he built at a cost of $2,000. A view 
of these buildings and the rural surroundings ap- 
pears elsewhere in this volume. It is conveniently 
arranged with tanks and windmill and has all ap- 
pliances for making a farmers' life as comfortable 
as possible. He has fine sheds for his cows and the 
place as a whole is regarded as the finest in the 
township. It is located at tiie pleasant and con- 
venient distance of three-quarters of a mile south 
of Benningtoi). 

Mr. Walsh has two sons, John Thomas, who was 
born January 2.T, 1851, and William, RLarch 2, 
1859. The latter has always lived on the farm and 
is equally interested with his father in conducting 
the same. He is a steady man with progressive ideas 
concerning agriculture. Travel has a fascination 
forhimandin his various trips through the coun- 
try, having visited Lake Superior, Dululh, Chicago, 
Washington, D. C, Ml. Vernon and other places, 
he has imbibed ideas that have been of use to him 
in his home life. This son is as yet unmarried. 
John Thomas married IMyra I'ond, and lives in 
Owosso wiiere he is engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness. 

A great many sheep and hogs are fattened upon 
the farm of Mr. Walsh, and these are siiippcd to 
the large cities wiiere thc3' find a ready market. 
They average one hundred head of sheep per year. 
The members of the family belong to the Presb^-- 
terian Church, and are generous supporters of the 
same. Mr. Walsli and iiis sons are Uepul)licans 
in politics, and the father lias held several minor 
township offices. 

Everything about Mr. AValsh's place indicates 
amiiiticn and energy. His fences and buildings 
are in the best of order; his commodious tool house 
is a model of neatness and contains implements 
that are (lerfect. His sheep barn and in fact every- 













m. 



'.^^"4 



RESIDENCE OF JOHN WALSH , SK. 8, BENNINGTON TP.SHIAWASSEE CO.MlCri. 













- ^■;ca: 



"SPRING BROOK FARM ." RE5. Of M.5. SMITH ,SEC.34,,VLRN0N TP,5HIAWA5SEL CO,MICH . 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



809 



thing about the place is kc'iil u|) in excellent style. 
Much of the success of the owner of this fine farm 
is owin": to the business qualifications of liis estim- 
able wife, :i lady wiiose ambition is to help others 
by her noble and elevated example. 



>i--«-f=^^=«-M- 




^ ARC'ELLI'S S. SMITH, proprietor of the 
"Spring Brook" faini, is an intelligent and 
liigldy respected agriculturist of ^'ernon 
Township, Shiawassee County, having a 
fine farm on sections 3:5 and 34. He had his birth- 
place in LeRoy Townshii), Jefferson County, N. Y., 
and was born February 28, 1830. His father, 
Thom.as Smith, was a native of Connecticut, was 
born in March, 1805, and came in early childhood 
to Jefferson County. There he was reared and 
learned the practical work of a farmer which he 
chose as his calling in life. He is now eighty-six 
years old and resides in Vernon Townsliii) to which 
he ca-ne in 1848. 

The grandfather of our subject, Kiihraini Smith, 
was a native of Massachusetts who removed to 
Connecticut and afterward to Jefferson Count}', 
N. Y., where he died. He did much in the service 
of liis country, driving a baggage wagon in Wash- 
inj.'ton's army during the Revolutionary War and 
serving as a private during the conllict of 1812. 
He drew a pension until the day of his death, which 
occurred when he was seventy-nine years old. He 
was respected both for his political and religious 
views in which he was earnest and outspoken, being 
an old-line Whig and a Preebyterian. 

Moliiida McCrea, who married Thomas STuith and 
becaDie the mother of our subject, was born in 
Lewis County, N. Y., and was called from ear!li 
when she was about forty years old. Her father, 
Isaac McCrea, a native of Canada, where he was 
reared, was a fanner and came to Li wis County, 
N. Y., at the time he was married, afterward rc- 
raoving to Jeft'erson County. In the boyhood of 
our subject lie h. ad the unusual happiness of having 
two grandfathers aiid one gieat-grandfather all 
living in Jefferson County, within a mile of each 
otiier. His grandfather on his mother's side was 



also a private in the War of 1812 and lived to be 
eighty years old, dying in Jeft'erson County on a 
farm where he had lived for nearly fifty ^-ears. 

The parents of our subject were married in Jef- 
ferson Count}', N. Y., and there they remained for 
twenty years, coming to Vernon Township, Shia- 
wassee County in 1848. They built a log house 
and cleared and improved the farm. Their nine 
children grew to man's and woman's estate and are 
now all living except two daughters. Marcellus is 
the eldest child and was reared in his native place 
until he reached the age of nineteen years. His 
schooling was taken in a little village calle<l Evans' 
Mills. He came with his father to Michigan in 
1848, but three years later was taken still more 
severely with the Western fever and went to Cali- 
fornia by water, going by the way of Panama to 
San Francisco and from lliere to Stockton, entering 
the mines. He made from twenty-live cents to *1 
a day and remained there for nearly three 3'ears. 
Although he did not make a fortune he did clear 
enough to jjurchase the farm where he now resides, 
which he bought upon his return in 1854. 

Cornelia Andrews, a native of New York, who 
was born May 18, 1831, became Mis. Marcellus S. 
Smith, July 13, 1855. This cstimvJ)le lady came 
to Michigan with her parents when a little girl of 
nine years. She was the mother of seven children, 
two daughters and five sons: Lola M., is the wife of 
D. A. Ross, a large lumber dealer of Bay City, 
Mich.; Frank A. a bachelor, lives in California; 
Forrest J., a teacher for seven years in Shiawassee 
County, married Allie Vanakin, also a teacher; 
Fern C, a professor in (iladwin, Mich., married 
Dora W. Mills; May died at the age of two years; 
Mason M. resides at Pittsburg, Pa., and although 
not yet twenty-two years old is trusted very largelj' 
by his employers, the firm of A. Sperry, for whom 
he buys lumber; (!ale H. died at the age of two 
and one-half years. Mrs. Smith, the wife of our 
subject was called from earth August 27. 18'J0, and 
her body lies .-it rest in the Lovejoy Cemetery in 
Vernon Township. 

Our subject located where he now resides imme- 
diately after his marriage. There was then no 
building on the place 1iut in six weeks after the 
wedding day the house was completed and the 



810 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AJ.BTTM. 



young couple began their home life therein and 
proceeded to clear and improve the place. Mr. 
Smith has three hundred acres of well-improved 
land, two-thirds of which is under the plow. He 
started with one hundred ar.d twent3' acres and is 
now so comfortably situated as to be able to retire 
from active work and let his son Forrest J. manage 
the farm. He built his present attractive residence, 
a I wo-story frame building, commodious and roomy, 
at a cost of $1,500. A view of this pleasant place 
is shown elsewhere in this volume. 

The political convictions of Mr. Smith lead him 
to affiliate with the Democratic party. He was at 
one time an Odd Fellow, but withdrew from that 
order some years since. He has one of the best 
barns in the township, which he built in 1888 at a 
cost of $1,200. He is proud of his children and 
justly so, as they are intelligent and useful, eacii in 
his own way, to the comnuiiiit}' in wiiicli they live. 
None of his sons ever use tobacco or liquor in any 
way. 



FREDERICK LIMAN HALL. The gentle- 

j man of whom we write was long a pro- 
_ prietor of one of the finest farms in Duplain 

Township, Clinton County. He was born Decem- 
ber 18, 1817. His father was Frederick Hall and 
his grandfather was Benjamin Hall, who came 
originally from Connecticut. Mr. Hall was by oc 
cui)ation a wagon maker and also a carpenter. The 
nomadic instinct seemed strong within him, for he 
spent a considerable number of \'ears in traveling. 
Born in Can.nan Township, Columbia County, N. 
Y., in early youth he went to Newfoundland and 
thence he went on the sea, spending six months as 
a sailor. He made a tour of tlie Southern States 
of our country, afterward coming North and buy- 
ing land in Columbia County, Wis. He spent 
about one year in that State. 

In early lif(! Mr. Hall was united in marriage to 
Mar^- G. Barnes. She also was born in Canaan 
Township. Columbia County, N. Y.,.Tuly 27, 1828, 
and was the daughter of Earl Barnes and Marv 
(Goodfellow) Barnes. The young couple's wed- 
ding day was the 2!Hii of March, 1850. After they 



had taken up the burden of life togethei' they came 
to Clinton Count}' in 18."j3 and located on section 
35, Duplain Township. In less than two years the 
family moved to Columbia Couutj', N. Y., where 
they resided a term of seven years and then re- 
turned to their home farm here. Wlien they came 
to this place there were only twenty acres of land 
cleared and a small log cabin containing but a sin- 
gle room. With brave hearts they went to work 
clearing the place and endeavoring to give it a 
home-like air. There is no hyperbole in saying 
they went to work with brave hearts, for bears 
were plentiful at that time and panthers screeched 
in the woods near tlie house. There were frequent 
visits from Indians, who, if not hostile, had to be 
watched lest they carry off the edibles that were 
necessary for family use. The guns stooil read}- 
for immediate use. 

For many years the railroad nearest the home of 
our subject was not closer than Ponliac, and often 
when the necessities of life gave out they had to be 
replenished with the gun and fish-hook. There 
were indeed many dark days. The wild beasts and 
Indians were not the onl}' foes to be feared, but 
there were frequent forest fires which threatened 
destruction to the little home. In 1865 Mr. Hall 
built the home where they have since resided and 
they have constantly been adding improvements, 
until it is now one of the most attractive farms in 
the county. Mr. Hall died September 20, 1872, 
and was buried at the Colony cemetery. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hall were the proud parents of 
nine children — Winfield S., who was born June 
23, 1851; Grace, born October 6, 1853, and who 
died in Wisconsin, May 30, 1854; Luc}', born 
July 7, 1855, and died September 22, 1857; 
Frank B., born January 20, 18G0; Adella, born 
September 25, 1803, married W. O. Towne 
and lives in Ithaca, Mich.; Herbert was horn 
September 30, 1866; Minnie 0., January 20, 
1867, and Edwin E., May 2, 1868. Minnie is a 
teaclier in the High School of Ovid. The farm is 
now conducted by the son Frank, who is an en- 
thusiast over fine stock, of which he owns some 
high-grade animals. The boys have had only a 
district-school education, while the sister, who is 
now a teacher, attended the Ovid High School and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



811 



finished at tlie Norma! School of Flint. The 
special crop laiserl on the far.n is wheal, of which 
they put in one hundred acres Last fall. The prin- 
ciples of the family are Republican in polities. 
The father of the family was at one time Super- 
visor of the township. The eldest son has been 
for the past four years Treasurer of the township, 
which position he h.as filled not only acceptably to 
the people but with honor to himself. 



<[i^^;RANCIS M. EMMKUT. Thousands of men 
lis^^ took part in the contest in the dread war of 
1^ the Rebellion in which brothers were pitted 
against each other, and each one of those has a 
history that is full of diamatic interest to the chil- 
dren of to-d.ay who are taught to reverence the 
American fiag as the symbol of freedom for which 
their fathers fought. Our subject is one of a fam- 
ily whose members were eng.agcd in the desperate 
struggle. He now enjoj-s the peace and quiet of 
an agricultural life, devoting himself to stock-rais- 
ing and agriculture on his fine farm on section 5, 
Fairfield Township, Shiawassee County. 

Ohio w.as Mr. Kmmert's native State. He was 
born there in Cuyahoga County, October ."), 1855. 
His parents were George William and Klizaljeth 
(Killian) Emmert, natives of (iermany, in whi'^h 
country they were married. Their family num- 
bered two children before they left Germany, On 
coming to this country they first settled in New 
York, where they resided two or three years. Here 
the father plied liis trade, which is the ancient and 
historic one of a potter. He did not remain long 
in New York, moving to Ohio, where our subject 
was born. There the father engaged in farming, 
and when the original of our sketch was about 
eight years of .age, his parents again tried to better 
their circumstances by removing to Michigan. 

On coming to this State, the Emmert family 
located in Gratiot County, near the present home 
of our subject. In the year ISOl the father enlisted 
in the arnij' and served about one year, when he 
was honorably discharged on account of ill-liealth 
there contracted. During the intervals of farm 



work, our subject received but a limited education. 
He was, however, naturally bright and intelligent, 
and picked up a great del. 

Francis M. Emmert is the fcjurth in a family of 
five children. His eldest brother, William P., 
served in the army over three years, and took an 
active part in many of the i)rincipal battles of tlie 
war. He was a participant in the desperate strug- 
gle at Gettysburg, and also at Chancellorsville. At 
his death he left a family of three children. His 
interment took place in the Ford Cemetery, in Elba 
Township, Gratiot County. 

The gentleman of whom we write, was married 
December 2C, 1878, to Miss Nannie G. Osborn, 
daughter of P. W. and Marilla (.Vutles) Osborn, of 
Fairfield Township, Shiawassee County. Four chil- 
dren have come to them, filling their homes and 
hearts with hope and promise. They are named 
respectively — Mark, Lelah B.. Fred Boyd and 
Oliver. Our sidiject has ninety-eight acres of laud, 
all well improved. A part of this land is in Shia- 
wassee County, and a part in Saginaw County. 

The original of this sketch is in his political pre- 
ference a Rr;publican, and has been appointed by 
his party as Assessor of the school <listrict in which 
he lives; he h.as also been -lustice of the Peace of 
the township, lie became an Odd Fellow in Feb- 
ruary, 18i)l. Mr. limraert's family arc highly re- 
spected in the community, and are well worthy of 
being chronicled among the rei)rcsentative citizens 
of the township. 



^-^^^^;i;^^t^^7<f^ 



•^ J^;1LLAKI) R. DUURY. This gentleman 
T Avf ^^^ '^''"^ much to build up this part of the 
Vp// country, b'oth by his own work and by his 
enterprises, which have given employment to.many 
men. His family also has been one which has 
hel|)ed forward the comnuinity in numerous wa\». 
Mrs. Drury is in many respects a remarkable 
woman, having uncommon business ability and 
being a lady of fine appearance and commanding 
address, and one who makes a good impression upon 
all who meet her. 

This gentleman, whose postoflice address is Ben- 



812 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



nington, Shiawassee Countj', was born in Norwood, 
Peterboro County, Canada, Marcli 5, 1837. His 
X parents, N athan and Elizabeth (Rice) Driiry, na- 
tives of Vermont, settled in Canada after their 
marriage. Nathan Drury died in 1862, in Nor- 
wood, Canada, and his good wife survived twenty- 
nine years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-flvg 
years, one month and nine days, she having been 
born in tlic year 1796, in Vermont. In 1822 she 
was married to Natiian Drury. She liad eleven 
children, four sons and seven daughters of whom 
six survive. Our subject is the fourth in the fam- 
ily. He came to Ovid in 1862, and in the follow- 
ing year bought the mill of Bennington and pro- 
ceedi'd to slock and operate it. This he carried 
on until 1882, employing from eight to fifteen 
men. He finally replaced the old mill with a 
new one, but after two or three j-ears that was 
burned and he erected a third one, which now 
stands. 

In the spring of 1867 Mr. Drury opened up a 
store, putting up a new building, where the post- 
office now is, laying in a general slock, including 
everything needed in a country town. Mrs. Drury 
took charge of the store and carried it on for 
nearly eighteen jears. In the fall of 1867 Mr. 
Drury was appointed Postmaster and continued 
in this office until 1874, when he resigned in favor 
of George D. Palmer at the same time tint he sold 
out his store. 

In 1868 our subject was made railroad agent and 
held the position for nine years until the office re- 
quired an operator. Ho did much outside business 
for the railroad, especially in buying wood, and 
was frequently promoted, receiving at one time 
^.3,000. He was also agent for the American Ex- 
press Company for thirteen 3-ears, and did a large 
business in buying and shipping wheat, liandling 
all that was sent from that point. He also shipped 
large quantities of lumber and had about $15,000 
capital invested. He started in business with only 
5>300 which he had earned by working out by the 
day and month. During this time he had purchased 
two hundred and fift3' acres of land, of which he h.id 
improved about two hundred acres. 

When Mr. Drury sold out his business he re- 
moved to a farm one-fourth of a mile west of 



town and put up buildings at the expense of ^1,. 500. 
He lived on that place for six years and spent one 
year in town. He has four hundred acres and has 
farmed exlensivel}', raising both grain and h,av,and 
sometimes sells one hundred tons of the latter com- 
modity. There is one hundred acres in his home 
farm, and he has three other tracts of eighty acres 
each, and a forty-eight-.icre tract. 

The marriage of our subject took place Decem- 
ber 4, 1866 in Detroit. His wife bore tlie maiden 
name of Ellen M. Wight, and she is a daughter of 
Don C. and Hulda (Session) Wight. She was born 
in Windsor County, Vt.. September 19, 1841. 
Her parents are natives of the Green IMouutain 
State and of English aneestr3'. Mr.Wight's father, 
BenonI, and grandfather, Jabez, were born m Eng- 
land. The family removed to Michigan in 185G, 
and settled in Commerce Township, Oakland 
County. They came to Owosso in 1854, and dur- 
ing the same j'car removed to Bennington. He had 
been a miller and at once went into partnership 
with Mr. Drury for a year, while he improved his 
farm. After this he retired from business. He 
died Maj' 20, 1885, at tiie age of seventy-four 
years, and his wife passed away November 14, 1888, 
at the age of seventy-six years. He was a man 
who enjoyed life and was public-spirited, well in- 
formed and successful in business. He had five 
children: Ellen M., Mrs. Drui-y; Austin E., who 
was taken prisoner at Sister's Eerry, Ga., while on 
a scouting expedition; he was Lieutenant in the 
Black Horse Cavalr}-, and was shot down and killed 
after being taken prisoner, at the age of twenty- 
two; the third child died in infanc}'; the fourth 
was Erances .Juliana; Albert H. died when seven 
yeixi's old. Erances became Mrs. Ulysses Buck and 
died at Tidioute, Pa., in 1872. 

Ellen Wight began to teach in her fifteenth jear 
and afterward attended the Stale Normal .School at 
Ypsilanti, and from the time she was nineteen until 
her marriage she devoted herself cntirolj' to teacli- 
ing, being engaged in Oakland, and also at Grand 
Rapids. She drew up contracts and legal papers 
for j'earsTor all the neighbors, and was com- 
plemented by attorneys for their completeness. 

No children have blessed this home, but Mr. and 
Mrs. Drury have adopted two who have indeed re- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



813 



warded iLeir kindness. Lennn Ellen, now Mrs. 
Nile Brown, of Perry, was adopted when thirteen 
months old and was married May 18, 188(5. in her 
eighteenlli yeai ; and Leroy, who was adopted in in- 
faiiey and is now in his tenth year. Jlr. Driiry 
wa.s brought up a Presbyterian in his religious faith, 
and his wife is a Universalist with leanings toward 
Spiritualism. They now live in the house erected 
by Mr. Wight. They both belong to the order of 
the Patrons of Industry, and until quite latel}' Mr. 
Drury was a Republican, lie h.as been remarkably 
successful in every business which he has under- 
taken and he is highlj' respected. 



^ €^-B- 



/^ALEB ME.\D. The original of our sketch, 

[if^^ wiioowns the farm on section IG, Caledonia 
■^^r Township, Shiawassee Count}', was born 
January 19, 1836, in Luzerne County, Pa. His 
father was Daniel Me.ad. a native of New York 
State, a carpenter and builder liy trade but a farmer 
by occupation. His mother was Hannah (Green) 
Mead, also a native of New York State. Their 
marriage took place in Pennsylvania and there 
they resided until 1843, thence removed to Ohio and 
settled in Lucas County upon a perfectly new fHrm. 
In 1853 they came to this State and settled in Cal- 
edonia Township on a timbered farm that was also 
entirely new. They began their home by building 
a log house and about it began the work of clca"- 
ing. In 1860 the father died, after which the 
mother returned to Ohio and died there in 1861 at 
the age of fifty years while on a visit to her friends. 
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Mead were the parents of 
thirteen children, six of whom are now living. 
They were both members of the Baptist Church. 
Daniel Mead took an active interest in the political 
events of the day, whether local or national. In 
the early days he was a Wiiig and later joined the 
Republican party. For some time he was a Direc- 
tor of the school district and when temperance 
princijiles were not so general as they now are, lie 
declared himself strongly in favor of prohibition. 
He was necessarily a hard working man, for in the 
early history of the country it was the survival of 



the fittest, and only he succeeded who had bodily 
strength and moral netermination to go through 
successfully what he iiad undertaken. As he could 
give his children little else, lie was ileteriniiied tliat 
they should at least have the advantage of good 
schooling and thus be fitted to make a waj- for 
themselves in the world. 

The subject of our sketch was seven years of 
age when his father removed West to Ohio and ten 
years later they came to this State, after which he 
worked on a farm, his wages going to his father. 
At twenty one he began to work for himself, al- 
though lie often added his efforts to those of his 
father in order to help toward the sup[)ort of the 
family. He thus- continued until his marriage 
which took place in 1859, when he was united to 
Eliza Stewart, a daughter of George and Anna 
(Hess) Phyilliiere. At the time of her union with 
our subject she was a widow As her name indi- 
cates, she was of French descent and a highl} edu- 
cated woman. Mr. Pliyillan-e was a weaver bj- 
trade and came to Michigan in 1854, settling in 
Caledonia Township on section 17, on a wild farm. 
Both her parents are now deceased, the father pass- 
ing awaj' at the age of ninety years. They were 
the parents of six children, three of whom are now 
living. Mrs. Mead was born in New York in 1832. 

Afler marri.age our subject settled on the farm 
where he at present resides, which comprises eighty 
acres. This w.as at the time partly improved. He 
however owns but sixty acres now. At one time 
he was the owner of one hundred acres, but gave 
forty to his son. He has cleared two hundred an<l 
fifty acres of land and h.as done a large amount of 
other hard work. Our subject and his wife are 
the parents of three chihiren: Otis, who is married 
to Ida B. Parling and lives on section 16. He has 
a famdy of two children who are twins — Adelia 
and Amelia. Adelia is the wife of D. E. Setten 
and lives on section 17; she has a family of four 
fine boys. Amelia is the wife of Truman Hanip 
and lives in Owosso; she has two chihiren. Mrs. 
Me.ad died in 1863. In 187i) he was again mar- 
ried, this time to Caroline Quay, a daughter of 
Richard and Hannah (.lackson) Quaj', the former a 
native of the Isle of Man, the latter of Ohio. They 
came to this Slate about 1850 and settled in Venice 



814 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Township where they both died ; they were the 
parents of nine children, seven of wliom still live. 
The present Mrs. Mead was born in 1851 in Venice 
Township, this county. Our subject and his wife 
are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom 
are now living. They are: Carrie M., Maude L., 
Berle, Piltiiel, Nina, Lctlic, Florence, and a son, 
Hugh B., who, though adopted, is like one of their 
own children. 

Mr. Mead is a memijer of the Royal Templars at 
Corunna. .He is a member of the II. F. Army 
Post, No. 160, G. A. R. at Corunna. He has al- 
ways taken an interest in local politics and is an 
ardent advocate of the Republican party. At 
present he is serving in the capacity of Road Over- 
seer and has been elected Justice of the Peace, but 
refused to qualify. 

In 1862 Mr. Mead enlisted in Company H, Twen- 
ty-thiid Michigan Infantry. Me enlisted August 
G, of that year as a private but was soon promoted 
to the rank of .Sergeant. Tlie regiment was or- 
ganized at .Saginaw and sent to Kentucky under 
Gen. Manson. It took an active part in chasing 
the rebel Gen. Morgan all over Kentucky, Indiana 
and through the fields of his operations. They 
then went East into Tennessee under Gen. Scho- 
field and later under Gen. Burnside in the Knox- 
ville campaign. Mr. Mead served under Gen. 
Thomas in the action against (icn. Hood at Atlanta, 
Ga., and from there he went to North Carolina 
where his regiment were engaged in skirmishing 
with Morgan, also at Paris, Ky. They were also 
in the engagement at Campbell Station and at the 
siege of Knoxville. They were participants too 
in the Atlanta campaign and were under lire from 
May 6 to September 2d. Our subject was engaged 
in the buttles of Franklin, Nashville and Atlanta. 
At Ft. Anderson, N. C, he was present at the 
capture and surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. 
The regiment was posted in North Carolina at Sals- 
bury until Juno, 1865, when our subject came to 
Detroit, where he received his discharge, thence 
came home. lie never missed a single battle during 
the three years in which he was in the war in which 
his regiment engaged. In the charge at Resaca a 
piece of shell passed through his left side and arm 
and tore a corner off from a book in his pocket and 



also tore the under part of his sleeve. It then re- 
bounded !ind struck a new recruit in the stomach, 
killing him instantly. In his armj' experience of 
three years Mr. Mead was never off duty excepting 
two days. His wife died while he was iu the army. 
He returned home to bui-y her and then immedi- 
ate!}' went to the front. It is by such men as 
these, whose grit and determination never acknowl- 
edged defeat, that the L'nion was saved. 



P 



>^aSH ^.^-^«#^.^sf-.<tf4*^ 



whose name heads this sketch was born 
1^— ^ April 2, 1836, in AVaterford Township, 
Oakland County, this State. His father, Stephen 
Hawkins, a native of Cooperstown, N. Y., where 
he was born .May 8, 1800. He was a carpenter and 
joiier by trade, but later in life devoted himself to 
farming. Our subject's mother was Elvira( French) 
Hawkins, a native of New Ham|)shire, and there 
born May 12, 1800. They were married in New 
York, where they resided until they ca-ne to this 
State in 1835. For a jear they made their homo 
at Pontiac, in Oakland County. 

For two years Stephen Hawkins lived in Owosso, 
wliere he built the tirst houses that had chipboards. 
From there he went to Corunna, where for two 
years he worked at his trade. He then purchased 
from the (iovernment llie farm on which he now 
resides. This was in the year 1835, but he did 
not move on to it until 18-10. At that time there 
were but few families in Shiawassee County and 
not more than one farm that boasted any improve- 
ments in the township. His present Hnel3'-dcvel- 
opcd farm was then a dense wood, abounding in 
wild animals, such as deer, bears, wild cats and 
panthers, and Indians. 

Mr. Hawkins, Sr., flret settled on ninct}' -seven 
acres, which was solid timber land. In the midst 
of this he built and occupied the second log bouse 
in the township. He immediately began clearing 
this farm with the intention of making it a per- 
manent home. From time to time he added to his 
farm until he nov aggregates two hundred and 
twelve acres, one hundred and sixty of which are 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



815 



under cullivation. Physically Mr. Hawkins was 

a strong man of robust constitution, and the hard 
work incident to pioneer life suited him. He built 
many houses in the townsliip, among which were 
three sclioolliouses. He also afterward built the 
residence in which his son at present resides. Mr. 
Hawkins passed away from this life April 10, 1885; 
his wife preceded him onl^' a few days, her death 
having occurred April 5. 1835. 

The parents of our subject brought into the 
world four cliildren, thrae of whom are now liv- 
ing. They were members of the Baptist Church. 
The father always took an active interest in poli- 
tics, at first casting his vote with the Whigs and 
later with the Republicans. In an early day he 
was appointed Highway Commissioner and also 
Townshi|) Treasurer. He helped to lay out some 
of the |irinci|ial roails in the counlj' and was also 
actively engaged in the organization of the town- 
ship. His interest was paramount in educational 
matters as he felt that therein l.aj' the greatest 
promise for the future of our nation. 

Our subject attended tlie district school in his 
early youth and has never spent much time away 
from home. At the age of about twenty-five years 
he assumed tlie charge of the farm, which he has 
since conducted with most admirable success. In 
1865 he was united in marriage witli Jenn3' Moore, 
a resident of Shiawassee County. Previous to her 
marriage she had made her home witli her brother- 
in-law, M. Green, who then held a Government 
office in the Treasury Department at Wasiiington, 
D. C, and who is now Postmaster at Los Angeles, 
Cal. 

Mrs. Hawkins was born in New York State 
August 10, 1843. She was vvell educated and on 
first coming to Michigaii taught school for several 
years. She is the mother of six cliildren — Harr^' 
S., Edniiiiid .M., Maude, Grace, Ilena and Sumner. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins appreciate the importance 
of educational advantages and lavish every oppor- 
tunity of improvement upon their children. The 
second son, Edmund M., holds a certificate to 
teach. He has been a member of the local School 
Board . 

The gentleman of whom we write has ever I)een 
actively inlcregted in politics, always casting his 



vote with the Republican party. For three terms 
he was Township Treasurer and also held the of- 
fice of Highway Commissioner. He is a standing 
delegate to the county conventions and prides 
himself on never having missed a vote at any elec- 
tion since reaching his majority. Our subject 
and his wife are charter members of the Royal 
Templars. 

Mr. Hawkins is the proprietor of the old home 
farm and devotes himself to that most profitable 
class of farming in the Central Slates — general 
agriculture. He has a high grade of sheep, his 
favorite breed being Merino; he also has some 
line Durham cattle and Clydesdale horses, than 
which there are none better in this vicinity. He 
has some fine "Jim I'lske" horses. Mr. Hawkins 
has enjoyed the advantage of continuing the pro- 
gress on a farm which his father had previously 
imi)roved. He does not believe, however, in stand- 
ing still and all inventions in agricultural imple- 
meats or new breeds of animals find their wa^' in 
a short time to this place. 




L A R K S M I T II. Clinton County is the 
home of a goodi}- nuniber of young and 
progressive farmers, none of whom occupy 
a more prominent place in the social circles of 
their neighborhood than the one above named. 
He resides on section 2U, Watertown Township, 
where he owns eighty-seven acres of fine land in a 
high state of cultivation. To his enterprise was 
due the building of the first silo in the township 
and in other ways he has shown that he believes in 
kcciiing up with the times an<l getting out of the 
old ruts whenever modern genius can gain an 
advantage over the former ways. 

.Mr. Smith is a son of Henry and Cassie (.Keys) 
Smith and a grandson of Jonas and Lucinda Smith, 
who were natives of New York and of German 
descent. His grandfather came to Michigan in 
April 1840, and located on section 29, Watertown 
Townsliip, on land now owned by George Smith, 
Esq., uncle of our subject. Of the family five are 
now living — Sarah, wife of the Hon, David Clark, 



816 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Eagle Township; the father of our subject; 
George, Hiram aud Susan, wife of George E. King, 
of Watertown Township. 

Henry Smith was born iu New York in 1831, 
was reared on a farm and learned the trade of a 
carpenter and joiner. In 1857, some 3'ears after 
having come to this State, he married a daughter 
of James Keys, a pioneer of Calhoun County and 
a native of New York. The daughter was born 
in the county named in 1837 and by inheritance 
and training has traits of character and habits of 
thought and life that have made her useful to her 
family and acquaintances. She is of Scotch 
descent and the name of her ancestors was origi- 
nally McKeys but the prefix was dropped man^- 
years ago. To Mrs. Smitu there have couie four 
children, but Keys, the first-born, died in infanc}'. 
The second child is the subject of this biograph- 
ical sketch; the next are Myron and Myra, twins, 
who were born November 9, 1803. 

The gentleman with whose name these brief 
notes are headed vvas born August 6, 1861, and 
had the usual school privileges open to the youth 
of the State in the last few decades. In 1884 he 
began farming on shares the land of his uncle 
George and in 1890 bought tiie property on which 
he now lives and removed thereto with his mother 
to preside over the household. He is meeting with 
success in general farming and his future is bright 
with promise. In political sympathy Mr. Smith 
is a pronounced Democrat. 



• — »f4f^°^ — ' 




AMUEL SHUSTEH h.as a fine farm and 
excellent farm buildings on section 15^ 
Rush Township, Shiawassee County. He 
was one of tlie pioneers of this section and 
located his farm by means of a i)ocket compass. He 
has always been a great worker and is well known 
in tlial way throughout the township. He was born 
in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, .luly 11,1821. His 
father, .John, a farmer, was born October 4, 1800, 
in W.asliingt(.in County, Pa. He moved to Ohio at 
the age of fifteen years with his father, and when 



seventeen years old his father died, and a guardian 
was appointed over the. son. 

In October, 1820. .lolm Shuster settled on a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres which had been 
given him by his father, and six j'ears later sold 
this property and resided in Carroll County until 
he bought eiglity acres in Tuscarawas Countj'. He 
afterwards exchanged for propeit}' in Hardin 
County, acquiring one hundred and sixty acres 
there in 1839. Here is wliere he died in 1880. 
When he first locdted in Tuscarawas County he 
settled in the unbroken forest and within the mem- 
ory of our subject there was at one time but one 
wagon in the township where they lived. 

John Shuster was a Democrat in his political 
views. He belonged to the Rifle Company, wliich 
was a part of tlie State Militia. His marriage in 
1820 gave him a wife in the person of Elizabeth 
VVingate, a daugliter of Henry and Mary Wingate 
who had ten sons and three daughters, of whom 
Elizabelli was the tliird in order of birth. Twelve 
children constituted the houseliold of John and 
Elizabeth Shuster and our subject is the eldest of 
the numerous flock. 

Very scanty opportunities for education were 
offeied to Samuel Shuster and he attended school 
in all only seven months and seventeen days. He 
started at the age of twenty-one to work out by 
the month at ^10 a month. He took a job of clear- 
ing land, chopping five acres for ^25, half in money 
and half in wheat, and succeeded in clearing it in 
twenty and one-half days. This was in Hardin 
County, Ohio. For several years he worked at 
different points and at various avocations. He had 
learned the plasterer's trade and was employed in 
that a part of the time. He moved to Ada, Ohio, 
and built a house and resided there two years. 

Coming to Michigan in 1854 Mr. Shuster located 
his own land, built a house and cleared the timljer. 
He drove a pair of steers from Ohio to a ])oint 
near where Henderson now stands. He was mar- 
ried November 29, 1849, taking as his wife Eliza- 
beth Main, a daughter of Timothy and Mary 
(Giliiin) Main, wlio were from Southeastern Ohio. 
Elizabeth was the eldest of the family of two sons 
and four daughters and vvas born January 29, 1830. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Shuster died December 24, 1859, 



. ,.;rv. ''*^!^^o. 



-3i*V 



>^~'lf^^^\ 







:^-;,:.-,y^i>:^.-i^:t;.-a»ag^gsaSMfeS»fcS6^;t£iafc^ ■■.:^^^ 



RESIDENCE OF THEODORE H . COX , SEC 13. , ESSEX TR, CLINTON CO.,MICH 





^jr 1^.-J ..»■ -.-^ ..».J^-< 



RESIDENCE OF 5 AMU EL SH U STEP, SEC. 15., RU SH TP.,SHI AWAS5EE CO.. MICH. 



PORTUAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



819 



leaving to her husband three sons, Sanford, Anson 
and John. 

JJuring the following ye.ir Mr. .Sinister w.is iinilL'd 
in marriage wiili Mrs. Lucy (FrecMnari) Riisli. 8lie 
is a daughter of Richard Freeman of English birth, 
the father of twelve children of whom Lucy was 
the second, being born in 1835, in Oakland County, 
Mich. She has presented her husband with five 
children, namely: Elizabeth, .lane, Athclia, Leslie 
and Edna. 

'S\r. Shuster has been a member of the Grange 
and held office in it, and has also been a member 
of the Patrons of Industry. He calls himself an 
Independent in politics and was a Democrat until 
the organization of the Greenback part^' which he 
then joined. For thirteen 3'ears lie was in the 
oflice of Highway Commissioner. He has a good 
house and faim buildings and one hundred and 
forty of his two hundred and forty acres are in a 
high state of cultivation. His residence, a view 
of which is presented on another page, is a two- 
story brick structure, surrounded by a lovely lawn 
and numerous convenient outbuildini;s. 



THEODORE H. COX. Perhaps no resident 
If/Sv of Essex Township, Clinton Count}', is bet- 
^^'■' ter Known than the gentleman above named, 
who has always been a useful member of the soci- 
ety in which he moves, and has made warm friends 
wherever he has lived. He has resided at his pres- 
ent location since 1869, where he li.ns a fine farm 
embellished with first-class buildings. The sur- 
roundings and furnishings of his cozy homo are 
indicative of the intelligence and good taste of 
those who occupy it, and the hospitality dispensed 
under its roof is widely known and greatly enjoyed 
by tlie many friends of the family. A view of 
this pleasant homestead appears in connection with 
this biogra|)hical notice. 

A native of Lenawee County, this State, Mi. 
Cox was born October 29, 18.39. His parents, 
John and Jane Cox, were natives of Pennsylvania 



and his father was a soldic;- in the Black Hawk 
War. He was one of the early settlers of Lenawee 
County, bu3'ing land from the Government and 
settling in the woods. Amid scenes of [lionecr life 
our subject was reared to manhood and aided his 
father in the development of the farm. When a 
mere child he lost liis mother by death. He re- 
ceived the rudiments of an education in the early 
district schools of the county, and the instruction 
there gained, although veiy meagre, gave him an 
impetus which has led him to pursue a good course 
of reading and acquire extensive information on 
all subjects of general interest. 

The marriage of Mr. Cox, Decem])er '.), 1866, 
united him with Sarah A. Freer, who was born 
April 26, 1847, in Lenawee County. This estim- 
able lady is the daughter of James C. and Matilda 
Freer, both natives of the State of New York. To- 
Mr. and Mrs. Cox have been iiorn eight children, 
namely: Alzina M., Jennie, now Mrs. Adelbert 
Blackney; James L., Eddie and Fr::nk (twins); 
Willie, deceased; Hattie and Nina. The various 
members of the family are highly respected in so- 
ciety social circles and Mrs.Co.x; is prominently iden- 
tified with the Ladies' Aid Societj-, and a consistent 
Christian. With her husband she has encountered 
the usual hardships attending a pioneer life, and 
now reaps the reward of sj'stematic labor in a com- 
fortable and pleasant surroundings. 

In thespringof 1869 Mr. Cox removed from Len- 
awee to Clinton County and settled n[)on the farm in 
Essex Towiishii) where he now resides. He bought 
eighty acres of heavily-timbered land, paying ^950 
for the property. Immediately after purchasing 
the place he began his improvement and erected a 
log house which has been his home from that day 
to this. He cut the first tree that was chopped 
down on tiic place and did much pioneer work. 
As the result of his untiring exertions he now owns 
one hundred acres of good land; he is a fine type 
of our self-made men, as he entered upon his career 
as a farmer with but little means, an<) only by per- 
servcrdiicc, coupled with good judginent, has made 
his way u[) to a position of importance among the 
most substantial men of Essex Township. Politi- 
cally he is a Republican and a public-spirited citi- 
zen. His pleasant and obliging disposition has 



820 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



won him the esteem of a large circle of acquaint- 
ances in this county, anfl his liouorable life lias 
gained their [)erfect confidence. 



^^ 



E^ 



^/USTIN W. BKCKWITIL Supervisor and 
firmer on section 2, Victor Townsiiip, Clin 
ton County, was born in Charlemont, Franii- 
lin County, Mass., September 30, 1823. He 
is a son of Ebenezer and Mary A. (Nash) Beck- 
with, both natives of the same town as their son. 
The paternal grandparents were Edward and Eliza- 
beth (Dart) Beckwilh, both natives of New Eng- 
land, wiio died in Franklin County, Mass. Edward 
Beckwith was one of the Revolutionary heroes. 
The malcrnal grandparents were Jose|)h and Mary 
(Giles) Nash, who were New Eluglanders. The 
grandparents on both sides were members of the 
Baptist Churcli. The parents of our subject lived 
most of their lives in Franklin County, ]\I.->ss., 
where they were born and reared. 

These worthy parents spent their last days in 
Michigan with our suliject. The father was a 
farmer all his lifetime, and a man of limited means. 
In early life he was a Democrat, and later a Repuli- 
lican, but never took part in politics. Botli lie and 
his wife were members of the Baptist Church from 
early years. They had five ciiildren — Mary M., 
Justin W., Eunice N., James N. and Joseph E. 
Justin is now the only survivor of the family. He 
remained with his father on the farm until about 
twenty years of age, after which he engaged in 
work in a scythe snath factory until 1862. He 
then sold out his interests in Massacliusetts, anil re- 
moving to Clinton Count}', this State, bought the 
farm where he now resides, a tract of some one 
hundred and twenty acres. He has cleared up 
about eighty-five acres, and has placed good im- 
provements upon it. He has a good farm, is out 
of debt, and all he owns is the result of his own in- 
dustry and enteri)rise. 

Mr. Beckwith has been a Republican all his life 
long, and cast his first Presidential ballot for James 
K. Polk. He has held the ollice of Justice of the 
Peace for twenty-four years continuously, and is 



now serving his eleventh term as Supervisor. He 
is identified with the Patrons of Industrj', and with 
the Grange, iind both he and his intelligent wife arc 
consistent membeis of the Congregational Church 
at Victor. 

The subject of this sketch was married July 13, 
1846, to Miss Sarah Upton, of Charlemont, Mass., 
where she was born June 4, ISU). She is a daugh- 
ter of Pallas and Tripheua (Hathaway) I'pton, na- 
tives of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. U|)ton came 
West and spent their last days at the home of a 
son, James Upton, in Clinton Count}'. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith have had three children: 
Flora A., now the widow of Emmet Jamison, and 
the mother of two children; Paul and Blanche. 
The Rev. Clareiice A., a Congregational minister, 
is now stationed at West Roxbury, a suburb of Bos- 
ton. He took his college education at Olivet Col- 
lege, and then two years in the theological course 
at New Haven, Conn., and one year at Bangor, 
Me., taking a diploma at each institution. He mar- 
ried Miss Eugenia Loba. a higlil}- educated and ac- 
complished lady, and a graduate of Olivet College. 
Thoy have one child, Paul. Osborn L. is a farmer 
and lives with his father. He took his schooling 
in the district school and High School of St. John's, 
Mich., and married Miss Ella Green, a native of 
Victor Townshi|). They have three living children 
— Marcia, Lloyd and George. One son, Raymond, 
is deceased. 



JOSEPH H. COPAS, a live and successful 
business man of Owosso and the President 
of the Association of Englishmen of Shia- 
wassee County, is a man who is a representa- 
tive of the sterling intelligence and business 
acumen and promptitude which make the best 
class of liritish -American citizens. He is also a 
man of genuine popularity, vvhich is no doubt due 
to the genial good fellowship which is one of his 
distinguishing characteristics. 

This gentleman, whose meat market and packing 
establishment are said to constitute the largest con- 
cern of the kind in the State, outside of Detroit, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAI'HICAL ALHUftl 



821 



started his business in 1864. He is a native of 
Knglaud, born in Somersetshire, October 4, 1844. 
He is the tliird son and fifth ciiild in a family' of 
eleven, the offspring of William E. and Elizabetli 
(Billet) Copas. Both parents were reared in Eng- 
land and spent their lives in their native land. 

The son attended scliool in Gloucestersiiire, 
walking three miles to and from home and gaining 
only a common school education. At the age of 
thirteen he started out on his own account, work- 
ing at various kinds of employmont and engaging 
for awhile on the Great Western Uiiilroad in Eng- 
land. In April, 180;'), he sailed from Liverpool, 
England, landing at Castle Garden in New York 
Cit3', making the trip in seventeen days. He came 
directly West to Oakland County, making his first 
stop at I'ontiac but after three months going on to 
Owosso, where lie worked for three years for 
George B. Hughes in the butchering business, hav- 
ing worked some at this calling in England. 

In 1868 the young man started in business on 
his own .iccount in a small way, oi>ening a meal 
market on Exchange Street wiUi whicii, after four 
years of experience, he connected a pork packing 
establishment. This he began as he did his market, 
in a modest way, and has built u[) his business lit- 
tle by little and thus made it a marked success. 
He built his present store and packing house in 
1878. It is 22x132 feet on the ground llo(jr and 
comprises two stories. The frmit of the main floor 
is used for the retail market and the rear and the 
second story accommodate the packinghouse. He 
superintends personally every part of the business 
and has the cutting, pickling and smoking all done 
under his own eye. He has a wiile and extensive 
business connection and sliii)s to man^' distant 
points. He carries on the business on a strict finan- 
cial basis, and is proud to say that he always pays 
one hundred cents on the dollar in every transac- 
tion. His concern is called tiie largest in Jliclii- 
gan outside of Detroit. 

The maiden name of Mrs. Copas was Jane How- 
lands. She is a native of Wales and came to the 
United States some years ago, making her home in 
Owosso. Five children have come to bless the 
home of .Mr. and Mrs. Copas, namely: .lames II. 
and Albert E., who are both assisting their father 



in his business, the tatter being book-keeper. The 
two younger children, (ieorge W. and Jennie E., 
are still at school. Mary Ann died at the age of 
six years and six months. The political |)refer- 
ences of our subject are with the Democratic party 
and he liolds staneiily to the principles embodied 
in the (ilatform of that organization. He and his 
family are all devout and earnest members of the 
Episcopal Church, in which he acts as Vestryman. 



-^^ 



^Ip^RANK FEATIHORLY, an intelligent and 
jLi^; highly respected resident of Hazekon 
Ji "^ Township, Shiawassee County, resiiling on 
section 16, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1852, and 
is the son of John Featherly, a shoemaker who was 
born in New York, in 1805. The fatlier of our 
subject received the rudiments of a common school 
education, and remained with his parents until 
1826, when he learned his trade as a shoemakei-, 
anil having thus [irepared for the responsibiliiiys of 
life W.1S married the following year to Sabra 
Knight, a daughter of Charles Knigh;,. Mr. Knight 
had a family of rive sons and three daughters, of 
whom Sabia was the first Ijorn, her natal year being 
1815. 

John and Sabra Featherly became the parents of 
lliiee daugluers and four sons, and our suljject is 
the sixth child and fourth son of this group. The 
father came to \'enice Township,Shiawassee County, 
in 1861, and uhe following year bought forty acres 
of wild land on section 16, Ilazelton Township. 
He died in 1872 and his good wife survived him 
until 1888. His political views were embodied in 
the declarations of the Itepublican party. 

The subject of this sketch received the usual 
common-school education and assisted iiis parents 
until he reached the age of twenty-one. He had 
purchased a half interest in 1866 in eighty acres of 
land which is situated on section 15, and in 1872 
he received forty .acres of the old farm. He has 
disposed of part of his land and his farm now com- 
prises eighty acres. 

His happy marriage in 1879 unitefl him with Es- 
tella Connel, a daughter of John Coniiel, of Hazel- 



822 



PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAfHlCAL ALBUM. 



ton, who migrated from Ireland in 1855 and settled 
in Canada, lie was the father of seven children, 
four sons and tlirce daughters, and Estella is his 
second cliild, being born in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. 
Featherly have tliree interesting children, Floy, 
Dora and Pearl. Their happj' home is sheltered 
behind tlie walls of the old log house which grants 
more comfort and health to itsoccupants than many 
a more pretentious edifice. 

Mr. Featherly is a thoughtful and jjrogressive 
man and devotes much time to reading. He is 
identified with the Patrons of Industry and is Pres- 
ident of the Township Union. The doctrines of 
the Republicaa party embody his political views, 
and he is earnest and hearty in his advoeac}' of the 
party with which he is identified, but is in no sense 
a seeker for office. 



'^>^>^^^^^^rfZ^^--^ 



jgs^ AMUEL E. GILLAM, M. D. Unless it 
^^^ be in the ministerial field there is no higher 
%JlJSI '•yi'^ ^^ educated, skillful and useful hu- 
manity than can be found among the 
medical practitioners. The work in wliicii tlie 
physician is engaged calls for some of the most 
sterling qualities of character and depth of mental 
power, and he who can gain and retain the high 
esteem of those among whom he labo.'s proves him- 
self a true man. It, therefore, affords the bio- 
graphical writer pleasure to recount, even briefly, 
the deeds of a successful pliysician an i surgeon. 
Such IS Dr. Gillam, of St. John's, who has a large 
and lucrative practice in both branches of his 
work and is said to receive more calls than any 
other medical man in Clinton County. He has 
many surgical operations to perform and has a 
high rank as a wielder of the scalpel and surgeon's 
knife. 

As giving some faint idea of the hereditary 
characteristics of Dr. Gillam, it may bo well to 
speak of his ancestors for a generation or two. His 
grandfather, John Gillam, was born in Ontario, 
Canada, and went thence to New York and was 
married near Palmyra. He came to this State as 
early as 1833, and was one of the pioneers of Ing- 



ham County. He secured raw land in White Oak 
Township, and settling in the woods, built a log 
house and cleared a farm of two hundred and 
twenty acres. Being a meclianic, he also put up a 
blacksmith's shop and worked at the trade. He 
died at the age of fifty-five years. His wife be- 
longed to the Everett family, of New York, and 
her brother, Samuel Everett, was one of the con- 
tractors and builders of the Erie Canal. She died 
in Fowlerville in 1866, when eighty-seven years 
old. 

In tlie family' of the couple mentioned was a 
son, George W., who was born at Orchard Creek, 
near Palmyra, N. Y., and was a mere boy when he 
came to Michigan. He was reared on the home 
farm and learned the blacksmith's trade from his 
father. AVhen grown to manhood he located in 
Plaintield and carried on a sho)) there until 1867, 
wlien he came to Elsie, Clinton County, and en- 
gaged in the sale of general merchandise. Later 
he removed to Ovid, where he continued in mer- 
cantile business until 1889, when he sold out and 
located in St. John's, retiring from business. He 
is a Class-Leader and a very active member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and has gained special 
prominence as a promoter of religious work. He 
has been a delegate to various conferences. 

The wife of G. W. Gillam is a native of Ontario, 
Canada, and bore the maiden name of Margaret 
Turner. She is a daughter of John Turner, a 
Scotchman, who was educated for the ministrj' as 
a Presbyterian, but came to America, and after liv- 
ing in Canada for a time located in this State and 
united with the Methodist Episcopal Churcii. He 
was pastor at different times in Michigan, Indiaii.i 
and Illinois, and died in the last-named State. The 
mother of Mrs. Gillam bore the maiden name of 
Boice and was born in Ireland. Her father was 
the founder of the linen works at Montreal, Can- 
ada, and was a very prominent citizen. The fam- 
ily name was formerly Du Boise and undoubtedly 
the ancestors some generations back were from 
France. Mrs. Gillam is now sixty-five years old. 
She has three children — Samuel E.; Mrs. Anna E. 
Doolittle, of Owosso; and I5ertie, who died in in 
fancy. 

Dr. Gillam was born in White Oak Township, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALB[JM. 



823 



Insjlinnj CounU', April "26, 1845. ami retired in 
I'laintiold, Livingston County, from tiie age of 
eleven years. He li.ad good school advantages, 
and having an apt mind and love of study, he 
was able to enter the Miciiigan St,ate Normal School 
at V|)silanti, wheu but fifteen years old. He at- 
tended there three years, and while a student enlisted 
in the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, known as 
the ''Normal Regiment," but could not obtain the 
consent of his parents to go to war, and so re- 
main at home. He engaged in teaciiing and for 
several years followed the profession at intervals, 
laboring in both district and graded schools. 
From early years he iiad been desirous of studying 
medicine, and when eighteen began reading in tiie 
office of Dr. P. L. Schuyler, of Iosco. He did 
not quit teaching but pursued his studies in con- 
nection with his professional work. 

In 1866 young Gillam entered the University 
of Michigan as a student in the medical deparrt- 
ment, and worked his way through college, being 
graduated in 1869 with the degree of Doctor of 
Medicine. He then began practica at Elsie, Clin- 
ton Count3', remaining there until 1877, and tiien 
going to New York in order to take a clinical 
course in the Ikllcvue Hospital Medical College, 
was graduated in March, 1878, then returning to 
Elsie, settled up his business there and in March, 
187'J, opened an office in St. John's. Here he has 
remained, working u|) a large practice and secur- 
ing a reputation that is highly creditable. He built 
a pleasant residence when he located here and it is 
presided over by sympathizing and capable com- 
panion and helpmate. Mrs. Gillam w.as known in 
her maidenhoocl as Miss Rose A. Finch, was born 
in Williams County, Ohio, and is the daughter of 
Peter Finch, one of the early settlers of Clinton 
County, Mich. She is a well-educated lady, and 
as a school teacher was highly valued. She is a 
member of the Congregational Churcii. 

In adilition to his property in St. John's, Dr. Gil- 
lam owns large tracts of valuable pine and oak land 
in Cleveland an<l Desha Counties, Ark., and is inter- 
ested in real estate in various places. He is surgeon 
for the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Rail- 
road, an<l is President of the United States Board 
of Pension Examiners of St. John's, with which 



he has been connected since 1S86. Since 1873 he 
has been connected with the Stale Medical Society, 
and is President of the Clinton County Medical 
Society-, which he helped to organize. Socially he 
is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chap- 
ter at St. John's, Mich. 



eEORGE J. BUSH, a well-known farn 
, Essex Township, Clinton County, ai 
son of a highly-res|iectod pioneer, wai 



,^^EORGE J. BUSH, a well-known farmer of 

and tlie 
i-as born 

in the township where he now lives, November 11, 
1842. His father, David Bush,was born in Dutch- 
ess County, N. Y., and came to Clinton Count}- in 
1836, taking up (iovernment land on section 33. 
Here he did genuine i)ioneer work, building up a 
home in the woods, erecting a log shanty and 
bringing his goods and family' from Detroit with 
the aid of an ox-team. To that city also he went 
for most of his supplies, and to Ionia he took his 
grain to be ground. 

David Bush cleaved the heavy timber from his 
land, cultivated it and soon began to raise good 
crops on what was but a short time ago a wilder- 
ness. His death occurred in 1876 and was a sad 
and sudden bereavement, as he was killeil while 
helping to raise a large frame barn in the neigh- 
borhood, being accidentally struck by a pike pole. 
His wife, Albina Frink, of New York, was born in 
Genesee Count}' anrl is still living, enjoying a 
hale and hearty old age, and is the mother of two 
children. 

Our subject was born in the shanty which was 
built by his father upon his first coming to Michi- 
gan. For several years there was no school near 
enough for this boy to attend, but he finally went 
to a log school-house which was two and one-half 
miles from home. Here he sat on slab seats and 
wrote with a quill pen at the old-fashioned writing 
desk which was fastened to the wall. He was an 
invaluable help to his father, and assisted bravely 
in clearing and improving the farm. He was hap- 
pily married in 1872 to Rebecca Chase, daughter of 
Daniel B. Chase, and has one daughter, Birdella, 
who is now a young lady. Mr. Bush is prominent 



824 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



in Republican circles and is often sent as a dele- 
gate to county and district conventions. He is 
ako identified with the Ancient Ordcf of United 
Workmen, and botii lie and liis good wife and 
daughter find a field of labor in the Christian 
Church, to which they belong. He has one hundred 
and twenty acres of excellent land in a fine state of 
cultivation and in addition to general crops raises 
all kinds of live stock. 



HARLES SEXTON, a resident of Dniilain 
,, Township, Clinton County, prominent in 

^^>y both agricultural and commercial circles, 
was born in Waterbury, New Haven County, Conn., 
on December 12, 1829. His parents, Henry You- 
mans and Roxa (Adams) Sexton, were natives of 
New York City and Connecticut respectively. The 
father was brought up in New York City, and the 
mother had her training and education in the city 
of Waterbury. The father owned a farm and 
also pursued his calling as a clockmaker and re- 
pairer, and he was assisted by his son in the farm 
work. 

The subject of this brief biography came to the 
Wolverine State when he was in his twenty first 
year, and located in August, 1850, on section 13, 
Duplain Township, Clinton County. As he was the 
eldest of his father's family and his help on the 
farm was early demanded, he had not opportunities 
of going to school as he would otherwise have had. 
He, therefore, received no more than a very ordi- 
nary common-school education. He began life as 
a farmer when he came to Clinton Count}', and here 
took up one hundred and sixty acres through the 
purchase of a soldier's bounty* land warrant, mak- 
ing his selection in Duplain Township. Two 3'ears 
later he exchanged this property with his father for 
the eighty acres on section 13. 

His union for life with Nancy M. Lewis was cele- 
brated October 7, 1852. This lady is a dauglilcr 
of William and Abigail Lewis, whose home was on 
a farm in Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio. Eight 
children came to make this home a happy and joy- 
ous one, namely: Martin 15 , born ,1uly 27, 1853; 



Alice A., August 18, 1855; William J.. March 28, 
1860; Harry L., November 22, 1862; IMelvin M., 
April 14, 18G4; C4eorge E., August 8, 1867; De 
Forest, July 25, 1874; and Ernest J., IMarch 26, 
1878. Of this happy hou.sehold, Martin, William 
J., George and DeForest have been called to a 
better land ; Alice is now Mrs. ( ieorge C. Meecher, 
and resides in Otsego County, INIich.; Harry lives 
in Cleveland, Ohio; Melvin is married, and like his 
chler sister resides in Otsego County; and Ernest 
is at home with his parents. 

lilver since coming to this part of the country 
Mr. Sexton has been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits and has operated a threshing machine for ten 
seasons. He has also sold organs, pianos and sew- 
•iug macliines. He has long been interested in 
stock-raising and keeps a number of excellent cows 
.supplying milk to the cheese factory. He has filled 
the office of Chorister in the Baptist Church at 
Elsie for more than thirty years, but within two 
j'ears past has felt it incumbent upon him to with- 
draw from this position of responsibility. 

Mr. Sexton was at one time Constable, and for 
six years has filled the position of Highway Com- 
missioner. Until a few J'ears ago he ranked himself 
as belonging to the Republican party, but now 
stands with the Prohibitionists and attends most of 
the Prohibition conventions in the Suite. 



'ij SRAEL MEAD, a well-known and prosperous 
|| resident in Duplain Township, Clinton County, 
(li was born in Chester, near Lake* George in New 
York, March 30, 1811. His father, Nehemiah Mead 
was a farmer by occupation and brought his son 
up in his own line of work. The mother Zilpha 
Wilcox Mead, gave to her son the inheritance of a 
sound constitution and an honest love for work 
but could not give him good educational advan- 
tages as the family was so situated as to debar him 
from such oi>porluuities. Most of his education he 
has had to attain for himself since he reached his 
majority. 

When our subject w.as a mere infant his father 
removed to Washingtt)n CouTitj', N. Y., and five 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



825 



j'ears later transferred his lioiiie to AVaj^ne C'ounly, 
the same State. The younjj man remained witii 
his parents until he reached iiis majority, and then 
d('ei(ied to come West. Tl}is was in tlie ohl Terri- 
torial days and our subject arrived in Novi Town 
ship, Oakland Count}-, in 1832, thus becoming one 
of tile sterling |)ioneers of that region. That county 
was then an unbroken wilderness, and tiie new set- 
tler could scarcely find even a cabin within its 
confines. He took up a place of eighty acres to 
which lie afterward added forty acres more. He 
was then a man of Herculean strengtii and wonder- 
ful endurance and during the twenty- five years 
when he made his home in Oakland County he ac- 
cora[)lished marvels in subduing the wilderness and 
bringing his land from the condition of a forest to 
that of a rich and productive farm. He placed 
u()on tills land an excellent house, fine barns and 
ever}' appurtenance necessary to carry on a farm. 
Previous to his migration this young man had 
taken to himself a wife in the person of Livisa 
Knapp, who became Mrs. Mead in May, 1831. Five 
children blessed this home, but one only of that 
little circle, Lovilla, remains to clieer tlic heart of 
her father. The four others, Loretla, Maria, Sam- 
anlha and Andrew lie with their motlier in the 
"city of the silent." Mrs. Livisa Mead passed 
awa}- from earth in 1844. 

The second marriage of our subject uaitcd liim 
with Clarissa Austin, of Oakland County, and by 
her lie had nine children, namely : Phojbe, Mary, 
Ja}', Mark, Eliza, Cora, Milton. Clarissa, (who died 
in infanc}') and Frederick. The mother of these 
children died about eighteen years ago. 

Mr. Mead removed from Oakland County, to 
Clinton County, in the year 1855, and located on 
tlie place where he now resides, which was then 
also a wilderness. He had to cut his way tlirough 
the woods to his new liome, and only a few inhab- 
itants were then to be found in the liounds of the 
county. He has thus done double iiioneer work. 
He lias cleared about one liundred and forty acres 
out of the tliree liundred and seventy which lie 
took when he first came to the county. He designs 
to give this place to his children, when his time 
comes to resign his earthly possessions. His young- 
est son and iiis daughter Lovilla make their home 




with him as does also the husband of the daugh- 
ter. He is a sturdy specimen of the old fashioned 
farmer of the early days of Michigan, and calls 
himself a "square toed Democrat." He keeps ten 
head of horses and some very line ones anil a small 
herd of good cows. He has held school oflBces and 
some other townshi)) positions of trust and respon- 
sibility. 

• (xjo ' 

iHOMAS H. LEMON. The name that heads 
this sketch is that of a gentleman who for 

^y many years lived on a farm on section 14 
Shiawassee Township, Shiawassee County. He was 
the eldest son of .John and .lulia Ann (Trowbridge) 
Lemon and was born December 1, 181G,in Steuben 
Count}', N. Y. He was married December 8, 1842, 
in Oakland County to Hope A. Smith and the next 
month, January 7, reached Shiawassee. Previous 
to his marriage he had secured a tract of land, in 
1839, on section 15, in company with his father. 
The tract comprised one hundred and sixty acres 
and upon it he built a house that was the first home 
of the young married couple. Here he settled in 
January, 1843. and the following June his father 
came and settled on the same tract. 

About this time Mr. Lemon and his wife returned 
to Oakland County, but in 1845 they came back to 
Shiawassee County and built on the other eighty 
acres, remaining here until 1851 when hite health 
failed him and he was obliged to make a change. 
He removed to Newburg where he opened a grocery 
store and soon enlarged it to a general merchandise 
stock continuing in this business for about two 
years. Then in com()any with Daniel N. Sabin he 
opened a store at Shiawassee in 1854, remaining 
thereuntil 1859. He disposed of his business at 
the time above mentioned and secured the farm 
upon which he at present lives. It at lirst com- 
prised seventy-nine acres. His boys were growing 
u)) and he felt that farm liie was more conducive 
to the cultivation of manliness and vigor than town 
life. He lived upon his farm until the time ot his 
death which occurred December (>, 1880. 

Mr. Lemon was never a strong man physically 
and during the latter part of his life was a great 



826 



POltTEAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



sufferer. Persoimlly he was of medium size and of 
slender build witli ixiiid blue eyes and a bright in- 
telligent expression, and he was a eharitable man 
who disliked ostentation. Socially he was genial 
and loved his fellow-men and was beloved by 
them. In politics he was a Democrat. He bad not 
attached himself to any ehurcli although religiously 
inclined, lie was a strong sup|)orte:' of schools and 
in fact of everything that was a means of advance- 
ment. Before his death he had added to his farm 
until it aggregated one hundred and sixty acres. 

The wife of our subject, Hope A. (Smith) Lemon 
was born in Tro_v, N. Y., September 1, 1823. Her 
parents were Samuel and Marcia B. (Collier) 
Smith, the former a native of New Hampshire and 
the latter of Vermont. They came to Michigan in 
1824, settling seven miles from Detroit on the 
Pontiac turnpike. In 1832 they removed to a farm 
in Oakland County, where the father died in 1862 
at tlie age of eighty-Bve years. His widow sur- 
vived him but a few years, dying in 1871, at the 
. age of seventy-nine. She hud made her home for 
the last four years of her life with Mrs. Lemon. 
The father of our subject continued to live on the 
farm which he had bought in company with his son 
until his death, which occurred in 1816. His widow 
died in April, 1864. They had eleven children of 
whom our subject was the eldest. The next was 
Sarah P., who became Mrs. Llisha Brewster and 
died in 1859; Martha married D. N. Sabin and re- 
sides near the homsste.ad; Minerva is now Mrs. 
Collins Sergeant; .lolin died in 1876 and his widow 
resides in Corunna; Benjamin lives in Byron; 
Joseph is in business at Corunna; James is on the 
farm; Charles lives in Lansing; Edward resides near 
the old farm; Julia is the widow of Wallace W. 
Moore, and lives near tlie homestead. Mr. Lemon's 
son-in law, Elislia Brewster, was the second Sheriff 
of the county. 

Mrs. Thomas II. Lemon presented her husband 
with several children, namely: Delia 1!., now Mrs. 
Williafti Devereaux lives on the homestead ; Melvin 
E. died when four years of age; George C. lives 
on part of liie old farm; Samuel J. is living in the 
neighborhood; Ella L. died at the age of twenty- 
four unmarrieil; Mareia A. who is Mrs. H. M. 
Rippcy is living near; Adell RL, who is Mrs. 



George M. Winnie of Caledonia Township, and 
Tom E. lives near the old home. 

Mrs. Thomas H. Lemon is a woman of rare in- 
telligence and of prepossessing appearance and 
presence. She still lives on the farm. Her son- 
in-law, William H. Devereaux resides on the place 
with her. By the death of a half-brother in 1885 
she received a han(iSome fortune. This brother 
had been for many years an invalid and his fortune 
iiad accumulated for a space of fifty jears in the 
hands of trustees. This windfall could not have 
(•(line to one better suited for its wise disbursement 
tiian Mrs. Lemon. Charitable and kind she is ever 
guided by good judgment and discretion in all her 
acts. Mrs. Lemon's eldest daughter, Mrs. Delia 
Devereaux, wiio w.as born in O.akland County, 
April 23, 1844, makes an exceedingly pleasant 
home for her mother. She was married in Decem- 
ber 1863 to Mr. Devereaux, who was born in 
Rensselaer County, N. Y., January 26, 1827. Their 
family consists of Hal L. who lives near, .aged 
twenty-six jears; Nellie L.. died at the age of fif- 
teen, her natal day being INIaj' 25, 1883; Derward 
E. at thenge of twentj- is at home. 



C,<;^HARLES L. BENEDICT, a young and pros- 
periius farmer who owns and o|ierates one 
^ hundred and twenty acres of choice land in 
Essex Township, Clinton C'ounty, was born in that 
same township June 28, 1868. His father was 
George A., was also born in the same townshii) in 
1843, and the grandlather. Nelson, was a native of 
New York, w|jo came to Clinton County at an 
early day, soon after tiie migration to that county 
of his brother, Hiram Benedict, who gave his 
name to what is known as the Benedict Plains. 
George Benedict died about 1880 at the age of 
thirty-seven years. His wife, who bore the name 
of Laura Eldred, was born in Ohio, and is now the 
wife of George Fo.x, a wealthy stock-dealer of 
Maple Rapids, Mich. 

The subject of this brief sketch is the only child 
of his parents and was reared on the old Benedict 
homestead. He received his education in the 






/ 




i^<.niii.a,iim 




'c^ccJ^T/iyi^ /M^l/ ouyrH^ . 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



829 



Ihiion scliools of Mnple Rapids, and after his 
father's death, which occurred when the boy was 
on!}' twelve years ohl, he continued to reside on 
the farm witli his niotiier. He was liappily mairied 
in I 887 to Miss Hattie .lones, wlio was l)()rn in Es- 
sex Townsliip in )8G',», andis the daughter of Kli 
and Helen Jones, botii natives of New Vorl< vvho 
came to Essex Township at quite an early daj-. Tlio^' 
now reside in Durand, Midi., where Mr. Jones has 
an interest in a sawmill. 

Two cliildrcn. Nemo and Leta, liavc been sent to 
brighten the homo of Mr. and Jlrs. Benedict. 
Their home is pleasantly situated and very attract- 
ive to the passers-by, and within its four walls m.ay 
be found a happj' household. Mr. Bcneillct is a 
stirring, energetic young man, and his push, [iluck 
and perseverance will effect great things in the fu- 
ture. He easts his vote according to his best judg 
ment for the man who he thinks will do best for 
the community. 



-^^ 



eALYIN BENJAMIN. Few residents of 
Lebanon Township have so strong a claim 
on the consideration of the readers of this 
volume as Mr. Benjamin, whose portrait appears 
on the opposite l>age. lie has borne an honorable 
part in the public affairs of a great commonwealth, 
and has successfully |)riisecuted a farmer's career. 
His home is on one of the tinest farms in Clinton 
Count}', and there every convenient structure, first- 
class machinery and farm implements, and high 
grades of stock may be seen. The estate con- 
sists of thre(! hundred and eighty acres, which, 
when covered with growing crops, present an ap- 
pearance of |)rosperity not to be surpassed in Mich- 
igan. Mr. Benjamin at one time owned six hun- 
dred and forty acres, but has given one hundred 
and twenty acres to three sisters, and has alsogivcn 
very liberally to those in need. 

From New York State, of which he w.as a native, 
the father of our subject, Nathan Benjamin by 
name, came to Oakland County, Mich., at a very 
early day. Li 18,'Jt he located in Ionia County, 
whence lie removed to Clinton County-, and there 



spent his last days. In the Empire State he was 
married to Cliloe Tyler, and a large family of chil- 
dren was born to them, named as follows: Sylves 
ter, who died at the age of thirty-five years and 
twenty-seven days; Calvin, Alfred. John, Sophro- 
nia, Mary, Minerva, Lucy and Sarah. Tlu^ father 
followed agricultural pursuits during his entire life 
and was a faithful member of the Ba[)tist Church. 
He took a lively- interest in the growth and pros- 
perity of his adopted home, and contributeil liber- 
ally of his means to this end. Every enteri)rise 
calculated to .advance the interests of the people, so- 
ciall}', morally and financially, received liis unquali- 
ificd support, and his death on January 27, 1867, 
was a loss deeply felt and widely mourned. He 
died at the age of sixty-nine years, eight months 
and twenty-five da3-s. His wife, the mother of 
our subject, passed from (^arth January 18, 18C7, 
aged sixty-five years and two months. 

Calvin Benjamin, of this sketch, was born in 
Oakland Township, t)aklan<l County, Mich., Feb- 
ruary 2, 1831, and three years later was brought b}- 
his parents to Ionia County, where he remained 
until 1852. The fanjily then removed to Lebanon, 
at that time a v.ast wilderness. They endured the 
hardships common to those d.ays, and Calvin w.as 
early initiated into the labor incident to clearing 
and improving a farm. Being fond of adventure 
and a man of spirit, it was natural that Mr. Ben- 
jamin became a victim of the gold fever, and 
started with some con [lanions to seek his fortune 
in California. There for some time he engaged .as 
a miner, and now wears a ring .as a choice relic of 
the gold he dug. 

In 1855, having .accumulated some wealth, .Mr. 
Benjamin returned to Lebanon, where he has lived 
the life of a farmer until the present time. He takes 
pride in raising fine stock, in v.iiich he li.as been 
more than ordinaril-y successful. F'or years he has 
maintained the (irinciples of a devoted Christian 
and is a member of the United Brethren Church. 
A man of unceasing toil, strict integrity, and pos- 
sessing a genial and charitable nature, he has con- 
tributed largely to the promotion of religion and 
its works, not only in his own locality, but in oth- 
ers far away. Just across the ro.ad from his com- 
fortable home, reared high above it, looks down 



830 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the spire of a inoflest church, one of the fruits of 
his charitable nature, aud erected in 1881. Besides 
building this edifice, Mr. Benjamin has contributed 
largely to the erection of nineteen others. 

In Matherton, Mich., on Januar3' 2, 1884, Mr. 
Benjamin was united in marriage with M. Annette 
Mather. The bride was the daughter of Vcrnura 
and Sallie (Ticknor) Mather, and the granddaugh- 
ter of Buckley and Edna (Perry) Mather, natives 
of New York. The grandparents reared a family 
of two daughters and four sons. After the death 
of Buckley JNIather in the Empire State, his widow 
was married a second time to a Mr. Stevens, and 
came West to Illinois, wliere she died. Vernura 
Mather was born April 12, 1817 in New York, and 
in 183G migrated to this State and purchased land, 
which he traded for property in the East. Return- 
ing to New York, he sojourned there until 1867, 
when he again came to Michigan and remained in 
Matherton until 1884. Later he removed to Al- 
bion, where he now resides. The village of Math- 
erton was named after Asaph Mather, a brother of 
Vernum. 

The wife of Vernura Mather, who was known in 
maidenhood as Sallie M. Ticknor, was born in 1823 
in Lebanon, N. Y., and was the daughter of Orrin 
Ticknor, a native of Connecticut. She was mar- 
ried to Mr. Mather in the Empire State in 1843, 
and four children came to bless their union, viz: 
M. Annette, George, Elbert and Cora. All are liv- 
ing excepting George. Elbert is pastor in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Battle Creek. He is 
a graduate of Albion College, class of '88, afterward 
completing his education at the Uni versityof Boston. 
He was united in marriage with Annie E. Stevens 
June 30, 1891, at Atchison, Kaa. The bride is a 
graduate of Albion College, and for two years a 
teacher of languages in Streator, 111. Cora, who is 
a graduate of the Albion College, class of '87, and 
teacher of languages in Marshalltown, Iowa, is a 
teacher, and has been principal of the High School 
in Legonier. Mr. IMatlier was a merchant in New 
York, but has been a lumber dealer in Michigan, 
and now lives retired from the active duties of life. 
He .and his estimable wife are both members of the 
INIcthodist Episcopal Church. 

Mrs. Benjamin was born Jul^- 11, 1844, in Ca- 



yuga Count}', N. Y., and received a good educa- 
tion in the common schools of her native State and 
in the academy at Groton, N. Y. In 1864 she 
came West to Illinois, wiiere she taught school at 
Chatham for five j'ears. She also followed that 
profession in M.atherton, this State. A most estim- 
able woman, she has proved an efficient helpmate 
to her husband, and possesses those traits of char- 
acter which have drawn around her a large circle of 
friends. Her home is one of the most hos[)itable 
in the count}-, and is the frequent resort of the 
friends whom she and her husband have attracted 
to them during their long residence in the commu- 
nity. 



'jf AMES SELDEN McBRIDE. a noteworthy 
citizen of Owosso Townshij), who resides on 
section 18, was born near Mahoning, Mercer 
I County, (now Laurence County) Pa., Octo- 
ber 15, 1835. His father who bore the name of 
James McBride was also a native of Pennsylvania, 
and a son of Samuel McBride who was born in 
County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America 
during the Revolutionary War. This emigrant 
indulged a natural antipathy to England and soon 
enlisted himself against the crown and with the Col- 
onists. He served with distinction in Washing- 
ton's Army throughout that period of conflict, and 
made his home at its close in Washington County, 
Pa., whence he removed to Mercer Count}-, in 
1796. 

Jane AVick was the maiden name of her who be- 
came the mother of our subject and she was born 
in Youngstown, Ohio, where her ancestors were 
pioneers. During the early j-cars of our subject 
the family resided in Pennsylvania, and his fatlier 
died there in 1867. This son is the5'oungest in a 
family of six, of whom four are now living. His 
early years were passed mainl}' upon a farm and he 
took his education in the common schools of that 
day. His efforts were necessary in carrying on the 
affairs of the fainilj^ and he gladly aided his mother 
in every way possible. 

While still a young man, Mr. IMcBride engaged 
in mercantile life in which he was occupied sue- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



831 



ccssfull}' for five years. At the age of Iweutj'-four 
he was happil}' united in marriage with Miss Mory 
Offutl, who was born March 30, 1840, in Laurcnoc 
County, Pa. Their marriage tool< place November 
3, 1859, and tiie young couple made their home in 
Pennsylvania until 18G8, when the^- settled at Tul- 
lahoma, Tenn., where for three years Mr. McIJride 
was cnijaged in selling general merchandise in con- 
nection with his farming operations. 

Prior to this time and during the speculative 
period of the war, when the oil excitement was 
running at fierce heat, Mr. McBride suffered the 
common affliction and speculated largely in oil and 
oil lands. The termination of the war i)Ut a stop 
to advancing prices, and sales falling off, he found 
himself but a small gainer by his efforts in that di- 
rection. Not being able to cultivate a healthy love 
for the people of Tennessee (which .State was in a 
chaotic condition for years after the close of the 
war), he sought a more congenial clime, and hav- 
ing an opportunity to secure his present farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres, he removed to .Shia- 
wassee County in the fall of 1871. 

In addition to general and mixed farming oper- 
ations, Mr. McBride has become a breeder of 
thoroughbred stock. His herd of Jerseys is one of 
the best in the counly and he gives consideraljle 
attention to dairj' interests. He uses the submerged 
system in his creamery and the prizes taken by his 
choice butter during the last few j-ears fully attest 
the excellency of his system and management. Ilis 
product has been awardeil first prizes at a number 
of State fairs and dairy shows. 

As a breeder of the now famous Durock Jersey 
swine he stands foremost, having sales for his ani- 
mals throughout the I'nited Stales and Canadii. 
His farm also is in a highly improved condition. 
Politically he is a Republican and has been Justice 
of the I'eace for eight years. He is fiequenlly 
chosen to attend county or Stjite conventions, and 
enjoys the fullest confidence and esteem of his 
neighbors ami associates. His children are James 
N., who graduated at the State University in 1888 
and was awarded the second prize of %100 offered 
by the American Protective League. This he , 
won while still a junior in college for a compet- 
itive essay on Protection, al! his rivals being mem- i 



bers of the senior class. He is the popular editor 
of the Owosso Times, and in 1890 his name was 
prominently mentioned as a candidate for State Sup- 
erintendent of Public Instruction. The second 
son is Quincy, who is interested in stock-breeding 
with his father am! is at present traveling as a 
commercial salesman. The daughter is named 
Eva, and became the wife of Burt Munger, and 
she died in California in 1888. Mr. McBride and 
his excellent lady arc earnest and active members 
of the Presbyterian Church in which they find a 
bro.id field of infiuence and activity. The family' 
is esteemed as one of the most reliable anil intel- 
ligent in the county. 



♦^^E 



E^ 



<S^THAN DOAN. Whether it is that the con- 
La) ditions of agricultural life in Michigan re- 
ilL^/ semble those of the State of New York we 
cannot state, but it is a fact that many of the early 
settlers of New York have removed to this State 
and carry on a successful business in farming. 
Our subject, who is a native of New York and 
wlio emigrated to this State at a comparatively 
early date, owns a farm on section 12, Caledonia 
Township, Shiawassee County, of which county he 
has been a. resident for thirty-five j-ears. 

Our subject's father w.as Jesse N. Doan, a native 
of New York. His mother was Elizabeth (Bra- 
ford) Doan, also a native of the same State as her 
husband. They were married in their native .State 
and came to Michigan in 185 1, settling in Gaines 
Towushii), Genesee Counly, their claim being wild 
land that they had purchased from the Govern- 
ment. 

Mr. Doan, Sr., was a cooper 1)3- trade, which is 
always a lucrative business in a new settlement and 
although he devoted himself to farming his ser- 
vices were ever in demand in his trade. He w.is a 
soldier in the War of 1812. He ilid not live long 
after coming to this State. His decease occurred 
in 1853; the niolhcr died in 1854. They were the 
parents of twelve children, four of whom are now 
living. During their lives thoy were consistent 
members of the Bai)tist Church, in which the father 



832 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was an active worker, holding various offices in 
lliat body before he came to this State. Politically 
he was an old-line Whig. 

The natal day of our subject was August 18, 
1840. his birth[)lace being in Cayuga County, N. 
Y. He was only eleven years of age when the fam- 
ily came to this .State and at fourteen years lost 
botli parents, after which he was obliged to begin 
the struggle for life for himself. He helped others 
with farm work until he reached his sixteenth year, 
when he began learning the cooper's trade and 
continued to follow tliat iu connection with farm- 
ing for a number of years. 

In 18C1 the marriage of our subject took place, 
his wife's maiden name being Elizabeth Derham, a 
daughter of Henry Derham, of whom a sketch will 
be found in that of Alfred Derham. in another part 
of this Ai.iuM. Mrs. Doan was born August 3, 
1843, in England. After marri.ige the young 
couple settled on foi-ty acres of land on section 12, 
(Caledonia Township. It was a little wilderness, 
liaving in its midst a tiny board sliant^', but the 
liearls of the young people were not disin.ayed. The 
wife beautified the iiorae without as well .as within, 
besides doing the manifold duties of a housewife. 
They had no money at their command and knew 
that all tliat they could expect from the future must 
be made by the work of their own hands. 

Mr. Doan lias now one hundred and twenty acres, 
of whicli one hundred .acres are under cultivation. 
His claim was originally heavy timber land and the 
work of clearing w.as not small. In 1881 he built 
his present residence at a cost of •i<l,.")00. It is a 
sweet, cozy little jilace and proclaims the love of 
home that its builder li.is. In 1880 lie built a large 
barn ai a cost of $750. All the improvements 
tiiat his farm at present boasts he has made him- 
self. The work of general farming is carried on 
in a thorough manner. 

Mr. Doan and his wife are the parents of six 
children. They are: Albert H., Nancy M., Adella 
M., Fred J., Charles W. and Edith E. The eldest 
son is the husliand of a lady whose name was Cora 
Craig and lives on section 13; Nancy is the wife 
of Samuel Galloway and lives in Ilazleton Town- 
ship; one child, a boy, is at once her care and 
pride; Adella is the w-ife of Clarence Cudle^' and 



lives on section 18, Venice Township; Fred J. 
married Alice Brown and lives in Venice Town- 
shi|); the two youngest children reside at home: 
they have all received the advantages of a good ed- 
ucation and Mrs. Galloway was foi'merly a te.acher. 

Our subject luid his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episeoiial Church and are also workers 
in the Sundaj'-school. He is Trustee, Steward and 
has been Cl.ass-le.ader for sixteen years, and has 
been Superintendent of the Sunda^'-school, also 
conducting the Biljle-Class. Mrs. Doan, too, is a 
teacher in the Sunday-school. 

The original of our skeoch is much interested in 
local .as well as national politics and events. He 
is an adherent of the Republican party, believing 
in the right of its platform. Mrs. Doan h.as much 
executive abilit3- and h.as been President of the 
Ladies' Aid Society of her church, presiding over 
the same with dignit\. At the time of Mr. Doan's 
settlement here there were more Indians than white 
men and wild animals abounded. Roads were not 
then laid out and he heljied to chop and clear most 
of the present roads iu this locality*. Like the ma- 
jority- of early settlers, for 3'ears he was a great 
sufferer from fever and ague. 

<y70HN Q. PIERCE, one of the influential 
citizens of Greenbush Township, Clinton 
County, makes his homo on section 21. where 
he owns one hundred ami thirty-two acres 
of land. This projjcrty has been accumulatetl b^' 
a series of well-directed efforts, and it bears im- 
provements which stamp it .as the home of a man 
of intelligence and good judgment. The evidences 
of woman's refining tastes are not lacking, and al- 
together the farm is attractive to passing strangers 
as well as to those who know and esteem its occu- 
pants. 

The birthplace of Mr. Pierce was Orleans County', 
N. Y., and his natal day January 4, 1828. He is a 
descendant of old New England families. Arelas 
Pierce, his father, having been born in Vermont, 
and Matilda (Steadman) Pierce, his mother, in 
Massachusetts. He grew to manhood in the county 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



833 



of Ills birth, spending his earl}' j'tars on a farm and 
acquiring the riulinients of an education in theiHs- 
trict schools. He subsequently attended the acad- 
emies in Albion and lIoll3', N. Y., and in the latter 
made a specialty of civil engineering. In 1849 he 
look up the work to which he had deci(ied to de- 
vole himself, on a branch of the Galena & Chicago 
Railroad, one of the first in Illinois. For a score 
of years he was au engineer and surveyor for rail- 
road corporations, and during that time visited a 
number of States and worked for some of the best- 
known companies in America. 

Mr. Pierce spent two years on the preliminary 
survey and construction work connected with the 
enlargement of the Erin Canal, having charge of a 
division between Gasport and Shelby Basin, with 
headquarters at Middleport. He also was the en- 
gineer on the con.slruclion of a branch of the Erie 
Road between Buffalo and Hornellsville, N. Y. He 
was chief assistant of the New York and New Eng- 
land Railroad between Milwaukee and Putnam; 
later he was Chief Assistant Engineer of the Con- 
necticut Valley Railroad from Hartford to Say- 
brook. AVhen he gave uyi the profession, in 1873, 
he was Chief Assistant Engineer of the Massachu- 
setts Central Railroad between Boston and Boyls- 
lon, and had a tine reputation as a civil engineer. 
In the spring of 1875 he went to California, intend- 
ing to locate in that .State, but after a sh'jrt stay 
changed his mind and settled in Michigan. He 
chose Clinton Count}- for his future home, and 
bought land on which he has since been living. In 
connection with farming he carries on stock-rais- 
ing quite extensively, and markets a good grade of 
horses and cattle. 

In 1855 Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Julia 
Benneti, who bore him three children, none of 
whom are now living. He made a second marriage 
June 1, 1874, his bride on this occasion being Miss 
Mj'ra Kc3's, daughter of Horatio N. and Allhea 
Keys, of Orleans County, N. Y., wliere she was 
born September 23, 1849. Three children have 
been born of this union, but only one is living, 
John (I., Jr. The parents of Mrs. Pierce were born 
in the New England .States, and her mother is still 
living in New York. Her father departed this life 
in 1887. Mr. Pierce is identitied with the Repub- 



lican part}'. He and his wife are active and re- 
spected members of society, manifesting an interest 
in the welfare of the people among whom they 
have made their home, an<l doing what they can to 
aid in elevating the status of the community, ma- 
terially and intellectually. 

((?^ QL'IRl-^ ISAAC D. HANNA, one of the 
^^^ earliest pioneers and a tcember of one of 
lll/^j Ihe most intelligent families of Shiawassee 
County, resided on section 19, N'cuice 
Township. His father, Richard, was born in New- 
berg, Orange Counlj', N. Y., in 1797, fud for the 
past lifly ye.irs has been a farmer, before that being 
a carpenter and joiner. He still lives at the age of 
ninetj--four years in Crawford County, Pa., and 
has all his f.aculties in good condition. His mother, 
Sarah (Barton) Ilanna.a native of Dutchess County, 
married Richard Ilanna in New York and resided 
in Cortland County until her 'leath iu 1827. Two 
only of her four children now survive, our subject 
aud Sarah, Mrs. Rogers. The second marriage of 
Richard Hanna gave hira seven children, and all 
but one of them are now living, lie volunteered 
to serve his country during the War of 1S12 but 
was not called into action. 

Our subject's birth was in Cortland Counl}^, 
N. Y., March 2, 1822, and he lemained at home ac- 
quiring a district school education and being em- 
|)loyed upon the farm until he reached his majority. 
He cut the first slick that was felled upon his fa- 
ther's farm in Crawford Count}', Pa., and wiien 
twent^'-one j'cars old was given a portion of his 
father's farm and settled u|)on it. In 1843 he mar- 
ried Cynthia Kingsley a daughter of Orren and 
JNIargaret (Buchanan) Kingsley, the mother being 
a native of New I'Drk and the father of Connecli- 
cut. Bishop Kingsley (now deceased) was Mrs. 
Ilanna's eldest Ijrother.Tnd they had another brother 
who was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Kingsley died in 1870 and his wife 
followefl him six 3'ears later, leaving seven of their 
twelve children lo mourn their loss. 

Mrs. Isaac Ilanna was born in June, 181(1, in 



834 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Oneida County, N. Y., and there received so good 
an education as to be able to teacli. She occupied 
the desli of the teacher for eleven terms, mostly in 
Pennsylvania and New York, and after marriage 
lived for four years in Pennsylvania. Keturning 
to Livingston County, N. Y., the young couple 
occupied a farm f(>r four years then spent one year 
at Rochester and returned to Pennsylvania and 
pursued farming. In 18G0 they came to Michigan 
and settled upon a farm in Genesee County, coming 
to this county five 3'ears later and making their 
home where they now reside. It was then a tract 
of one hundred and ninety-six acres, only eight}' 
of which was roughly improved. For ten years 
they lived in a shanty and then built the house 
now occupied by the son. Fifteen years ago thej' 
built their present attractive and commoiiious 
home and all other improvements which ma^' be 
seen on this farm have been placed there by Mr. 
Hanna. He now has seventy -six acres, all but two 
of which are improved. 

Three of the five children of Squire Hanna and 
Cynthia, Ids wife, are now living, namely: Richard, 
who married Ilattie Yerkes, and with his wife and 
one child lives on section 18; Almeda, the wife of 
William Minto, who lives at Corunna and has four 
children; Sarah, the wife of Edgar Slocum and the 
mother of two children, lives in Caledonia. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church is the body of 
Christian worshipers with which the Hannas are 
connected. In this Mr. Hanna has been both Stew- 
ard and Class-Leader, and also Superintendent of 
the Sunday-school. Mrs. Hanna also takes an 
active part in church work and has for some been 
teacher of the Bible Class. Mr. Hanna has been a 
member of the local school board and is active in 
promoting the interest of education. He is a worker 
for the Democratic party and his first vote was cast 
for Henry Clay for President. He is serving his 
third term as Justice of the Peace and has been 
Commissioner of Highways for five years. 

Excellent educational advantages have been fur- 
nished to the children of this household, and they 
gladly avail themselves of this opportunity'. The 
father has now retired from active work, giving 
over into younger hands the heavy toils of a far- 
mer's life. He has done a great amount of work 



in his day and has always been a strong and robust 
man. Only seven years ago when he was over 
sixty he waded through two feet of snow for some 
distance to see a stump from which he and his fa- 
ther had cut a tree forty-seven years before. 
Squire Hanna has a pleasant remembrance of those 
early days and loves to recount the adventures of 
pioneer life. 



EZRA SMITH, M. D. A pr.acti 
healing art, who has a reputati( 
-' tion tiiat extends beyond th 



■^f^ZRA SMITH, M. D. A pr.actitioner of the 

tion for erudi- 
beyond the locality in 
which he lives, is the gentleman whose name is at 
the head of this sketch. He resides in Judd's 
Corners. He was born January 2, 183G, in Candor 
Township, Tioga Countj', N. Y. His father was 
Jesse D. Smith, a native of Connecticut and born 
in 1797, a farmer by calling. Our subject's mother 
was Lucinda (Sanford) Smith, a daughter of Eze- 
kiel Sanford. Her birthplace was Tioga County, 
N. Y. Her death, which occurred in 1843, was an 
irreparable loss to her son who was tlieii but seven 
years of age. Our subject is one of four children, 
three of whom are living. 

The Doctor remained in Tioga Count}' until he 
was eighteen years of age, when he commenced the 
study of medicine. He had previousl}' received 
an academic education in Tioga and Alleghany 
Counties. In the latter county he attended the 
Alfred Academy. He studied and read for one 
and one-half years under Dr. Sutherland of Candor, 
N. Y. and then went to New Haven, Conn., where 
he studied under Prof. Charles A. Lindsley, now 
professor of Theory and Practice in Yale College. 
(Jur subject entered Yale and took the complete 
course and was graduated January 11, 1857, taking 
the degree of M. D. 

After finishing his college course he of whom we 
write opened an ollice in Fair Haven, Conn., and 
there continued until the sjjring of 1861, when he 
was recalled to his childhood's home in order to see 
to his fatiu'r's estate of which there was a farm and 
a hotel. Here the Doctor located and continued his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



835 



practice until 1865. Wiieii in 1868 he came to 
Michigan he had but seventy-tive cents in iiis 
pocket, having lost his |)ri)i)ertj' in litigation, lie 
locaterl in Ilazolton Township, wiiere he began 
practice and lierc continued until 1877. Dr. Smith 
then removed to Flushing, Genesee County, open- 
ing an office there and continuing in the practice 
of his profession until 1885. Three years after 
this ho was engaged in handling a stock of drugs, 
having to relinquish his practice on .account of ill 
health, caused b}- lianl riding in severe weather and 
over a very large circuit. At this time of his life 
he h.ad a very narrow escape from death as a result 
of his severe riding. The original of our sketch 
then came to this place where he has since remained, 
engaging in farming and doing a limited practice 
in his profession. His farm, which comprises but 
fifty-five acres, is all under cultivation and is a 
perfect garden spot. 

On October 24, 1872, the Doctor was united in 
marriage with Mrs. Emma Eliza Perry, widow 
of Lynuin Perry. She was a native of Vermont 
where she was born .luly 11, 1828, her parents 
being Moses and Elizabeth (Bessey) Fuller, the 
former a native of Vermont and born February 5, 
1789; the latter was of Scotch descent and born 
November 19, 1794. After marriage Mrs. Smith's 
parents resided in New York where the father died 
in 1834. The mother came to Michigan and made 
her home with Mrs. Smith, passing away from this 
life in January, 1879. They were the parents of 
twelve children, only two of whom are now living. 
Mrs. Smith came to Michig:in in 1865 and settled 
at Grand Rapids where she lived until 1808, thence 
removing to Hazelton Township. One child is die 
fruit of her former marriage; he is Alphonso Perry, 
born December 15, 1856. He united himself in 
marriage with Delphine Monroe and now lives on 
section 35, Hazelton Township, his home being 
gladdened by tlie presence of two children — Jesse 
S. and Florence. Mrs. Smith's first husband died 
in September, 1871, having been a farmer all his 
life. During the war he look part in the strife on 
the Union side. His death was caused by an acci- 
dent which occurred wiiile building a bridge and 
which resulted in concussion of tlie spine. 

Doctor and Mrs. Smith are uicmbers of the 



Methodist Episcopal Church at Judd's Corners 
where he is Trustee. He is also chorister having a 
fine voice and much :il>ilily as a leader. He is a 
meml)er of the Royal Templars and is ranged on 
the side ot temperance. He has liecn appointed 
Health Officer of Hazelton Township. When the 
Doctor first came to this township the family were 
poor and lived in a log house three miles back in 
the woods. There were no roads near and Ihcy 
were obliged to cut the roads out for themselves. 
At this time the Doctor made baskets and also a 
cutter of saplings that he himself got out from the 
woods. He was thereafter known as "Basswood 
Doctor." 



^^ 



-4- 



■^jAMES S. COLBY, a retired farmer of 
Owosso, Shiawassee County, Mich., was born 
in Granby Township, Oswego County, N. 
Y., March 14, 1822. His father, Daniel D. 
Colby, was a native of New York, and a fanner by 
occupation, and a son of William Colby, a Revolu- 
tionary soldier of Scotch-Irish extraction. The 
mother of our subject, Elizabeth Singer, was a sis- 
ter of the notable I. M. Singer, the inventor of the 
Singer Sewing Machine. She was a daughter of 
Ailain Singer, of Dutch descent, and was born in 
Rensselaer County, N. Y. 

Both the father and the mother of our suliject 
remained on the farm in Oswego County, and there 
spent their declining years. The father was born 
in 1799, and passed away in 1884. In 1874 he was 
bereaved of his wife, whose natal year was 1800. 
They were the parents of eleven children, of whom 
our subject was the eldest of seven sons and four 
daughters, eight of whom are still living. They 
were all born in Oswego County, and two of them 
are living in ftlichigan, one in Missouri, and the 
others in their native State. 

He of whom we write was trained in the pr.acti- 
cal work of farm life, and attended the district 
school when he could be spared from tlie farm. 
Being the eldest son, he was his father's mainstay, 
and remained under the parental roof until he had 
reached his twenty-second year. When he came 
to Michigan he made his first home at Pinckney, 



836 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Livingston County, and in 1844 established him- 
self there in the coopering business, and the last 
3-ear of his residence in Livingston County kept 
hotel. 

Mr. Colby removed to Shiawassee County in 
1854, and located on a farm six miles south of 
Owosso, in the township of Shiawassee. Here he 
devoted himself to raising sheep, and in cultivating 
the more promiuent cereals such as wheat, oats and 
corn. His farm consisted of three hundred and 
twenty acres, and he continued u))on it until 1881, 
when lie removed from the farm to Owosso. He 
owns three farms which are operated by tenants. 

Mr. Colby w.as married in iS'ovember, 1843, to 
Eliza Nelson, who was born in Oswego, N. Y., in 
1826. Five children were born tf) them, namely: 
Gaylonl F., who is now a farmer ; Clarence D., who 
has an extensive farm in Ingham County, this 
State; Hudoliih •!., who owns a part of tlie old farm 
in this county; Leola L., who resides at home; and 
Nellie, the wife of Clarence Edgerton, a farmer 
living near Grand Ra])ids. 

The present Mrs. Colby was a widow, formerly 
Mrs. Harriet Durgen of Saginaw. Mi-. Colby is a 
stanch Democrat in politics, and has made a grand 
and successful struggle with the ditticulties of life, 
having begun his career witli very limited means. 
He h.is now .'iccuinulated a handsome property, and 
has one of the finest brick residences in the city, 
with all the modern improvements. 



•i^®- 
^^g- 



^m- 




lEORGE M. COLBY, a prominent and well- 
known resident of WoodhuU Township, 
:^[ Shiawassee County, was born in Granby 
Townshii), Otsego County, N. Y., July 2, 1831. 
His father, Daniel D. Colby, a native of New York 
State, was born in 1799 and !iis grandfather Wil- 
liam, a native of New Hampshire, was born in ITGO. 
He enlisted in the Revolutionary War when six- 
teen years old and served through tiio whole period 
of conflict, carrying to his grave a British bullet 
which he received at the battle of Monmouth. He 
was a pensioner of the Government until the day 
of his death. He carried on a farm of some sev- 



enty-five acres, was the father of eight sons and 
three daughters, and ailded to this number one 
.adopted daughter. In his later years he was an 
earnest and devoted member of the Methodist 
Church. His wife died in 1835 and he survived 
until 1847. The family is of Irish descent and 
their original ancestor came to this country in 
Colonial times. 

The father of our subject owned the homestead 
farm but sold it in 1836 and bouglit a farm in 
Oswego County, seven miles from Oswego Cilj'. 
In early life he was a Presbyterian and later a 
Methodist. He was a man of strict integrity and 
always religiously inclined. His death occurred in 
1883 when he was eighty-four years old. Like his 
father he was a Democrat but after the breaking 
out of the war he became a Kepcblican. He held 
the oHice of Justice of the Peace and was consid- 
ered a .Justice of more than usual ability-, frequent- 
ly trying cases from Oswego City. 

The wife of Daniel Colby was Elizabeth Singer, 
a sister of Isaac M. Singer, the inventor of the 
Singer Sewing machine. She was born in Renssel- 
aer County, N. Y. in 1802. Plight boys and four 
girls completed the number of her children. aU of 
whom she h.ad the happiness of rearing to mature 
years. They were James S., Edwin R., Eleanor 
M., (Mrs. Mason), Polly A.. (Mrs. Place), Eliza- 
beth, (Mrs. Erwin). George M , Archelaus -■\., John, 
Lydia E., (Mrs. Dean), William D., Charles C. and 
Ernest B. She was in earl}' life a Presbyterian 
and later a Methodist, an<l was beloved and respect- 
ed by all who knew her for her sterling Christian 
character and real goodness of heart. She and her 
husband had the great happiness of celebrating 
their golden wedding, December 4, 1869, since 
which time she has passed awa}-. 

Adam Singer, the maternal grandfather of our 
subject, was of German descent and as far .as known 
was a native of New York Stale. His father, the an- 
cestor of this family, came to New York from Ger- 
many, and w.as a millwright and carpenter. He 
used to tell about being behind the redoubts during 
the Revolutionary War. He built many mills in 
New York and Ohio and in other States and died 
in New York in 1856 after completing his four- 
score years. 




RESIDENCE or CHARLES W . BAUERLY.5EC . 18., DE WITT TR^CLinTON CO., MICH. 




HlSIDLNCE of GEORGE M , CO LB r . 5EC. ^^. , /VOODHULL 1 R,SH lAVVASSEE CO. ,lvl ICH . 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



839 



Our subject wns roared upon the fnrm and cdii- 
catc'l in the district school, and altliougli he worked 
out some before reacliing his raajorit3- lie really 
began life for himself at that time. He came to 
Michigan in 1852, journeying b}' boat to Niagara- 
then took cars to Buffalo, boat to Detroit and cars 
again to Dexter. He made his first home at Pinck- 
ney, wlicre he had a brother living, but after a year 
and a lialf tliere he came to Shiawassee County. 
He was married July 31, 1855 to IJachael A'an- 
Riper, who was born in Lodi Township, Washtenaw 
County, February 18, 1835. 

The parents of Mrs. Colby were Andrew J. and 
Catherine (Dubois) VanRi[)er, the former, born in 
New Jersey and the latter in Ulster County, N. Y. 
They became early pioneers of Washtenaw County, 
settling there in 1831, while Michigan was still a 
j-oung territory'. After doing much to subdue the 
land in their new home they moved to Shiawassee 
Countj' in May, 1847, and made a farm here. Mr. 
^'anRiper owned four hundred acres here besides 
giving each of his four children a generous tract of 
land. He was a hard worker, a Democrat in i)oli- 
tics and a Presbyterian in religion. He died here 
in Septemlier, 1888, when eighty-three years old. 
His faithful and devoted wife had preceded him to 
the other world in 1876, when she was seventy-four 
years old. 

Mr. and Mrs. George M. Colby have been bless- 
ed with seven children, but have also been sorely' 
bereaved, having lost all but two of these children 
in early infancy. The two surviving are Cather- 
ine E. who married Enoch Carl, lives on a farm in 
WoodhuU Township, and is the mother of one 
child. Hazel, and Charles M., who yet resides at 
home but has eight}' acres of his own land. Charles 
M. is very ingenious and can turn his hand to anj' 
work presented to him. When our subject look 
the farm upon which he now lives it had no im- 
provements upon it, and he built a log-house which 
at that time was considered the best in the town- 
ship. He used to keep a good many travelei'S wlio 
would come in at all times of the night. He built 
his barn in I86C and the house in wiiich he now 
lives in 1880. He carries on mixed farming on his 
estate. 

Mr. Colljy is -.x Democrat in his political i)rinci 



pies and atfllialions and has held some minor town- 
ship oHices. lie is now De|)u'.y Sheriff and was 
Assessor for this school district for over twenty 
years. He is agent for the Shiaw'issee Mutual In- 
surance Company, also for the Niagara Company 
of New York and the Fire and Marine Comi)any of 
Detroit. He also does collecting. He is a member 
of the (jrange, belongs to the Patrons of Industry, 
and is connected with the Masonic Lodge at Wil- 
liamston, Ingham County. He is a One man and 
his good qufilities and enterprise make him known 
favorably throughout all this region. 

A view of the pleasant homestead of Mr. Colby 
is presented on another page. 



' • ' *a- 



ellARLES W. BAinORLY. Among the 
highly-res|)ected and thriving (ierman- 
American farmers who have made their 
home in DeWitt Township, Clinton County, we 
are pleased to present at the head of this sketch 
the name of a man of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence and geniality of temper and manner. To 
have the respect and thorough liking of his neigh- 
bors, as Mr. Bauerly has, is sometiiing in which to 
feel a just [)ride. 

Mr. Bauerly was born at Wurtemberg, Germany, 
November 15, 1837. His fatiier, John M., who 
was born in 1804, was a wagon-maker and gun- 
smith by trade, and came to America in 1837, 
thirteen years before he brought over his family. 
He settled first in Saline, Washtenaw Count}', and 
engaged in wagon-making. Subsequently he re- 
moved to Jonesville, Hillsdale County, where he 
worked at his trade until his death in 1881. Many 
of his wagons have done good service all through 
Michigan, and some have crossed the plains to 
California, as there was a great demand for his 
thorough work during the gold excitement of 1849- 
50. He was a Lutheran in religion, and a Democrat 
in politics. 

Caroline Deyle, the mother of our subject, be- 
came the wife of John M. Bauerly, in 1832. She 
reared three children — Fred, Gottlieb and Charles 
W. Like iier husband, she h.is been an earnest and 



840 



rORTKAIT AISD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



conscientious member of the Lutheran Church, 
and is still living in Washtenaw Count}'. Our 
subject was thirteen years and eight months old 
when he came to America with his mother and 
older brothers, and he well remembers the jour- 
ney, which was a great undertaking, as they were 
forty-three days on the ocean, and eighteen days 
journeying from New York Cit^- to Jonesville, 
Mich., by way of the lake. He had attended 
school in Germany both in the common schools 
and also in a Latin school, where he took a five- 
years' course, and where the requirements were 
exceedingl}' strict. After reaching this country 
he was in school at Jonesville for four months, 
and in Washtenaw Count}' for three months. 

When our subject started out for himself he 
worked for ten j-ears for John Schneeburger, and 
in 1862 came to DeWitt Township, Clinton 
County, and bought eighty -six acres of land. Ujion 
July 15, 1852, he took a step which has been 
greatly blessed to him and to all with wiiom he 
is concerned. It was his marriage with Catherine 
Hepfer, who is an excellent housekeeper and a de- 
lightful, motherly woman. She, like himself, is a 
native of Wurtemberg, German}', and was born 
July 24, 1842. Her parents, Jacob and Mary 
(Walter) Hepfer, came to America in 1847, and 
settled in Washtenaw County, Mich. Mr. Hepfer 
was a poor man, but had the carpenters' trade and 
a resolution and ability to work ha'-d. He rented 
land for four years and then bought a small tr.act. 
and coming to Clinton County in 1866, settled in 
DeWitt Township. Both he and his good wife 
were Lutherans and people of earnest Christian 
character. She was taken from him by death in 
1873, and he was called away upon Christmas 
Day, 1875. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren — Jacob, Conrad, George, Mary and Cath- 
erine. 

Nine children have cheered the home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Bauerly, seven of whom are now living, 
and all are at home except two. Lydia is the 
wife of Valentine Neller, a farmer and carpenter 
in Olive Township, Clinton County. The remain- 
ing children are William, Edward; Carrie, who 
married Jacob Schlenker, a butcher of Lansing; 
Mary, Charles and Henry. The parents of these 



children have been members of the Lutheran Church 
from childhood. 

Although our subject began life with nothing 
but his pluck, perseverance and industry, he now 
owns one hundred and forty-six acres of as fine 
land as there is in the county, and ii.is a pleasant 
large frame residence, the main part of which he 
built in 1867, and to which he made additions in 
1882. On another page appears a view of this 
residence, which stands back from the road about 
scvonty-five yards and is pleasantly situated. He 
built his large red frame barn in 1878 and his 
granary in 18S0. His home is an exceptionally 
happy one, and his children arc deservedly the joy 
and pride of their parents, as ihey are more than 
ordinarily bright .ind intelligent, and make home 
happy for one another. 

Along with the prosperity and happiness which 
h.is been his, Mr. Bauerly has h.ad some bitter with 
the sweet. In 1867 he had his leg crushed by a 
falling timber while raising a building, and lay in 
bed for sixteen weeks, while his doctor bill grew 
rapidly to the proportions of §195. Our subject 
was elected on the Democratic ticket as Supervisor 
of DeWitt in 1880, and served for six years as 
Township Treasurer and was appointed for one 
year to fill an unexpired term. He served for two 
years as Highw.ay Commissioner, and is now 
and has been for eight years on the Board of 
Review. 



■^I ARKD L. HOLBROOK is one of the farm- 
ers and stockbreeders of Clinton County^ 
whose name is well-known among that class, 
and whose reputation in business circles is 
excellent. He is the owner of two hundred and 
eighty acres of land, the home farm comprising 
eighty acres on section 36, Green bush Township. 
This tract is well improved and the home is sup- 
plied with creature comforts, and the entire estate 
is made attractive by the good judgment shown in 
its control and the fine appearance of the crops 
which grow there. Mr. Holbrook ti.as a half inter- 
est in two fine stallions, his [jarlner in their owner- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



841 



ship being Mr. William Bird of Dui)lain Towiishii). 
One of tbese animals is a French coach horse, 
'•Homer", a six-year-oM weighing thirteen hundred 
and sixty pounds and valued at ^"i.OOO. The 
other is a Norman Percheron called "Colin," whose 
weight is eighteen hundred pounds and value as 
many dollars. Both arc imported and rank among 
the best-bred horses in the county. 

Mr. Ilolbrook is probal)ly of p]nglish ancestry 
and is of New York parentage. His fither, P^dwin 
M. Holbrook, came to Clinton County in 1842, 
traveling the entire distance in a two horse wagon. 
He spent a short time in DeWitt Township, then 
established his home in Greenbush on section 36, 
and there opened up a tract of wooilland. His 
first dwelling was a log cabin some 18x24 feet, and 
in it he dwelt until about 1864. He then put up 
a substantial frame house, in which his widow is 
living with the family of their son, .Tared. Mr. 
Ilolbrook breathed his last April 29, 1887, leaving 
a record of useful and active pioneer work and pub- 
lic service as a Justice of the Peace and good citi- 
zen. Mrs. Holbrook bore the name of Charlotte 
Cobb. When they reached their Michigan home 
the husband had but twenty-five cents in nione^', 
and they of course p.assed through some scenes of 
self-denial and arduous toil while securing and 
perfecting their home. 

The subject of this sketch is the only surviving 
child of those born to his parents. His natal day 
was February 9, 1843, and his birthplace the coun- 
ty in which he has aquired so good a name. Grovv- 
ing to manhood amid the scenes connecleil with 
the early development of this section, lie not only 
witnessed the progress here, but bore a hand in it 
from his boyhood. He received bis education in 
the early schools of the county and counterbalanced 
the limited curriculum by gathering much informa- 
tion regarding other topics from his parents and 
associates. He has always been engaged in farm- 
ing and has so conducted his affairs as to command 
the confidence of those with whom he has <lealings 
and gain the reputation of a man whose word is as 
good as his bond. 

In 18G4 Mr. Ilolbrook secured a Christmas pres- 
ent of more than ordinary value, it being a wife 
whose maiden name was Mary E. Bcurniann. This 



lady is the daughter of William and Elizabeth 
(Pierce) Bcurmann, is a native of this .State and 
has a brother and sister living in Clinton County, 
whose names are Milton and Eva. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ilolbrook have five living children named respec- 
tively, Louis, Lemuel, Edith, Ethel and Blanche. 
They have lost two sons — Edwin and Lero}'. Mr. 
Holbrook votes the Republican ticket. He has 
served as School Inspector of Greenbush Township 
and a member of the Township Board of Review, but 
his time is generally given to his private affairs and 
to a share in such enterprises as all public-spirited 
citizens take an interest in. 




UGUSTUS C. ROBINSON, a farmer and 
resident of Riley Township, Clinton Coun- 
ty, is the prosperous owner of one hundred 
and sixty acres of as fine lanil as there is 
in the county. It is all improved and upon it is 
one of the handsomest dwelling houses in this part 
of Michigan, which was built by the subject 
of this sketch at a cost of over ^5,000. It is 
surrounded by a beautiful lawn and is most delight- 
fully situated. 

Mr. Robinson is the son of Jonathan and Han- 
nah (Moody) Robinson, natives of Maine and New 
Hampsliirc respectively, who in their youth moved 
into New York with their parents, where they be- 
came acquainted and were married. They located 
their new home in Steuben County anil there Au- 
gustus was born October 10, 1827. He was brought 
up on a farm and in 1836, when he was about nine 
years old, they removed to Toledo, Ohio, and the 
following year removed to Hillsdale County, Mich. 
Here he grew to manhood and took iiis training in 
the practical work of farm life but had few advan- 
tages educalionallj', attending tlie district school 
for a short time only. In 1848 young Robinson 
won in marriage the hand of llannaii Wilcox, a 
daughter of David P. Wilcox a native of the State 
of Connecticut, where the daughter was also born. 
After marriage the young farmer carried on his 
work in Hillsdale County, but sold the form there 
early in the '60s and brought his wife and two 



842 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 



cliil(li-en lo Clinton County. But be now felt the 
call of duly to rush lo arms for the defense of his 
country and he enlisted in Company A, Twenty- 
eighth Regiment Michigan Volunteers. 

This regiraeul was sent to Nashville, Tenn., and 
there formed a part of Gen. Thomas' Army. After 
the second hatlle of Nashville it was transferred to 
Washington, D. C, and thence by boat went to 
Morehead City, and in the spring of 1865 joined 
Sherman's Army at (loldsboro, N. C. After the 
surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston the regiment was 
divided and Company K and his Company A were 
placed on detached duty at Charlotteville, and 
from there went to Dallas and Lincolnton, N. C. 
In December, 1865, he was discliarged and mus- 
ttred out of service at Washington, D. C. The 
young veteran now returned to his family in Clin- 
ton County and the following si)rin<; purchased the 
farm on which he now resides. Five children have 
been granted him, namely: Eva who died at the 
age of eleven years; Adelbert who died at the age 
of twenty-three years, of consumption. Oscar D. 
lives on a farm of eighty acres in Riley Township; 
Ida is married to Frank Scott and resides at home 
witli her parents; David P. is unmarried and also 
lives at home. Mr. Robinson believes in the prin- 
cii)les of the Republican party and is ardently in- 
terested in its progress and development. He is 
a member of the Joseph Mason Post, G. A. R. 
and is ever earnestly desirous of the welfare of 
all old soldiers. 



HARLES L. DEAN. The difficulties of 
pioneer life so elicit the sympathies of 
^iJ' those who arc accustomed to the comforts 
and lu.xuries of the ])resent day that it seems par- 
ticularly depressing that such great responsibility 
and difficulties should make grave young lives. 
Children who were left wiliiout |>arents in tlie early 
days appreciate tlie responsibilities of life much 
more than elder people do in this day. Our sub- 
ject, Cliarles L. Dean, was born in Pultency, Steu- 
ben County, N. Y., (October 21, 1844. His parents, 
William Thomas and Mary Dean, moved to Shia- 



wassee County in 1856 and settled in Woodhull 
Township upon a new farm. Tlie mother died in 
the fall following their coming into the State and 
the father soon returned to New York. He now 
lives at Grand Island, Hull County, Neb. 

The original of our sketch w.as the third child in 
a family of nine, eight of whom lived to be grown, 
two of these only are in Shiawjissee County. 
Charles C. Dean of Laingsburg, who was thirteen 
3-ears of age when his mother died and who after 
that sad bereavement made his home with his 
brother in-law J. M. Beardslee. 

The subject of this sketch began his struggle 
with life at the tender age of ten years. He worked 
for Mr. Beardslee three years and at the age of 
sixteen went to live with Alexander Place at Pitts- 
burg where he remained until he enlisted in the 
army on August 5. 1862. 

Mr. Dean's war record is connected with that of 
Company H, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry of 
which John Carlin w.as Captain and M. W. Chapin, 
Colonel. He served until the close of the war 
under Buell and Bra<jg in Kentucky and Tennessee 
and was with Sherman until the battle of Johns- 
boro when his regiment was sent b.ack with Thomas 
after Hood with Scholield in command of the cor|)s. 
After the winter's campaign the regiment rejoined 
Sherman at Raleigh. They nuade a forced march 
from this place to Wilmington which they reached 
February 22, 1865. From here the}' marched one 
hundred and forty miles from Wilmington to join 
Sherman and engaged in the first battle at Camp- 
bell Station. Here our subject was wounded and 
was compelled to lie for three weeks in the conva- 
lescent corps near Knoxville. The last year of 
the war he was detaileil to be a color-bearer. Mr. 
Dean served his country faithfully during that 
desperate period of bloodshed and on the close 
of the war was discharged July 20, 1«65 by general 
order. He draws a i)ension of ^6 per month. 

After returning from the war our subject worked 
for the first two or three years in the service of 
farmers and finally purchased eighty acres of land 
in section 32, Bennington Township. Sixty-five 
acres of this tract was cleared at the time of his i)ui- 
chase. He [laid for |)art of his farm in labor. 
From time to time he has adilcd one hundred and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



843 



twenty acres to tlio original tract which lie lias 
inosll}' improved himself. 

Mr. Dean was married in 1869, to Miss Martha 
A. lieardslee. .She was horn on the old homestead 
in this county December 1, 1844. Her father had 
died in 1860 and her mother on May 24, 1886, be- 
ing in the cighly-fifth year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dean have had four cliililren wliose names are 
Florence G., born September 14, 1872, and died 
when four months old; ,Iohn M., horn November 
1, 1873; Jessie V., May 1, 1878; Charles J., 
April 6, 1881. 'riic little family of children 
are verj- bright and promise to take a high stand 
both socially and in a business way in the commun- 
ities where their lives may fall. 

The gentleman of whom we write has a very 
pleasant home which he has improved with taste 
and judgment. It has been acquired by hard labor, 
as he had nothing but what he (;arneil to begin with, 
having at the time of the pureh.ase of his farm 
only %400 which he had saved from his wages with 
which to make the first payment, but by his indus- 
try- and energy be has succeedeil in clearing bis 
farm and has made of it a most desirable home 
place. 



> AMKS ANDERSON. A visitor to the agri- 
cultural districts of Clinton County will see 
many well-improved farms, which give evi- 
dence of the thrift and good judgment of 
their owners, and indicate that prosperity has 
crowned the efforts of many farmers in this part of 
Michigan. One of the estates of this description 
in Essex Township consists of eighty acres on 
section 11, which is owned and occupied by the 
subject of this biographical sketch. Mr. Anderson 
is a man who may be taken as a type of the nation 
which has for centuries inhabited the northern part 
of the island of Great Britain, and made the name 
Scotchman, synonymous with thrift, determination 
and decision of character. 

Ayrshire, Scotland, was the birthplace of Mr. 
Anderson, and his natal day was August 12, 1828. 
His parents were (iabriel and Sarah (White) Ander- 



son, who instilled into his mind anil heart good 
principles and a firm belief in the value of indus- 
trious and frugal habits, and who taught him to be 
strictly honest and just. He received a good com- 
mon-school education and served an apprenticeship 
of three years in a wholesale and retail mercantile 
establishment, and was then employed by the firm 
as assistant bookd<eeper for one ^ear. lie has 
therefore practical knowledge of business affairs, 
and is a first-class book-keei)er. 

When seventeen years old young Anderson 
enlisted for ten years in the First Royal Scotch 
Infantry of the British Army, and w.as stationed at 
Glasgow. He was one of the soldiers authorized 
to quell the celebrated riot in that city in 1848, and 
was afterward sent to Halifax, N. S., where he was 
stationed nearly Ihree years. During that period 
the great fire in Halifax occurred and he witnessed 
the conflagration and ha<l some work to do in pre- 
serving order. While in Nova Scotia he was 
assistant schoolmaster of the regiment to which he 
belonged. He was finally ordered home, and hav- 
ing landed at Southampton, England, proceeded 
to Winchester, eighty miles south of London, where 
he bought his discharge, i)aying £20. 

In 18.")2 Mr. Anderson took passage at Glasgow 
on a sail vessel which reached New York after a 
voyage of forty-three days. He directed his foot- 
steps-westward, and reaching Wayne County, this 
State, was employed as a collector for several 
months. He subsequeni-ly worked as a farm hand 
for several years and also assisted in making pot- 
tery. During several seasons he sailed on the 
Great Lakes, but finally, in 1860, he settled at his 
present i)lace of residence, 'i'he land upon which 
he located was covered with forest trees against 
which the ax of the settler had not been swung 
and not an acre of its soil had been improved. In 
the work th.at was necessary to reclaim the property 
he had some hardships to undergo and he looks 
back upon many hours of earnest and arduous 
labor. • 

The year that saw Mr. Anderson located in 
Clinton County saw him setting up a household 
with the lady of his choice, Miss I'liebe Lyon, 
daughter of Conger and Sarah Lyon, who were 
numbered among the carl}' settlers of Essex Town- 



844 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ship. To Mr. and Mrs. Aiulerson there have been 
born six children, four of whom are now living — 
Sarah E., Mary V., Wilton C. and Roland S. Tlie 
elder daughter is the wife of Ruby Philips and 
Mary married Edwin Aniiis. 

Mr. Anderson possesses the love of liberty char- 
acteristic of the Scotch and is thoroughly in 
sympathy with American ideas. During tlie Civil 
War lie sympathized ardently with the defenders 
of the Union and finding that the trouble was not 
easily' settled he enlisted December 12, 1863, in 
Company- A, Twent}' -third Michigan Infantry, and 
became a part of the Twenty-third Corps in the 
Arm J- of tlie Cumberland. He followed the leader- 
ship of the gallant General Sherman on some hard 
fought battle-fields and tedious marches, and every- 
where and alwaj's showed his devotion and courage 
as a brave man ought. At the battle of Resaca he 
was struck in the right ankle bj' a piece of shell 
and within a half hour was wounded in the left 
arm by a cannon ball. He is now receiving a small 
pension from the Government, on account of these 
wounds. He took part in the siege of Atlanta and 
in the battles of Nashville, Raleigh and others, and 
his discliarge shows that he was present at twenty- 
eight heav}' engagements. He had the fortune to 
be present when Gen. Johnston surrendered and he 
recalls the incident with vivid interest. 

For thirteen months after hostilities ceased Mr. 
Anderson served as First Sergeant of the Twenty- 
eight Michigan Regiment, being transferred when 
his own regiment went home, doing dut^' at Raleigh, 
N. C. He was honorably discharged June 6, 1866, 
and returned to his home and family. He is identi- 
fied with Billy Begole Post, No. 127, G. A. R., at 
Maple Rapids, and for several j'ears has been Adju- 
tant. For nine years he served as Highwaj- Com- 
missioner of Essex Township and he has stood as a 
candidate for Register of Deeds for Clinton County, 
but was defeated b)' Mr. Beers. He exercises the 
right of suffrage in behalf of the principles laid 
down by the Republican party, bejieving that by 
so doing he is serving the best interests of the 
nation. He is well veised on the social and politi- 
cal questions that agitate the minds of the people, 
and is a firm believer in keeping up with the sjjirit 
of the times, both in personal culture and in public 



affairs. He and his family are well respected by 
all who know them and arc considered worthy of the 
confidence and esteem of all. 



EWIS PEARL. The Pearl family is recog- 
^ nized as one of prominence in Clinton 
^ County, and it affords the publishers of this 
Album pleasure to represent the member above 
named. lie has an unusual interest in the history 
of this section, as he was born in Ovid Township 
and his parents were among the pioneers of 1838. 
The}' came from New York, where both were born, 
and spent seven j-ears in the township named, 
after which tlie3' made their home in Greenbush 
Township. Their first home here was a log cabin 
on section 25, but after some years tlu-y occupied a 
different dwelling and finally- built the fine brick 
house that now adorns the farm. 

The Hon. Stephen Pearl, father of our subject, 
was of Scotch ancestry', and his wife, Am.arilla Hor- 
ton, was of English descent. The husband served as 
Treasurer of Clinton County for a number of 
years and was also Drain Commissioner for a long 
time. He represented the district in the State Leg- 
islature one term. His influence on the commu- 
nity' was not confined to his official record, but v.as 
deepened by his character as a man and the fact 
that his habits were worthj- of emulation. When 
he began his pioneer work here he was a poor man, 
but when called hence he left a comfortable estate. 
The oil] homestead is now held jointly by his 
daughters, Mrs. Eliza McKnight and Mrs. Emma 
Faxon. The onlj' other survivor of the family is 
he of whom we write, who was the first-born son. 
The Hon. Mr. Pearl departed this life April 7. 
1 889, and thus was removed from Clinton County 
one of her best and most honorable citizens. 

Our subject opened his eyes to the light June 16, 
1844. Among the pictures in the gallery of his 
memory is that of Indians passing to and fro, large 
tracts of unbroken forest and the rude homes of the 
early settlers, and he also recalls many incidents of 
his school life, when only a rudimentary education 
could be obtained in the neighborhood. A spirit 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



845 



of self-reliance and a mental as well as pln-sical 
vigor generally accrue from such surroundings as 
those in which Lewis Pearl grew to manhood, and 
in his own career this fact has been demonstrated. 
He was married August 13, 1865, to Miss Martha 
J. Foss, who was born in Ontario, Canada, Novem- 
ber 2, 1841. Her parents were Philip and Cather- 
ine Foss, who came to Clinton County in 18G2 and 
made tlieir home in Duplain Township a number 
of years, then removed to Montcalm Count}', where 
they are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Pearl are the 
parents of three children: Stephen O., born Apiil 
6, 1867; George L., September 21, 1878; and 
Cnlherine E., May 9, 1881. 

For about four 3'ears Mr. Pearl was a partner of 
Stephen D. Rowell in the foundr}' business, under 
the style of Rowell ife Pearl, and for several years 
he carried on the sale of merchandise. With these 
exceptions his time has been devoted to farming, 
and he now has a good jiroperty consisting of two 
hundred and sixtj' acres in Greenbush Township 
and one hundred and sixty acres in the Upper 
Peninsula. He has also a third interest in one 
hundred and thirty five acres in Eaton County. 
Mr. Pearl has taken some part in transacting the 
public affairs of the locality in which he has lived, 
having been Drain Commissioner of Greenbush 
Township and having served one year as Super- 
visor of McMillan Township, Luce County, in the 
Upper Peninsula. He has always favored those 
projects which would build up this section socially 
and materially, and he and his wife are well known 
and highly respected in their locality. Mr. Pearl is 
identified with the Patrons of ludustr}, and politi- 
cally is a Republican. 

^ 1^ I L L I A M L. TALLM AN. Among the 
\/\/// y^"''^ ^'^''^ progressive farmers of Eagle 
V^^ Township, Clinton County, there is none 
who enjoys a larger share of [)ublic esteem than 
the subject of this sketch. He resides on section 
15, where he has a heautiful farm consisting of 
two iiundred and twenty-four acres upon which 
numerous improvements have been made. A home- 



like residence and a full line of outbuildings, to- 
gether with orchards and forest trees beautify the 
farm, and add to its value as a place of residence. 
The place is well stocked with modern machinery 
and first-class implements of all kinds, and well- 
kept stock grazes in its pastures. 

Akins Tallman, father of our subject, was born 
in Warren County, Pa., September 22, 1810. His 
parents were Elihu and Lucretia (Perkins) Tall- 
man, natives of Connecticut and New York, re- 
spectively, who were married in the latter State in 
1788, and removed to Pennsylvania in 1789. 
Akins Tallman was reared on a farm in the timber 
country of Pennsylvania, and never attended school 
after he was eight years old. He worked for his 
father until after he was of age, and Maj' 27, 1832, 
married Samanlha Dix. The union resulted in the 
birth of fifteen children, of whom the following 
grew to maturity: Christopher C, George W. (died 
at the age of twenty -four), Amanda R., Melvina J., 
William L., Samantha L., Alpheus W., Julia M., 
and Lawson D. who was killed in a sawmill near Big 
Rapids in 1880. During the '40s Mr. Tallman re- 
moved to Ohio, and in 1853 came to Michigan. He 
located on a farm now occupied by his son Will- 
iam, and carried on agricultural work here until 
1883. He then removed to Grand Ledge, where 
he is now I'ving, respected by all his neighbors. In 
1877 his wife Samantha was called to a brighter 
world, and .June 26, 1879, he was married to his 
present wife, Mrs. Sarah Pennington, widow of S. 
Pennington. 

The gentleman whose name introduces these para- 
graphs, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, Jan- 
uary 9, 1879, and labored for and with his father 
until he was of age. He attended the district 
school, Portland High School and Lansing Acad- 
emy, and became much better grounded on topics 
in text books than is sometimes the case with farm- 
ers' sons. He also acquired a thorough knowledge 
of farm work, so that when the homestead came 
into his possession he was able to carry it on sys- 
tematically and successfully. He is interested in 
the social orders to some extent, and is a Master 
Mason, belonging to Grand Ledge Lodge, F. & A. 
M. His political association is with the Republican 
party. He has a happy home presided over by the 



846 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lady who became his wife October 22, 1872. Mrs. 
Tallman was known in her maidenhood as Miss 
Sarah Adams, and is a well-informed, kindly aud 
capable woman. Three children have come to bless 
the happy union, but one wa.s taken from them No- 
vember 12, 1886, his death occurring from acci- 
dental causes. The deceased was Glenn L., who 
was born September 1 1, 1871 ; the living are Grace 
E., horn July 3, 1876, and Matie F., born March 
8, 1885. .Since the above was written there has 
been a fine daugliter ad<lert to brighten the home 
of our subject and his wife, born June 13, 1891. 



"T^ICIIARD WATI:RS. The attention of the 
lyir reader has doubtless been attracted by the 
!Ei IV view on another page, of the pleasant 
^^ homestead belonging to Mr. Waters. 
Clinton Count}' has no finer farm than the one 
which is pleasantly situated 'm section 27, Lebanon 
Township, and which is opeiated b}' the subject of 
tliis sketch. The estate comprises nearl}- two hun- 
dred acres and is embellished with a substantial set 
of buildings, among them a commodious residence 
of modern style of architecture, and such out- 
buildings as are needed for the storage of grain or 
slielter of stock. 

Mr. Waters is one of our British American citi 
zcns who reflect credit .alike upon the land of their 
birth and the country of their adoption. His fa- 
ther, Robert Waters, a son of Samuel Waters, was 
born in 1808 in England and was one of four chil- 
dren, viz: William, Richard. Robert and Sarah. 
Upon attaining to jears of maturity he was united 
in mairiagc with Ann Fisher, a daughter of James 
Fisher, an Englishman. Mis. Waters was one of a 
family of live daughters, namely: Ann, Sarah, 
Margaret, Hannah and Mary. Mr. Fislier emi- 
grated to Can.ida about two years before his death; 
Mrs. Fisher survived her husband onl}' two years. 
To Robert and Ann (Fisher) AVaters were born 
eight c-hildrcn.of whom five are now living, as fol- 
lows: Ann, William, Margaret, Richard and Han- 
nah. The children who died were named Betsej-, 
Caroline and Elizabeth. After the birth of the 



three oldest children the parents emigrated to 
Canada, where the father died in 1861. The widow, 
who has now reached the age of seventy-five, is 
living near Jackson, Mich. Mr. Waters was a farmer 
by occupation during his entire life and was an 
earnest member of the Methodist Church. 

Richard Waters was born June 16, 1844, in 
Canada, and as his father died when he was but 
seventeen j-ears old he was compelled to start out 
in life for himself while still quite ^'oung. He first 
worked on a farm by the month and took jobs as 
he could get them. When his father's estate was 
settled he received fiflj' acres of the land which that 
parent had taken up in Canada. The young man 
sold his inheritance, putting his capital in business 
and engaging in the running of an hotel in Gray, 
Canada. He remained there for two j'ears and 
afterward pursued tlie same business in Wilming- 
ton for the same period. 

The marriage of our subject, Mr.rch 24, 1864. 
united him with Agnes, daugliter of James and 
Christie (Clark) Todd, natives of England. Mr. 
and Jlrs. Todd had a large family of children, as 
follows: Walter, Isabella, Joseph, Fortune, Chris- 
tie, James, Agnes and Martha. Mrs. Waters died 
in Canada in 1871, and after her djccase the family 
removed to Michigan, making their home for one 
year in Washtenaw Count}'. Mr. Waters was mar- 
ried a second time in 1872, choosing as his wife 
Mrs. Fortune Wardrope, the sister of his former 
wife. To tlicin the following children have been 
born: Albert, Ernest, Alice M., and (icorge, de- 
ceased. Mrs. Waters is a lady of intelligence and 
refinement, and highly esteemed in the community. 
Upon locating in Washtenaw County, Mr. 
Waters entered land and in 1873 purchased over 
one hundred acres where he now resides. He has 
added to his first purchase until he now owns one 
hundred and eighty-six and two-thirds acres. He 
has been greatly prospoied in his undei takings, for 
he started with almost nothing and has attained to 
his present influential position among the farmers 
of Clinton County, by the exercise of industry 
and good judgment. When he was first married 
his capital consisted of $200. The farm which he 
pre-empted on coming to Michigan was all dense 
forest, which he cleared and put in a fine state of 




residence: or Stephen rowell , sec 36.^greenbu5h tp., clinton co.,iviich. 




RESIDENCE OF RICHARD WATERS , SEC 27., LEBANON TR, CLINTON CO., MICH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



849 



cultivation. The buildings which have been erected 
upon his estate cost about $4,000 and tlie entire 
property constitutes about as liandsonie a farm as 
there is in Lebanon Townsiiip. Besides pursuing 
general farming Mr. AVators raises Durham cattle. 
Sociall}' he belongs to the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, being a member of Lodge No. 19, at 
Fowler. He is a Republican in his political views, 
but has never desired or souglit office, preferring 
domestic quiet to the cares of |)ublic position. 



(g:^ TEPHEN D. ROWELL, one of the leading 

^^^ citizens of Greenbush Township, Clinton 

^xJLM ^'*^""tyi '* located on section 3G, wliere lie 

lias a fine farm of one hundred acres. A 

view of his residence and surroundings, which are 

unusually attractive, appears on another page. He 

has gathered around him many of the comforts 

and conveniences which belong to modern farm 

life, and is successfully' prosecuting the labor to 

which he determined to devote himself when he 

was ready to take up the work of life, lie is a 

native of Livingston County, N. Y., born April 7, 

1837, and is one of the five children that comprised 

tlie family of Samuel and Sally (Pearl) Rowell. 

The father of our subject was born in New 
iingland and the mother is believed to have been 
a native of New York. In 1837, they removed 
to Michigan, settling on the farm now owned by 
their son Stephen. It was then in the dense forest, 
remote from a settlement and with neighbors few 
and comparatively distant. Mr. Rowell put up 
what became known as Rowell's foundry, and in 
connection with the work of developing his farm, 
manufactured plows, iiarrows, cultivators and land 
rollers, those being articles for which there was a 
demand in the new eountr}'. He died iiere in the 
spring of 1883. Besides our sul)ject the living 
members of his family are: Hannah, wife of T. C. 
Averj, and Sarah, wife of Byron Brown. 

The subject of tliis sketch was but an infant 
when brouglit to this State and his earliest recol- 
lections are of scenes of pioneer life. Ho was too 
young to know anything of the journey, but has 



been told that his parents left Springwatcr. N. Y., 
when he was a month old and traveled the entire 
distance to their new home in a one-horse wagon. 
West of Detroit they were obliged to cut their own 
road through the brush, as there was only a trail, 
and sometimes not even this to follow. When old 
enough to attend tiie pioneer schools the lad did so 
and gained what knowledge he could under the cir- 
cumstances, but was necessarily obliged to be con- 
tent with a limited amount or to add to it by self- 
effort. He chose the latter and by reading has 
kept himself in touch with the world at large. Dur- 
ing his boyhood he began working in the foundry 
with his father and in due time had learned all the 
departments of the work and also that of the farm, 
where his labors were also of service to his father. 
For several years he carried on the founciry, a part 
of the time alone and a part with partners. The 
building is now used as a cider-mill. 

In 18511, Mr. Rowell was married to Miss Sarah 
Stottle, who was born in Niagara County, N. Y., 
and whose parents, Peter and Rachel Stottle, were 
natives of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Rowell 
have but one child, a daughter, Lucy, who is now 
the wife of Stephen Keys. Although he was reared 
to believe in the principles of Democracy, his 
father having been their sujiporter, Mr. Rowell 
became convinced that the Republican part}' was 
nearer right and gives his iuQuence to that organ- 
ization. He has always been interested in edu- 
cational |)rogress and has served both as Director 
and Moderator in his district. Mrs. Rowell is a 
member in good standing of the Christian Church. 

LFRED CRICKMORE. One of the prom- 
f^'fUl inent men in Shiawassee Countj- who has 
made a signal success of agriculture is the 
gentleman whose name heads our sketch, 
and who resides on his farm on section 11, New 
Haven Townshi|>. He w.as born in Washtenaw 
County, this State, November 2, 1844. His 
father was Robert Crickmore, a native of London, 
England, where he was born in 1810. He received 
a common-school education in his native land, and 




850 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



at the age of twentj'-threc came to America, where 
he worked in New York State for one 3 ear, tlience 
coming to YpsilantI, Mich., where he purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of wild land. He began 
to clear it with much energy, but was taken sick 
and lost his farm. On his recovery he went to 
Oakland County in 1845, and purchased eighty acres 
of land in West Bloomfield Township. This was 
entirely unimproved land, and he at once devoted 
himself and his energies to clearing it. In 1860 
he added forty acres to his original purchase. 

Our subject's father, Robert Crickmorc, remained 
in West Bloomfield Township until 1886, when he 
sold his farm and went to Pontiac where he now 
resides, having purchased a most -comfortable 
home. He is a Methodist in belief, and in politics 
an adherent of the Democratic part}'. Before 
leaving his native land he was married. His wife 
passed away before he came to this country, and in 
1837 he again took upon himself the obligations of 
matrimony, being united to a lady whose maiden 
name was Mary Neat, a daughter of James and 
Elizabeth Neat, of Washtenaw County, this St.ate. 
Mrs. Crickmore is of English parentage, and is one 
of eight children, being the second child and only 
daughter, her natal year being 1817. 

Our subject's parents were blessed with ten chil- 
dren — five daughters and live sons — of whom our 
subject is the third child and third son. Alfred 
Crickmore received a common-school education. 
He remained at home until he was twenty-seven 
years of age, for several years being engaged in 
buying and selling cattle. In 1871 he rented a 
farm in Oakland Count}-, on which he lived three 
}-ears, then he removed to another farm where he 
staid one year, after which he came to New Haven 
and purcliased one hundred and sixty acres located 
on section 11. At the time of his purchase tlie 
land was perfectly wild, but is now entirely under 
cultivation. 

In 1861 Alfred Crickmore was united in mar- 
riage with Susannah Daudison,who was a daugh- 
ter of Robert and Frances (^Trollop) Daudison. 
They were natives of England, and h.ad five chil- 
dren, one son and four daughters, of whom Susan- 
nah was tlie fourth child. She was horn December 
16, 1850. Our subject aud his wife have but one 



son, Frederick B., M'ho was born in 1871. Mrs. 
Crickmore is a member of the Wcslej-an Methodist 
Church. The subject of our sketch is a Patron of 
Industry. His political preference was given to 
the Democratic party until 1886, since which time 
he has been a Prohibitionist. He is a strong sup- 
porter of his party, but does not aspire to office, 
although he has been frequently urged to accept 
such. He is particularly interested in breeding a 
good grade of Leicestershire sheep of which he has 
over one hundred head. He also has some fine 
thorough-bred Berkshire sv/lne and is greatly in- 
terested in breeding Sliorn-horn cattle, of which 
he now has eight heail, all registered or eligible to 
be. He has good barns and buildings and his farm 
is thoroughly well improved. 



-►^-+#^^=€-^4- 



^p^EOROE D. KINGSLEY. Our subject w.as 
born at Northville, W.ayne Count}", this 



G 



V^^ State, October 22, 1841. He w.os the son of 
Dennis and Delia (Bain) Kingslpy. His father was 
from Rutland Count}', Yt., and was a merchant 
in Medina. His mother was from Orleans. N. Y., 
After the father came to Michigan, which was iu 
the year 1835, he engaged in farming. He located 
in Wayne County at once, where he resided until 
1867. Our subject's early life was passed on a 
farm in Wayne County. Ho was afforded a good 
common-school education, but did not receive any- 
thing more from his parents. The war beginning 
soon after he was a man, he enlisted August 18, 
1862, in Company D, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, 
under Col. Alger, afterward (ien. Alger. 

Mr. Kingsley's war record began by being sent to 
^■irginia, where he joined Sheridan's army under 
the immediate command of Gen. Custer. He was 
with the Army of the Potomac through all of its 
terrible fighting up and down the Shenandoah 
A'alley. He was a participant in the battle of Get- 
tysburg, wiiose bloody field left desolate so many 
Northern and Southern homes. He was also in the 
seven days' fight in the AVilderness, at Pt. Conway, 
Kellcy's Ford, Culpeper, Pony Mountain and 
Whitesford. He was also in the engagement of 



f 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



851 



Winc'liostcr in whicli Sheridan rode twent}- miles to 
checic the tide of defeat. Tlie iiistuiic old town 
whicli now lies like a jewel on the green bosom of 
the Shenandoah Valley was then washed with blood. 
Fair women and young girls wore on tlie battle- 
lield, succoring and nursing the wounded and 
dying. Pictures like these, of which there were 
so many in Mr. Kingsley's long experience, will 
never be forgotten. He was discharged from 
service July 4, 1865, having served about three 
years. He was at Washington at the Grand Re- 
view, and his company started with Custer to the 
West, but did not get further than Leavenworth, 
Kan., where our subject w.as mustered out, and 
from Detroit, where he went immediately, be con- 
tinued to Northville, remaining at home for one 
and one-half )'ears. 

Mr. Kingslej- came to Clinton County April '21, 
1867, where he bought a tract of land on section 
27, Duplain Township. Clinton County was all 
unbroken woods at the lime, and in the midst of 
the virgin forest he built himself a log cabin. Li 
telling the stor^' of his early experience here, he 
says his cabin was six logs high on one side, and 
eight on the other. Large game at that time wns 
as abundant as small game is now. Deer were 
plentiful, and the larder had often to be replen- 
ished by means of the gun and the seine. He be- 
gan clearing his land in the summer of 1867, and 
finished cutting the timber from twenty acres which 
he planted in wheat. He lived in the log house 
about six j-ears, and then built a frame residence, 
which is commodious and comft)rl:iljle. His farm 
is made attractive with shade and fruit trees, and 
there are two fine maples on his place near the 
house, which, planted in Centennial year, socm 
to have grown under most auspicious circum- 
stances. 

The gentleman of whom we write was married 
Ai)ril 17, 1867, to Kate Killins, of Northville, 
Wayne Count}', Mich., and a daughter of Richard 
Killins. The couple have no children, and have 
bent their energies toward making their farm a 
model one. One of the notable features of their 
place is a fine orchard, and he has stock, of which 
he is justly proud. lie pays most of his attention 
to grain-raising. In politics Mr. Kingsley is a 



Democrat. He has never sought office of any 
kind, believing that he who sows and reaps con- 
scientiously is just as much an honor to his coun- 
tr}' as he who makes the laws. He is a Grand 
Army man, and belongs to the Clinton Encamp- 
ment, No. 35, and Caton Whitney Post No. 32 ; also 
to Lodge No. 97, I. O. O. R, and Clinton Kn- 
campraent No. 35. 




AP.ON B. P:LLSW0RTH, a well-known 
farmer of Antrim Township, was born in 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, November 21, 
^ 1832. His father, Benjamin Ellsworth, 

a native of Yates County. N. V., came to Ohio 
many years ago and after quite a residence there 
removed in 1866 to Mcllenry Count}', 111., where 
he died in 1877 at the very advanced age of sev- 
enty-nine years. He was a farmer by occupation. 
His father, William W. Ellsworth, was a native 
of New York and a Revolutionary soldier of Ger- 
man descent. Tlie mother of our subject, Rebecca 
Sheffield, was born in New York and died in 1881 
when she had reached the same age to which her 
husband had attained at the time of his decease. 
Three of their four children are still living. 

Farm training and the district school provided 
the education of our subject. He went to the log 
school-house and sat on the slab seats and studied 
earnestly to gain what he could during the time 
tliat could be spared from the farm. Until he was 
Ihirty-fdur years of age he remained at home and 
cared for his jiarcnts. In February, 1865, he came 
to Shiawassee County, Mich., and located on a farm 
on section 3, Antrim Township, when all this 
region was a dense forest. He built a house aiid be- 
gan his life in the woods in cheerful Midependeiu-e. 
In his purchase of one hundred and seventy acres 
he was obliged to go in debt but he succeeded in 
paying for it all and added to it nearly one hun- 
dred acres more. 

The marriage in 1855 of A. 15. Ellsworth and 
Juliet Christian of Ohio resulted in the birth of 
five children, namely: Louisa, the wife of llciiiy 
Peach, a neighboring farmer; Perry and Percy, 



852 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



(twins) of whom the former is married and lives 
near the father's home; Elmer and Maud. The 
family home stands in a beautiful little natural 
grove of oak openings and the father of the famil}' 
is known to all his neighbors as a well-informed 
and intelligent man, one who is wide-awake to 
matters of public interest and capable of exercising 
good judgment. His farm is in an excellent con- 
dition. 

Mr. Ellsworth was by his early inclinations a 
Whig and cast his first Republican ballot for 
Abraham Lincoln. lie is frequently appointed 
delegate to county conventions and is looked upon 
as one of the prominent men of the part^' in his 
locality. He has been identified with the Masonic 
order since 1875. He began life with no means 
and now has a farm of two hundred and sixty-two 
acres. He has alwa3S raised American Merino 
sheep and has as flue a flock as can be found in 
tiie county. lie also breeds good horses and has 
just begun to take an interest in Holstein cattle. 
He is one of the truly self made men who are 
worthy of the respect of their fellowmen. 



eHARLES E. GRISSON. The late Mr. 
Grisson belonged pre-eminently to that 
class that makes a State noble and prosper- 
ous. No man stood higher in the community and 
none more richly deserved commendation for a 
life whose influences were ever on the side of mor- 
ality, virtue and religion, and whose efforts always 
were to build up the section in which he lived in 
every legitimate way. He was prominently identi- 
fied with financial institutions in Sv John's and had 
a conspicuous position in connection with the niili- 
tarj' affairs of the State. During the Civil War he 
devoted his time and strength to tlie service of his 
country, being one of those who enlisted during 
the summer of 18(51 and served until after the 
close of the great conflict. 

The parents of Mr. Grisson were Ferdinand and 
Sida (Near) Grisson, the former a native of Ham- 
burg, Germany. That gentleman emigrated to 
America in company witli several brothers. On 



his way to Michigan he stopped in Seneca County, 
N. Y., where his marriage took place. He and 
ins faithful wife were among the flrst settlers in 
Livingston County, this State, and he named the 
township in which they made their home in honor 
of his birthplace — Hamburg. He located on a 
farm, but soon drifted into jjolitics and occupied 
official positions for years. During a protracted 
period he was Postmaster at Hamburg, in which 
town bis death occurred. 

In that place our subject was born, February 6, 
1841. He had good school privileges, first at his 
iiome and later in the Universit^^ of Michigan, 
where he was pursuing tlie classical course when 
the Civil War began. He was not content to re- 
main in the North when there was need of valor- 
ous action elsewhere and he enlisted June 20, 
1861, as a private in Company D, Fourth Michigan 
Infantry. September 1, 1862, he was comniissione<l 
Second Lieutenant in the Twenty-sixth Michigan 
Infantry and May 4, 1863, rose to the rank of 
First Lieutenant. A still higher commission — 
that of Adjutant, was given him April 15, 1864, 
and July 29 of the same year he was appointed 
Captain. The upward steps in his rank were 
awarded as his fitness was shown, and on March 
13, 1865, he was breveted Major of United Slates 
Volunteers for gallant and meritorious services in 
the field. 

Maj. (irisson had not escaped the forfeits gener- 
ally paid by a soldier, but had been wounded 
prior to his receiving the commission of Captain, 
tlie field of Spottsylvania being the one on which 
he w-as stricken. A shot penetrated the left king 
and he was confined to the hospital for some time, 
but recovered and rejoiaed his regiment. When 
hostilities ceased he was retained on Gen. Jliles' 
staff, and was riiudly mustered out, April 19, 1866. 
lie had been one of the guards who had charge of 
Jefferson Davis at Fortress ^Monroe. After his re- 
lease from the service lie took an active part in 
bringing up the standard of the militia in this 
State. He was chosen on Gov. Bagley's staff for 
two terms and then served successively on that of 
Gov. Crosswell and Gov. Jerome. His position 
gave him the title of Colonel, by which he was 
known to all his friends. Military tactics were a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



853 



hobby with liini ami he was proficient in all that 
l)erlaincd thereto. He was President of the State 
Military Board and was an active menilier of the 
Grand Arm_v of the I!ei)ublic. The Post in St. 
John's was named in his iionor and Charles K. 
Grisson Post, No. LjG, ranks high in res[)ect to the 
continuance of all military drill. 

After tiie war Mr. Grisson made his home in St. 
John's and for a short time was engaged in the | 
grocer}' business. He tiien became Teller of the 
First National Bank, witii which he remained 
eleven years. In 1877 he and Alvin Shaver started 
a private bank, known as Sliaver <fe Grisson's Bank, 
and carried it on until the death of the Colonel, 
when it was merged into the State Bank. For 
years he held tiie position of Village Treasurer 
and at the time of his decease he was the incum- 
bent of thai oUice. He was Chief Engineer of the 
Fire Department, took a deep interest in educa- 
tional affairs and promoted the interests of the 
schools in various wa3's. In Masonic circles he 
was ver3' prominent and when called from time to 
eternity he was State Commander of the Knights 
Templar. He had also been a Notarj' Public for 
years. In politics be was an ardent Republican, 
stanch in his belief in the worth of the principles 
of the party and well informed regarding ever}' 
issue of the day and that which led to it. His 
death occurred November 20, 18S2, and cast a 
gloom over the entire community. The funeral 
w.as conducted according to the beautiful burial 
service of the Episcopal Church, of which he was 
Vestryman and had long been an .active and liberal 
member. 

In Lockport, N. Y., May 30, 1877, Mr. Grisson 
was married to Miss Frances E. Dunn, who sur- 
vives and still makes her home in St. John's. Mrs. { 
Grisson is of New York State ancestry in the pa- 
ternal line, both her grandfather and her father, , 
David R. Dunn, having been born there. Tiic lat- ' 
ter was a lumberman who dealt extensively in that 
commodity as a wholesaler in New York City, but 
made his home near Lockport and also carried on 
business there. The remote ancestors were from 
England. Mr. Dunn died at the earlj' age of 
thirty-four years. His wife was Laura Spaulding, 
who was born at Peru, Berkshire County, Mass., 



and whose last years were spent in Lockport. She 
was a member of the Congregational Church. Her 
father, Harvey Spaulding, was a native of Mass.a- 
ehusetts and died in Vicksburg, Miss. His father, in 
turn, was a Rcvolutionar}' soldier. 

Mrs. (Jrisson was born in Lockport and reared 
there, near Niagara Falls. She received a liberal 
education and has kept up her reading so .as to 
have a good knowledge of passing events and the 
progress of mankind in science, art and literature. 
On the demise of her companion she was left 
with a competency and her home is made at- 
tractive by the good taste with which she uses 
her means. She is a member of the Episcopal 
Church, and has high standing in the communit}-. 



»i^ 



-m^' 



\f^'RED A. TRAVIS, Pii. C, is a practical 
liiife^ pharmacist and dealer in drugs and medi- 
JL, cinesin St. John's, where the firm of which 
he is a member carries the largest stock in Clin- 
ton County. Travis & Baker own a building two 
stories high in which to prepare and displii}- the 
goods which they dispose of by wholesale and 
retail. They buy a large part of their stock di- 
rectl}- from the manufacturer and supply smaller 
dealers found about them. They also carry paints, 
oils and wall-paper, and besides the main build- 
ing liave a storehouse for such articles as they 
wisli to remove from their main stock. Mr. 
Travis, in addition to his undivided interest in 
the building above mentioned, has some valuable 
real estate in IMuskegon. 

The ancestral home of the Travis family was in 
White Hall, N. Y., where both the grandfather 
and the father of our subject were born. The 
former owned large tracts of land in the East and 
boats on the lakes, and w.os a more than ordinar- 
ily successful man. W. D. Travis, father of our 
subject, was a hardware merchant in his native 
place and is still living there, now in his fifty- 
fourth year. For a short tin)e he was located in 
Litchfield, Ohio. His wife, Nettie Brooker, was 
the daughter of Warren Brooker, a farmer. She 
died in her native i>lace in 1864, leaving two chil- 



Hr,! 



I'OIM'UAir AND lUOfJIlAI'IMCAL AIJUIM. 



(llXTl — (ilir mihJiM'l mill im inrniil, in ihiii.h, TIic 
fllMuT \n II Kc|illl)licilll ill |ic.|ilii'. :iImI is U villllfjd 

ullldiil ill WIliU! Mull. 

Tlic Miilijccl, of UiJM notice vviis lioni in l.iU'li- 
(li'lil, Ohio, Miiicli K, lK(;i, 1111(1 wiifii liiH iiKdliiT 
iliitd wiiH I)I(iiikIiI, Io I\[ii|)I<: HiipiiiM, lliiN SliiU', to 
lid (!iirc(l Cor ii.y IiIm mini, Mih. VVilliiiiii A. Nixon. 
Wlicn l,vvclv(! yciHo olil lu' wim Hciit lo Ann Alitor 
to iillcnil lilt! uniinnmr niid lli;{li Scliooi, ami In." 
took two (lilTi'ii'iil, comwH of Mliidy— llid KiiKliBli 
hikI liiiMiiii'HH, iilUiou){li lie iliil iiol Ki'iulinild. ilu 
N|iciil l,lic HnniiniM'H in ii ilnin hIoii! iinil in \HHi 
I'litt'icd tlid iihiiriiiiii'cntiiMd (Iciiiirlindiil of llic I'ni- 
vi'ihity of Micliixiiii. Ilf lirciiinii llioronxlily vi'indd 
In |)liiiniiiic.v mid in 1H8I iccdivud liin di-jiivc. 

Ill IHHri Mr. 'rmviii lioiinlit. out Dr. IJiij-f,', who 
wi'M one of llic |iro|Mii'lorM of u drii;^ Hloro in SI,. 
.IoIiii'm, mid the llrni of MoDoniild A' Triivis car- 
ried on llic liilMiiicHH for llirrc yciu'M mid ii Inilf. 
Mr. 'I'mviH l.licn Kold mil \i> U. M.SIicI mihI lie 
and Uwil ^cnllcniiiii lM>iif;lil mil, Mr. (Idler and lliii 
linn of Nixon \ Co. wnK finined. Afler ii yt^iir in 
lliiH conniMlion lie lioii;,'lil drii>,' nIoich in Itliiu-a 
and roiii|ieii rcHlieclively and openiled liolli, willi 
lieiel(|iiarleiM in llie foriiier |ilnce. In .lime, IH'.tll, 
* Mr, 'I'liiviH diH|Miscd of liiii iiilelcslH lliere Mild 
lion;;lil llie old hIIc in .SI, .lolin'N mid llie prcsenl 
diiij,' linn wiiH formed. Al thai lime lu- iiol only 
HC'cnred llie liilildiii;; Inil llie hIocU, lo vvliicli lie 
lidded II freili .siipiily of siicli j^iiodM ii:f lie t,lioii;;lil 
luiecKMiiry. 

Ill Mii|ile Wajiids, .lime 10, IH«(J, Mr. 'I'raviH wmh 
married lo M Ims ('arrie llewill, flnnnliler of Isaac 
llewiU, an old rcHidciil (d' (Minion Coimlyaiid ii 
well Known iKiiiUei. Mis. 'rriiviM wa.s horn nl 
Maple liapids, ohiained ,i |mrl of her ednealioii in 
Ylisilaiili mid was ;;iiiiliialed from Mr.s, Nohle'.s 
Soiiiiniuy in Delroil. She is ii lady of rare inlei- 
lixenee, rellned and >;raeioiiH, and wilh liel Iiiim- 
liiind liiiH a liirye and pleasmil circle of friends. 
'I'liev have one ehild—MiUKUCrilii. 

Mr. Travis is one of llie stockholders iii ilie 
Nalional Hank of Si. lolin's and llie ( 'liiilon Coiinly 
SaviiiKH Itiink. I le is a Knij^lil 'rciii|iliir, helon>{. 
Inn lo the Coinmaiidery in SI. .lolin's, mid he is a 
iiieliiher of the Slate riiarmiieeiilii'iil Society. Al- 
Ihoiedi mil M |ii)lilii'ian in llie ordinary seiiao of 



Ihe word, li(^ gives oarneitl heed lo IIk' iBftiies of 
lln! ilay mid feels assured Ihal llii: Uepnhlic'iin 
party slaiidH on the hesl f;roiiiid, and tJierefore 
joins wilh il liearl and soul. Ilig piM'Holial ipi.'ililies 
ami iriiils of cimrneler iin^ siieli ns to seeiire 
friends, and in hiislness relalions Ik; is iTf;ar(h'd 
iiH vvorlhy of the posilion lie has reached -thai of 
one of Hie iiiosl proiiiineiil dril^^j^i.-ls in llie eoiinly. 



(il JkylLldAM \V. DIONNISis ntiinhered ai ij^ 

\fj// *■'"' ''''■'^'''''"''' "'f "vid, Clinloii Coiinly, 
\y\y upon whom Dame l'"oitnne has lieslowed 
her filVOI'O so pleiiteouslj- thai lliey are .'ilile lo 
ecasi' from foil mid enjoy the eiillure and pleasure 
Uiiil comes from travel, nienl.'il pursuits, ,'iiid asso- 
ciiilion Willi ollieru of relini'd lasies. lie is in ri!- 
ceipl of an income amply hiillleicnl for his wants, 
and lii.s dwelliiif,' is fninislicil with re(,'aril lo the 
ureiitliro coinforlH and inlelle<-lii:il eiijoyinenls of 
its inmikles. One of the proinineiil features is a 
colleclion of well-selecleil vohimes, from llie pa;,a'8 
<if which the llioiif{hls of men of mental power are 
to he read an<l infonnalion olilaiiii'd re^.-irdin^ 
sciiMice, iirl and liL-lory. 

Mr. DciiniH wii» horn in Onond.af^a ( 'oiinly, N. 
v., .lanii.'iry '^.''i, IHIO, and his early years were 
spent upon the farm of his parents, .liuuih mid Mary 
(Itowcn) Dennis. His ednealioii was eonlineil lo 
the eurriciihim of Uk^ coiimioii school imlil he had 
arrived ill lliu ngi! of Iwenly, when he entered (Icii- 
i^see C'olle^e. In lliiil iliHliliilion hi? lemained three 
years, perfeclinj; him.self in a .selected course of 
slmh'. 'The Civil War iilTected llie pliins of the 
youii<; iiimi, wliiisi! iirdor in his country 's helialf led 
him into the iiriiiy ns ii iiieinher of C'oiii|>aiiy D, 
One Hundred iind Mighly-einlil New ^'ork Infan- 
try. He wa.H Onh'riy SerKcant, .'uid the part of the 
great hody to which lie helonged was known as the 
Army of the I'olomac. He was present as an active 
p:irlicipiml nl t.he hatllcs of l'"ivo Forks, VVeldon 
Uailroad, Stony Uiin, Ilalcliie's Hun, and in llie 
spring of IK(!.") the corps to which he lielongcd li'il 
ill the chase after tJeii. I'ii'kell. Among incidenls 
of special interest reciilled hy Mr. Dennis is the 



POUTIIAIT AND mOGUAl'lllUAL ALBUM 



866 



8CIMU' of Uio siiri'i'iulcr of (Ion. Loo sU AiiimniMlliix, 
Mtid llio (innul Koviow in \Vn.sliinf{liin. 

When Ilio war was over Mr. Dennis wii.s sent. Id 
Now Yoik Id 1)0 p.'iid olT, .Mnd ho Mion ontoroil into 
nM'i'ivinlilc liii.sinoss !it Livoniu Sliition, Livingston 
('iMiiily. I)niin<i Ilio inlininistriilion of I'l'osiilont 
.lolinsoii lio was :i|i|inin'.i'(I I'oslniaslvi. In. Inly, 
I.S(i(!, lie I'anio lo llii.s SlaU^ and looatod in Oviil, 
wlitic III' Ml. onoo hojjan spooulatinjj in roid oslal.o. 
In IHdM 111' was a|)|ic)iiil,t'd l)c|iul,y ShcrilTand lUioil 
Mio |)la(a! to tl\c suliisfaolion of his hu|ioilor, .'uid Iho 
liiwahidinjf olonionl of sooiol.y. lie li.id Ihmmi 
slndyinj; law and in IsTit hr was adniillcd li> llu^ 
hai" of Cliiilon Couiily. Ilo was a oh)si^ sliidoiil. 
and (lid iiol iH'aso his roadirifi; and study wlion his 
lioonso was j;i'aiili'd, hnt coiiliMui'il l,o apply liini- 
solf, fjaininj; oonslanlly in knuwlcdm' of logal [vvU- 
nioalilios and liroad undoislandinfj; of prinoiplos of 
ocjuily. Kaily in llic 'SlKs IMr, Dennis liei'aino iii- 
torostod in the Imniiei' trade, and I'oi' a doead<' In^ 
oiK'ialod extensively al Dotioil nml (illier points. 

'I'ho wifo of Mr. Dennis w.as Unouii in her maid- 
onhoud as Miss Lorena I\L Uowen, and her former 
homo was in Spencerporl, N. Y., near Iho city of 
Uoclioat.or. 'I'liere I heir inarriago was solomnizod 
Folirnary 22, IHIIil. The union has l)oon lilessed 
by Ihroo eliililren: Willis U., horn P'ohruary 2(!, 
ISdS; \'ienna L., March H, 1M71, and Isthel I'.erlJia, 
.lidy H, 1.S7.'). Willis is miuiied liiil, still lives with 
liis parents, and N'ienna is est.alilished in a happy 
home of hei' (iwn, williln I he lindls of the ecuintv. 
Mrs. Dennis is a true hidy, <\'ipalile, well-read, 
a^roeahlo and kindly, and her friends are many and 
ainooro. 

As the possession of so lino a lilirary vvouhi iii- 
dioato.Mi'. Dennis is a hixdiwoim, and he spends 
nnieli liiiK' pi>rin;^ over his <'h(iie(! volume.^. In 
IHHH ho truvoled oxtonsively in the lioeky l\loun- 
liiin n';;i()n, visitiuf; Colorado, Ut.ah, Ori'jfon. 
\Vashin;;lon inid ( ':diforni:i, as well as lh<^ St'itesof 
Kansas and Nehraska. 'I'lu^ next ye.ar he spenl 
some moidlis in JMirope, his visits there inelndiriK 
li',n;.;land, Ireland, Seollimd, Wales, P'raneo, ( ier- 
niany, Switzerland, lieli;ium,and Italy. Ilealtended 
fh(^ I'aris Ivxposilion, and ^a/,ed upon such noted 
scenes as Iho iiay of Naples, Ml.. N'esuvius, the 
ruins of I'mnpen ami the ( 'atheilr.al of ,S|. I'clcr, 



l''r<in) cvory |H)ssil>le place lu' lir(inj>iit some relio 
of his trip, and his caliinot of eiiriosilies is of nn- 
nsu.al intei'ost, ineltnlin;L;' ,'is it does articles yalherod 
from many parts of our ciwn l:uid .'oid rinin foieij^n 
oonnlrios. Ono of the ehoieesi souvenirs is a papei- 
sijrned liy his (ienorid, in the form of a rocoipl. for 
oighly-oixht prisoners of w.'ir. Another is a piooo 
of wood thai onei> was a part of the ship in vvhieh 
the f^allant ('apt. Perry achieved the victory on 
Lake Kiio in IHI.'I. Of Ihoso hroiijiht from aliroad 
tlu^ most, valnalile are ;i. small ^'lass head from a 
cloak worn hy (^neen I'lli/.alielh, and a ((uill pen 
from Ihe li.'ink of Kii;^land. The (list of Iheso was 
purloined liy Mr. Dennis from a j;,armenl in the 
Towel of Liindoii uln'ii Ihe nuard was "olf his 

Kuard." Mr. Dennis has .also a i|iiill pen fr 

(iomna, Swil/.crland, lava from Mt. N'esuvins, and 
relies from the historic cities that wore hnried liy 
the ernplioii (if Ih.'il volcano in the year 1.S71I. Dur- 
ing Ihe winter of I SDO 11 1 Mr. Dennis and wife 
made a Soutliorn trip, visiting nearly every Suuth- 
ern Slalo. 

— 'm'm — 



|X an'ii:l I 

I J) of Owe 
l^ C'oMUtV, 



MIUI'IIV. Treasurer of the oily 
osso, Mich., was horn iu Krankliu 
Mass., ill the town of lOrvin^;, April 
■">, \X,^>\. lie is the son iif .lerciiilali and I'illen 
l\Lirphy, hoth of whom are natives of liclaud, who 
canu- to I.Ik- LuitiMl iSlal.es when (piil.e youny and 
fettled in Massachusetts, where l.|ie\' were married. 
After marriajje they settled in iMviiif,', where 
they spoilt most of their lives, I. hen removed to 
Allidl, M.'i.ss,, where the mother die(l. The f.'ilher's 
(lealh occuri'e(| in Spriu^;ll(dd, Mass. 'I'liey wore 
the parents of eifrlil. children, our siilijecl liein;; the 
I liird in iMimlier. 

The sulijecl of this skeh^h passed a porMon of 
his .school days at ICrviiiL;, RLiss. , and later went lo 
A I hoi ill that .State. Mis lirst work was in a eotluii 
mill where hi^ remuiiie(l fdr two years. Mo then 
learned the l.radc of uplndslerin/i; fiirnilure and 
followed this until IHVlI when lie drifted West to 
Miclii^^an and soon after (MUuin;^ lo Detroit, went 
to work for D. 1\L Lsl.oy &. Tooloy in their manufac- 
turiuf; t'<""!""'.V> *^'"'l'i"^' "'■ ''I"* Inulc. In 1H7K 
he came to OwDsso and c(mtinne(| in the employ 



856 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Mr. Estey for some eighteen montlis longer, and 
then engaged in house painting for three years. 
After this he entered the employ of Woodard 
Brothers at Owosso as head finisiier in tlie furni- 
ture department. After five or six years he tlicn 
went to Bancroft, Mich., where he embarked in 
furniture and undertaking business but sold out 
this business at the end of twelve months. 

Mr. Murphy returned to Owosso and for three 
years followed the business of house painting at 
the end of which time lie started in business with 
a fine stock of wall paper, paints, oils, varnishes, 
brushes, window sliades, fixtures and room mould- 
ing, lie was married November 14, 1881, to Miss 
Mary Harvey, of Lansing, Mich., a daughter of 
James Harvey, formerl}' of Canada and a native of 
Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have had five ciiild- 
ren: Klla 1\L, Kate, Agnes E., Mary, and James E. the 
latter having died. Mr. Murphy was elected Treas- 
surer of the city of Owosso in 1891 and is a stanch 
Democrat, taking considerable interest in local i)ol- 
itics and being sent often as a delegate to county 
and Congressional conventions. His pleasant home 
is situated at No. 720 West Elizabeth Street. 



."^^sr*- 



ILA.S N. PIERCE, a leading and represen- 
tative farmer of the town of Sciota, Shia- 
wassee County, residing on section 10 and 
an honored veteran of the late war, was 
born in Naples, Ontario County, N. Y., March 17, 
1839. His parents, Jerry W. and Eliza (New- 
comb) Pierce, who were also natives of the same 
county, removed to Steuben County, N. Y., when 
our subject was a mere lad and settled in the town 
of Cohocton, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives. Mr. Pierce was a carpenter and mill- 
wright l)y trade, and owned and operated a grist- 
mill for many years. In his business career he 
met with excellent success, for beginning life with 
no capital he worked his way upward until he was 
the possessor of about $.'50,000 worth of property. 
He not only had to cotitond against poverty and 
other obstacles which arose in his path, but depend- 




ent upon him for support from Ids tenth year was 
his blind mother. 

A manly, courageous boy Jerry W. Pierce de- 
veloped into a self-reliant man and the prosperity 
which crowned his efforts was richly deserved. 
Although his educational advantages in his youth 
were very limited, by reading and study in leisure 
hours he became a well-informed man. He took 
active interest in educational matters, believing 
that good schools are essential to good citizenshii). 
In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and in 
religious belief a Universalist, although he was not 
a member of any church. However, he was a 
liberal contributor to churches and charitable insti- 
tutions and was a man of honor, integrity and 
sterling worth. He died in 1866, at the age of 
sixty-seven years. His wife long survived liim, 
passing away in 1889, at the age of eighty-two 
years. She was a member of the Meihodist Church 
and a consistent Christian woman, who won the 
love of all with whom she came in contact. Of 
the family of six children, the two eldest, Harvey 
and .Jonathan, are now decensed. Jonathan was 
wounded in the battle of Morton's Ford, Va., Oc- 
tober 11, 1863, and was never heard from after- 
ward. He was Captain of Company I, Sixth New 
York Cavalry, and was breveted Jlajor. The sur- 
viving members are: Silas N., Henry C, Jerry W. 
and Eliza L. 

We see our subject as a youth working upon his 
father's farm during the summer, and attending 
the district schools of the neighborhood during the 
winter months. ITnder the parental roof he re- 
mained, assisting his father until twenty-two years 
of age, when in the autumn of 1861 he offered his 
services to his country, and enlisted as a private of 
Company C, Sixth New York Cavalry. He served 
with the Array of the Potomac for about two 3'ears 
and three months, and on re-enlisting in the same 
regiment and company he was made Orderly Ser- 
geant. A few months later he was promoted 
to the rank of First Lieutenant, and served in that 
capacity for about a year, when he was made Cap- 
tain of Company (!. Capt. Pierce commanded the 
company until after Lee's surrender, when in June, 
1865, he was honorably discharged, after nearly 
four jears of faithful service. He participated in 



■ •..'■■-"■-■ 'J* 




1 

i 
I 



^ 



I 

I 



o 



o 



in 

to 

< 



X 
CO 



< 

I- 
o 

o 

CO 
CD 

cJ 

oT 

UJ 

o 

Z 
< 

E 

X 

o 



O 

Lu 
CC 







PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



859 



the battles of Aiitietam, Fierterieksburg, Chancel- 
lorsville, Gettysburg, Falling Waters. Wiklpriicss, 
Trevilian Station and Winchester, where he re- 
ceived a gunshot wound in the side which forced 

lira to remain in the hospital for six weeks. He 
.vas present at the capture of Early's army, and 
vook part in the two days' figiit at P^ive Forks, 
Va., after which there was Ogliling and skirmish- 

'iw, but no important battles, until Lee's surrender, 
'lich Capt. Pierce witnessed. He was a faithful 
.dier, true to every duty and alwa3's found at 
i post discharging every task imjwsed upon him 
with the utmost 6delity. His service was one of 
love and patriotism for his country, and although 
he has never fully recovered from the effects of 
his wound, the Government has not been solicited 
to pa3' him a pension in recognition of his services. 
When the war was over Capt. Pierce returned to 
New York and formed a partnership with his 
brother, J. W., thev together operating the home 
farm and a sawmill, and also engaged in mercantile 
business at the same time with another brother, 
H. C, until the fall of 1879. The connection was 
then discontinued and our subject went West on a 
prospecting tour, traveling over Kansas and other 
Western States. No localit}- pleased him as well as 
Shiawassee County, Rlicb., .and in consequence he 
here purchased land. In 1870 he bought two hun- 
dred and seventy acres which lie improved and cul- 
tivated, but a portion of this he has since sold, and 
now owns ninetj'-seven acres of vrduable land. 

Capt. Pierce devotes his entire attention to farm- 
ing and Ikis one of the finest homes in this part of 
the county. A view of the estate with its princi- 
pal buildings is presented on another page. Nearly 
all of the improvements placed upon his farm are 
the result of his untiring labor, and liis Iiome with 
its entire surroundings indicate the thiifl and enter- 
prise of the owner. One large barn furnishes 
ample shelter for his stock, and the other outbuild- 
ings are in keeping with this. Among his fellow- 
townsmen Capt. Pierce is regarded as one of the 
prominent and representative farmers of the com- 
munity, as well as a valued citizen. He has been 
honored witli several local offices and is now Treas- 
urer of Sciota Townshi)). At tiie ballot box ho 
supports the Republican party, and is well informed 



concerning the political issues of the day. Socially 
he is a member of Henry Dcmming Post, No. 191, 
G. A. R.. of Laingsburg. 

On the 25th of February, 1875, Capt. Pierce was 
united in marriage with Miss Rhoda A. Welch, of 
Cohocton, Steuben County, N. Y., whom he had 
known from childhood. The lady is a native of 
that county, and a daughter of Daniel and Sally 
M. (Spike) Welch, who spent their entire lives in 
that community. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have 
been born six children — Anna, who died in infan- 
cy; Lucy E., Theada A., Dora N., who died at the 
age of four 3'ears; Jerry W. and Howard N. The 
family have a pleasant home pleasantly situated 
near Laingsburg, their residence being a two- 
story frame dwelling, commodious and of sub- 
stantia! appearance. Hospitality there abounds 
and the friends of the family are many. 

— •*> <|3"'^ ' *■" 



CHRISTIAN WOLTER, a self-made man 
. who is cngageil in general farming on sec- 
lion 16, Sciota Township, Shiawassee County, 
is of German birth. His parents, Frederick and 
Dora (Iloramon) Wolter. were also natives of Ger- 
man}' and never left that land. His father was an 
overseer and contractor. In their family were 
seven children of whom Christian is the fifth in 
order of birth. He first opened his eyes to the 
light of daj' on the lOlh of February, 1829, in 
Mecklenburg, Prussia, and was reared to manhood 
in the place of his nativity. His educational a<l- 
vantages were limited but he has made of himself 
a well-informed man by reading, study and observa- 
tion. He worked as a driver and teamster in Ger- 
many and when twent3'-nine 3-ears of age, in 1859, 
sailed for America with the intention of tr^'ing his 
fortune in this country. 

Mr. Wolter located in St. Clair, Mich., where 
some years previous Miss Sophia Foss had settled. 
She was a childhood's acquaintance of his and the 
same year of his arrival they were united in mar- 
riage. Seven children graced their union: Mary, 
Emma, Herman, Henry, Frank, Cora, and LeRoy, 
all of whom ai'c living with the exception of 
Emma. 



860 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mr. and Mrs. AVolter began their domestic life 
in St. Clair County, Mich., upon a small farm 
which he owned and there resided until 1861, when 
selling out they came to Shiawassee County. Mr. 
Wolter purchased eight}' acres of land on section 
16, Seiota Township, where he has since resided. 
Only fortj' acres had been partially improved but 
wiWi characteristic energy he began its develop- 
ment, soon transforming the laud into rich and fer- 
tile fields, and as prosperitj' crowned his efforts and 
his financial resources were increased he extended 
the boundaries of his farm until now one hundred 
and twenty acres of valuable land pay a golden 
tribute to his care and cultivation. 

When Mr. Wolter landed in New York City, he 
had only $100 and that he had saved from his 
wages received as a teamster, but he came to Amer- 
ica with the determination to succeed and has la- 
bored untiringl}' to that end. He is now the owner 
of one of the finest farms in Seiota Township, its 
neat appearance indicating careful management 
and thrift on the part of the owner and the many 
iinproveuienls standing as monuments to his thrift 
and industrj'. On another page of this volume 
appears a view of the residence which is a line two- 
story frame structure, in the rear are good barns 
and outbuildings sucli as are found on a model 
farm. An apple orchard covering two and a half 
acres fields luscious fruit in season and small fruits 
keep the talile sn[)plied with delicious dishes. Mr. 
Wolter deserves great credit for his success in life 
and his example might be followed with profit by 
ina.iy of tiie j'ouths of to-day. lie and his wife 
belong to the Lutheran Church; in politics he is a 
Republican but has never taken an active [lart in 
political affairs. 

~ • oCi> • 

I^AMUKL B. ROWLEY is a farmer and 
'^^^ stock-raiser of some prominence in Clinton 
County, and especially among the people 
of Essex Township, where he is located. 
He has a good farm of eighty acres on section 11, 
wliich was reclaimed by him from the virgin forest 
and made fit for the habitation of an intelligent 
and enterprising family. Mr. Rowley located here 



in 1868, a few months after his marriage, and he 
and his faithful wife endured some of the priva- 
tions incidental to life on a new farm, even when 
thecountr}- around was comparatively well settled. 
They have been rewarded for their labors b}' se- 
curing a comfortable home and the means with 
which to gratify their reasouaVile tastes and join 
in good works. 

The parents of our subject were natives of the 
Empire State and their names were William and 
Martha. Their home was in Chemung Count}', 
where their seventh son, Samuel B., was born 
Apiil 30, 1837. Of the parental family the only 
other survivors are: Augustus, whose home is in 
Ogle County, III.; Erastus, who lives in Chemung 
County, N. Y. ; and Gordon, living in this State. 
Our subject pursued his studies in the district 
schools and from his earl}' boyliooil took part 
in the farm work in which his father was engaged. 
He attained to his majority in his native State, 
which he left in 1858 to come to Michigan. For 
a time he worked on a farm in Clinton County, 
but in 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, Colo., and 
engaged in gold mining. 

Mr. Rowley remained in the gold fields a year, 
during which time he did fairly well in his search 
for the precious metal. In the spring of 1862 he 
returned to this Slate and in the fall enlisteil in 
the First Uniled States Lancers, Company D. For 
a number of months he was stationed at Detroit, 
doing State guard duty, and he was discharged in 
April, 1863. After that event lie went to New 
Mexico and found employment uuiler the Govern- 
ment as a freighter, his business being to haul sup- 
plies for the use of the sohl'ers. He was thus 
engaged more than six months and at one time 
while crossing the plains his party had p. brush 
with the Indians and two of tiie men were killetl. 
He saw two white men at Ft. Lyons, Ark., that had 
been scalped by the Indians and let go. Mr. Rowley 
next took up farm life, in which he has been suc- 
ceeding, as before indicated. 

Mr. Rowley was fortunate in securing for his 
wife a lady of culture and refinement, who has an 
escellont reputation as a school teacher. She was 
known in her maidenliood as Miss Clara Clarke, 
and is a native of the Emiiire Slate and daughter 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 



8G1 



of Morris Clarke. Slie hccaiue the wife of our 
subject April 4, 18G8, and liieir union has liecn 
blessed b\' the birth of tliree children — Wiliiani, 
Arthur and Zorah. The last named has been re- 
moved from them by death at the age of seven- 
teen j'ears, and is sadlv missed and mourned by 
her many friends and bereaved parents. 

iMrs. Rowley is a humble and devout Christian, 
her membership being in the Christian Church, 
which her husband also attends. Mr. Rowley is 
a member of the Essex Farmers' Club, and is 
likely to be found joining in public-spirited enter- 
prises and movements in which the neighborhood 
is interested. He is a firm believer in the pi'in- 
ciples of the Republican party and never fails to 
oast his vote with others of like faith. He is a 
hospitalile, genial man, and his efforts at entertain- 
ing his friends arc ably scconelcd by his wife, and 
their home is the scene of many social gatherings. 

EVI B. SHADDUCK. This gentleman is 
^ one of the representatives of a pioneer fami- 
ly of Clinton County, than whom none are 
more favorably remembered. His parents were 
Andrew and Sarah (French) Shadduck, who were 
occupying a farm when he was born, June 11, 1857. 
Until sixteen years of age his life was spent in a 
manner customary to farmers' sons and at that earl}- 
age he started in business for himself, renting 
the homestead. He had obtained a fair education 
and by strict attention to business and the judici- 
ous investment of his earnings he has acquired a 
goodly share of worldlj^ possessions. From the 
time he rented the farm he attended to all the busi- 
ness affairs of his father. 

In October, 1878, Mr. Shadduck w.as married to 
Miss Adalaide Holbrook, the .accomplished daugh- 
ter of Russell Holbrook. Mrs. Shadduck was born 
September 23, 1857, in this State, to which her 
father had come from New York. She has borne 
her husband two daughters, both at home on the 
beautiful farm on section 24. The daugiiters are 
Cora 15., who was born July 4, 1880, and Minnie 
A., September IG, 1885. They arc being given 



b 



such educational opportunities as are suited to their 
3"ears, and their ]1arents are liestowing great care 
upon their home training, teaching them the court- 
esies of life and guiding them in good principles. 
.Mrs. Shadduck belongs to the Methodist Kpiscoi)al 
Churcli of Wacousta. Mr. Shadduck is an active 
Republican and he is now filling the ollicial station 
of Supervisor of Eagle Township. 

The father of our subject died at his home in 
Clinton County, January 24, 1891, aged eighty- 
one years and ten days. From a sketch of his life, 
read at his funeral, we quote the following: "The 
late Andrew Shadduck was born Januarj' 15, 1810, 
on a farm on the banks of the Hudson River, near 
Albany, N. Y. He was the son of Thomas and 
Maria Shadduck and the youngest of a family of 
si.K children. His mother died when he was about 
two years old and three years later his father mar- 
ried Miss Annie Buck, from New Hampshire, anil 
this excellent woman gave him a mother's care for 
some years. When Andrew w:!S seven years old, 
the family removed from New York to New Hamp- 
shire and rented a farm. The season was very 
cold and frosty, the crops failed, the family were 
poor, had no money, very- little provision and onlj' 
one cow. One of the old Blue Laws was that each 
family should be taxed to pay the ])riest. His 
father could not paj^ the tax and the cow was 
driven off and sold to pay the priest. This event 
seemed darkl}^ cruel to the child and always re- 
mained a vivid reality in his memorj-. 

" Soon after the family removed to Brown 
County, N. Y. Andrew now went to live with his 
uncle John Sliadduck, who was a farmer, lumber- 
man and shingle-maker and while there he went to 
school in the winter. He had to walk two miles 
through the snow and wind to a log hut where 
school was held. For more than eight months in 
the years he helped to saw timber, pack shingles or 
work on the farm, and did everything a brighl, 
strong boy could do. When he was twelve years 
old, a man came to his uncle from the woolen mills 
at Preston Hollow, on Catskill Creek, looking for 
a boy as an apprentice. Young Andrew suited and 
it was arranged that he should go anci work In the 
mills, where he was bound to remain five years. 
At this mill the wool was taken just as it was she- 



862 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ared from the sheep and made into finished cloth, 
and he learned the whole business from cleansing- 
carding, dyeing, fulling and pressing tlie cloth. He 
went to the mill early in the morning and the day's 
work was not done until nine o'clock at night. He 
served his full time and was said to be a skillful 
workman, but he never worked another day at cloth- 
making. 

'• Mr. Shadduck left the mill and went to live with 
Dr. Brewster, a farmer and physician. This excellent 
Doctor was one of the truest friends the young man 
had ever found. While he kept him quite hard at 
work on the farm, he still found time to care for 
his intellectual and moral training. He remained 
with this good man and wife five years, receiving 
what was high wages tlien 1*9 per month. Through 
all his life the names of Dr. Brewster and his wife 
were held in loving remembrance and he often 
spoke of them. It was during his stay with them 
that he became a Christian. In the spring of 1832 
Mr. Shadduck went to Genesee County, N. Y., to 
his sister's home, near which he bought a piece of 
limbered land — a part of what was known as the 
Holland Purchase. He worked hard early and 
late, in heat and cold, clearing his land and build- 
ing a house and barn. October 3, 1833, he married 
Sarah French and thej- made their home on the 
new farm until two years had passed. He was then 
told by two men who passed, that his farm was 
sold and title was not good, and this proved to be 
true. 

"This was in the fall of 1835 and the next s|)ring 
Mr. Shadduck decided to go to Michigan and buy 
land there. All his wealth was $50 and while 
crossing Lake Erie he felt that he did not know 
where he was going, only somewhere in the vast 
wilderness of the territory of Michigan. He pray- 
ed earnestly that God would show him where to 
go and he always believed the Lord led him to the 
beautiful location which was home to him for over 
fifty years. He experienced all the hardships of 
pioneer life, the i)rivation and toil of which can 
hardly be realized by the present generation. His 
wife died in 1866 and in 1874 he married Mrs. 
Sarah Nilcs, who died in 1889. During his last 
sickness he demonstrated that deatii shall not sepa- 
rate us from the love of God. He said his soul 



was in perfect peace and he was glad to go and be 
with his Savior. He had lived surrou.nded by his 
sons and daughters, who deeply mourn the loss of 
a loving, generous father. His sons are Dan ford 
ai.d Levi B., and his daughters, Mrs. Phebc Sch- 
nepp, Mrs. Margaret Patterson, Mrs. Marintha 
Strong, Mrs. Jane Nilcs, Mrs. Axella Ring and 
Mrs. Lucina Allen. " 



W. FRASIER, a retired farmer and stock- 
J9*Ol I'aiser of Hazelton Township, Shiawassee 

flii County, residing on section 16, had his 
birthplace in Westford, Cedar County, N. 
Y., May 4, 1820. He is a son of Phillip Frasier. a 
native of New York, born in 1783, and he received 
a common-school education. His wife bore the 
maiden name of Plucbe Robbins and was a daugh- 
ter of John and Phoebe (Hicks) liobbins. They 
were natives of New York and had a family of ten 
children, six of whom were sons and four were 
daughters, Phoibe being the eldest, having been 
born in 1798. 

Phillip and Phoebe Frasier were married in 1812 
and a short time after this interesting event tlie 
young husband left his bride and entered the ser- 
vice of his country in the War of 1812. He served 
in the engagements at Kingston and Cooperstown. 
At one time he was shot across the back but not 
hurt seriously. Six sons and four daughters made 
up their household, of whom our subject is the 
fifth child. He had limited advantages for educa- 
tion and when fifteen years old was allowed to try 
his fortune for himself. He began by working on 
farms and doing teaming. 

In 1844 the young man purchased some land 
which he sold two j'ears later and purchased another 
tract tvhicli he kept until about the time when he 
went to Michigan, when he disposed of it. His 
trip West was made in 1854, coming by way of 
Buffalo to Detroit, and as he brought his own team 
with him he drove from that city to Hazelton. He 
at first ))urchascd eighty acres of school land and 
fterward added forty more on section 21. This 
was all an unbroken forest and the nearest neigh- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



863 



bor east of him was tbree miles distant, but toward 
the south tiiere was a neighbor within two miles. 

During that first fall Mrs. Frasier and Mrs. 
SiJCars, who was her nearest neighbor, took it into 
their heads to make a visit to a cousin of Mrs. 
Frasier who lived five miles away from them 
directly through the forest. This cousin was Mr. 
Job Knight, of New Haven Township, of whom a 
sketch will be found in this book. The ladies look 
an ax in hand and started on their way, blazing 
tlie trees as they went so that they might not get 
lost. The}' made their journey in safety, being 
aided in finding their way by the stakes which had 
been driven by the surveyors to mark the section 
lines. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Frasier have been born four 
children, namely: Susan, George, Alexander and 
Esther. Mr. Frasier is a Democrat in his political 
convictions. Before coming West to live he had 
made a trip down the Oliio River and up the Mis- 
sissippi, where he ascended the Kankakee River 
and selected a farm. He then went on to what is 
now known as Chicago, where at that time the 
steamboat wharf was simplj' a dock made of posts 
driven into the ground and covered with poles 
and slabs. From there he went to what is now 
Saginaw, which compared very favorably then 
with Chicago. From tiierc he went on to Detroit 
and Bufifalo and then returned home. 



^ ^-*^- 



/p^EORGE W. GOSS. one of the old settlers 
r|| (^=-, of Vernon Township, Shiawassee County, 
^^ji|j residing on a fine farm on section 20, was 
born in Lenox 'lownship, Madison County, N. Y., 
October 27, 1829. His father, Joel B. Goss, was a 
native of Ohio, born January 24, 1805. When 
about fourteen years of age he was bound out to 
learn the trade of a blacksmith. At the age of 
twenty three, he w.as married at Oswego, N. Y., to 
Philinda Whitney who was born in New York, 
April 27, 1808. 

The parents of our suljjeet remained for awhile 
in New York and then removed to Oliio in 18.'}2 to 
the village of Millgrove, where for two years he 



carried on the blacksmith's business. At the cud 
of that time he removed to the village of Ra3'mond, 
Jackson County, Mich., wliere for some two years 
he worked at his trade and carried on a meat 
market. 

\'enice Township, Shiawassee County, this State, 
was the next home of Joel 15. Goss, his family be- 
ing the first to move into tliat township. Tliey 
built a log house and establislied tliemselves tiiere 
for two years, and then sold out to Nelson Ferry 
and moved into the north part of the township, and 
partially improved two farms. He then traded 
farms with Mr. C. Wilkerson in Vernon Township, 
and after two years' residence upon that property 
removed to Owosso. After living at various places 
in Shiawassee County, he went South, dying in 
Arkansas, December 14, 1876. He was a prominent 
man in political, social, school and church circles. 
He was a Democrat in his party allilialioiis and was 
Supervisor of Vernon Township for three years 
and Justice of the Peace for a long term. He lield 
both school offices and road offices and was the 
Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He and his worthy wife were the parents of six 
children, five sons and one daughter of whom our 
subject is the eldest. 

He of whom we write was seven years old when 
he came to Michigan with his jiarents and his latest 
school days were spent in District No. 3, Vernon 
Township. When he w?s twenty-one j-ears old he 
undertook indepen(ieiit work as a farmer. After 
his father went South lie had charge of the family. 

She whom he chose as his life companion was 
C'bloe Hovey, the tenth in tlie family of twi^lve 
children of Horace Hove}'. The marriage took 
place Novembers, 1851. Mrs. Gops is a native 
of Manawa}' Township, Portage Count}', Ohio, her 
natal day being April 29, 1838. After marriage the 
young couple made their first home wiiere thoy now 
reside, upon which Mr. Goss has made nearly all 
the improvements. Their five children were named: 
Rebecca, born October 25, 1862, the wife of Wil- 
liam H. Davis, residing in Vernon Township; Laura 
D., born July 22, 1864, the wife of Arthur C. 
Woodward, residing in Schuyler County, N. Y. ; 
(Jeorge F., born August 28, 1 867, married Nettie 
Carry and resides in Vernon; Ellie M., born Sei)lem- 



8G4 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



bar 13, 1873, resides at liome. Tiie oldest child, 
Hiittie E., born April?, 1857, died June 16, 1862, 
in hor early cliiidliood. 

Mr. Goss lias one liundrcd and seventy acres of 
finely improved land, one hundred and forty of 
whicii are under cultivation. Here he carries on 
general farming and keeps a large flock of sheep. 
He was Townshii) Treasurer in 1857 and 1858, and 
has been (School Director and Assessor besides 
holding some road offices. He has been Class- 
Leader for thirty years in the Methodist Episcop il 
Ciiurch and is Steward in the same. He has been 
Church Trustee and Sui)erintendent of Sundaj-- 
school several times and is an active worker and 
a liberal contributor to church purposes. His wife 
and daughter are also active in church work. Mrs. 
Goss is the tenth in family of twelve children, all 
of whom grew to man's and woman's estate. It is 
a curious fact tiiat in tlie order of their birtii tliej^ 
came as follows: Three daughters and one son; 
three daughters and one son; and three daughters 
and one son. The parents of Mr. Goss were mem- 
bers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church that 
was formed in the count^^ of Sliiuwassee. and 
their daughter was the first that died in the town- 
shi)) of Venice and the second that was buried in 
in the cemetery. 



-4^^f^- 




^,OAH LONG. Among the fine "farms in 
Venice Township, Sliiawassee County, that 
on section 6, belonging to Noah Long is one 
of the best. Our subject, though not a native of 
this State might be called a pioneer, having moved 
here at an early day. He has experienced many 
of the hardships incident to pioneer lifo an<l his 
stay here lias not been devoid of adventure lliat 
has its exciting and frequently ludicrous side. 

Our sul>ject's father was Noah Long, a native of 
rennsylvauia, in wiiich State he was a farmer. His 
mother was Elizabeth (Burge) I^ong, a native of 
German^'. Tliey were married in Pennsylvania 
and tiiore resided a number of years. They then 
removed to Ashland Count}', Oliio, in which State 
thej- were pioneers. There Ihe^' made a permanent 



home and full}' improved the farm on which they 
located before tlie death of the father which oc- 
curred in 1854. His wife survived him a number 
of years, slie dying in 1870. Thirteen children 
came to them and were at once their joy and care. 
Five of this number are now living. The family 
were members of the Wesleyan Church. In [)oli- 
tics Noah Long, Sr., was a Wiilg. 

The original of our sketch was born February 
15, 1825 in Ashland County, Ohio, where he at- 
tendeil the district school and in vacations and out 
of school hours doing tiie work upon the farm that 
is understood to belong to a farmer lad. lie re- 
mained at home until twent3'-one years of age, get- 
ting from his father a good knowledge of practical 
farming. At twent3'-two years he started out for 
himself, working for others by the month. 

In 1847 Mr. Long was united in marri.age to 
Emeline Fox, a daughter of Aruna and Ruth (Smith) 
Fox, both of whom were natives of Massacliusetts 
in which State the}' were married and tlien removed 
to Wayne Count}-, Ohio, where they settled upon a 
rudely imjjroved farm. There they made a per- 
manent home, bending their efforts toward cultiva- 
tion of the farm and the production of crops tiiat 
would give an income tliat would sustain life. 
The father died in 1840, the mother in 1872. They 
were the parents of five children, two of wiiom 
only are now living. The mother had united her- 
self with the Presbyterian Church. Politically, 
the father was a Whig. Their daughter, Mrs. 
Long, was born January 13, 1832, in Massacliu- 
setts and was an infant when taken to Ohio. There 
she received the advantages of a district-school 
education. After marriage our subject and his 
wife lived in Ohio for two years and in 1850 came 
to Shiawassee County, this State, and settled u[)on 
one hundred and sixty acres where they now live. 
The country was raw and new, the nearest road 
was at a distance of three miles from their home 
and there was no scliool house nearer than live miles. 
They were surrounded with dense woods whicli 
were penetrated by no roads for years after their 
advent hither. There were plenty of Indians and 
wild animals. 

Their first home was a small shanty which Mr. 
Long himself built. When they first came to the 



1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



865 



State they had very little money and that was spent 
for only the necessities of life. The first year Mr. 
Long chopped three acres and planted it in corn. 
As he had no proper implements he was obliged to 
use an old ax in his planting. Since that time he 
has chopped and cleareil one hundred acres of his 
Land. 

For four j'ears our subject had no help outside 
of his own hands, his fust investment in a beast of 
burden being an ox-team. The country was sparsely 
settled for ^-ears and frequently they saw very hard 
times. In those da^s he frecpienlly carried one 
* hundred pounds of meal from Corunna through 
the woods for a distance of six miles to his shanty 
on his shoulder. He used to split rails and in the 
absence of horse and cart carry them where he 
wanted them on his shoulders. The largest trees 
in wiiat is now a very fine orchard, Mrs. Long 
raised from ihe seeds. 

The first log iiouse built by Mr. and Mrs. Long 
is thirty-five j'eavs old and yet stands. Two years 
ago he built his present residence which is a com- 
fortable and commodious house. They now have 
one hundred and twenty acres, all of which is im- 
proved and besides have helped their sons to make [ 
a start in life. Mr. Long no longer carries on his 
farm, renting it out to a good tenant. Nine chil- 
dren have come to the Long home to make it re- 
sound with their merr^' voices. Eight of these are 
now living. The3' arc: Taylor Lorg, who took to 
wife Lydia Angus and resides in Clicsaning, Sag- 
inaw County, this State; the^- have six children. 
Ruth, wife of George Pearsall, lives on section 7, 
Venice Township and has seven children; Martin, 
who was uniteil in marriage to Cora Simons lives 
in Vernon and has one child; Ezra, who is married 
to Elva Escott, lives on section 7; Ida is the wife 
of Elba Pcmber and lives in Ohio: she li.as one 
child. Myron married Annie Castle and lives on 
the home farm; his familjr comprises two children. 
Elva is the wife of Kred Stewart and lives in the 
State of Washington. Minnie is the wife of George 
Chavey and lives in Caledonia Township. The 
children have all received the advantages offered 
by a district school. Mrs. Long is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Long is a 
Republican in politics. When the family came 



here there were twenty-four voters in \'enice Town- 
ship, lie has been ajtpointed to the oflice of Road 
Overseer which post he has held for a dozen years, 
during which lime he has done efficient service, 
remembering well from earl^' experience the great 
disadvantage that poor roads make in a country. 
Although advanced in years, both Mr. and Mrs. 
Long enjoy good heallli and the [jrospecls are that 
the)' will live to be useful and ellicicnt members of 
societ}' for many years longer. 

Mrs. Long tells an interesting stor}- of her eldest 
son who was lost in the great forest when he was 
quite a small boy. 



§0L. EDGAR P. BYERLY, oneof the veter- 
ans of the Civil War and now Justice of the 
Peace of Owosso, w.as born in Westmoreland 
County, Pa., near Pittsburg, November, 10, 1812. 
He is a son of Adam H. and Jane (Brush) Byerl)', 
both natives of Westmoreland County, Pa., in 
which they were reared and married. The father was 
of German and Irish extraction and the mother of 
Scotch descent. The father was a merchant, bank- 
er and farmer and died in his sixty-eighth. year. 
He is the son of Jacob Byerly who was also a nat- 
ive of Pennsylvania and born in the same county 
as our subject in which county also was born Rob- 
ert Brush, the maternal grandfather. 

In 1849 Adam H. Byerly removed with his fam- 
ily to Eagle River, Lake Superior, Michigan, in 
which he settled and helped to organize the coiintv 
of Houghton and was Superintendent of the ClilT 
Mine, owned by the Pittsburg and Boston Mining 
Co. He then managed the business of the com- 
pany up to the year 1854. when he removed to 
Owosso and helped lo organize the First National 
Bank. He was a stockholder and director at the 
time of his death which occurred in March, 1885, 
when he was sixty-three years old. 

Edgar P. Byerly was the oldest of the three sons 
and two daughters in his parental home. Part of 
his school days were passed at I'ittsburg, p.nrt of 
them in Lake Superior and the remainder in Owosso. 
In 18C1 he became messenger for the American 



866 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Express Company on the Amboy, Lansing iVr Trav- 
erse Bay Railroad, continuing in this worlv for a 
year. 

The military experience of our subject began in 
July, 1862, when lie enlisted in the Fourth Michigan 
Cavalry under Col. Minty. The regiment was as- 
signed to the army of the Cumberland and took 
part in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga. 
He remained with his regiment until December 8, 
1863, at which time he was transferred and pro- 
moled, being commissioned as First Lieutenant in 
the Tenth Michigan Cavalry and the following year 
he was made Ca))tain in the same regiment. He 
remained with this regiment until the expiration 
of its term of service, receiving his discharge Nov- 
ember 11, 1865. 

Upon his return to Owosso, Capt. Byerly em- 
barked in the mercantile business in which he con- 
tinued until 1874 during which period he was en- 
gaged in breeding fine roadsters and trotting horses. 
For eight years he served as Alderman for the 
Third Ward, and was Deputy Sheriff for eight 
3'ears and Deputy United States Marshal for four 
years during the administrations of Garfield and 
Arthur. On February 1, 1891, he was appointed 
Colonel on Gov. Winan's Staff, Aid-de-camp and 
Treasurer of the State Military Board. 

Col. Byerly was married January 28, 1875, to 
Miss Martha F. Decker, of Owosso, ]\Iich., who 
was a native of the Empire State. Col. Byerly 's 
political views lead him to affiliate with the Demo- 
cratic party. He is a member of the (^)uackenbush 
I'ost, No. 205, G. A. R., also of the Loyal League 
of the State. 

— ^^^m- — 

£\ RS. LAURA A. PATRIDGE, owner of the 
extensive Patridge dairy farm, two miles 
north of the city of Owosso, is a lady of 
many admirable characteristics, and one 
who is doing much to build up the interests of her 
adopted home as is evidenced by the extent and 
magnitude of her farm. This most desirable prop- 
erty is considered by those competent to judge to 
be the handsomest and finest farm in the .State of 
Michigan. It is certainly a model farm in appear- 




ance, accommodation and conveniences. The two 
hundred acre tract lies along the east shore of the 
Shiawassee River and consists of gently undulating 
fields of grain and meadow land. The most com- 
manding spot was selected as the site for building 
the home, and few farms can boast of so extensive 
or admirably arranged dwellings and barns. Build- 
ings have been erected at a cost of upwards of 
112,000 and the immense stock barns are supplied 
with every convenience that modern ingenuity can 
devise. The farm is now devoted to the dairying 
interests, and about thirty cows are milked regu- 
larly, over three hundred quarts of milk constitut- 
ing the yield. 

This lady is a daughter of Arnold D. and Mary 
J. (Milks) Pierce and was born at West Seneca, 
Erie County, N. Y., September 29, 1850. Her 
father's family is one of much historical promin- 
ence and is traced in unbroken lines back for six 
hundred years. Her fatlier is still living at Buffalo, 
N. Y., at the age of seventy- five years. His other 
child, Herbert, lives near that cit}'; Susan M, the eld- 
est daughter died in 1874. 

Our subject was married December 7, 1869, at 
at Willink, N. Y., to AVorthy M. Patridge, a native 
of Hamburg, N. Y. They resided at West Seneca 
until they came to Michigan in November, 1887. 
Mr. Patridge visited this region and had been 
much impressed with the location and beauty of 
this land, and after returning to New York Mrs. 
Patridge's father purchased it and presented it to 
his daughter. For four years she has made this 
her home and her kindly disposition and willing 
hands have endeared her to hundreds of friends. 

She was happy in the enjoyment of all that could 
make life delightful until the family circle was per- 
vaded by a sense of unrest, which resulted in an es- 
trangement between herself and her husband, who 
now live apart. Her daughter, Carrie Dell, who is 
loyal to her mother's affection and interests makes 
her home with that parent, and her husband, Mr. 
G. Mason Getuian, is the ellicient overseer of the 
affairs of the farm. Miss Susie is also with her 
mother. 

Mrs. Getman first saw the light May 9, 1872, 
and was married January 14, 1890. Her husband 
was born October 27, 1866, and is a son of George 



/ 





(n 




0~y\ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



869 



H. Getman and Ellen C. (Sniitli) Getman. His 
parents at one time owned this beautiful property 
but are now residents of Warner, S. Dak. One 
child, Mattie Belle, born October 24, 1890, is the 
crowning blessing of this union. Mrs. Patridge is 
a lady of culture and refinement and a noble woman. 
She has great capacity to enjo}' and her aspirations 
have no half way ground. She has hosts of warm 
friends and admirers and is a marked character in 
Owosso Township. 






'=r^ 



S^* 




'|/_^ ART L. UPTON. Perhaiis no better repre- 
)|) sentative of the agricultural community of 
Clinton County can be found than in the 
subject of this biograpluc.il notice, whose 
portrait is presented on the opposite page. It may 
be doubted if the entire county contains a more 
public-spirited, intelligent and eltieient farmer, or 
one who has always taken a greater interest in 
everything calculated to advance the good of the 
communitj'. He has ever manifested an interest in 
those movements which would advance the mater- 
ial prosperit3' or elevate the intellectual status of 
the community', and his influence has alwa3's been 
on the side of right and justice. lie has a farm on 
section 10, Victor Township, which, although not 
containing a large acreage, is one of the best im- 
proved in the community. 

Before giving an outline of the main events in 
the life of Mr. Upton it may not be amiss to briefly 
mention his lineage. His paternal grandparents, 
Elias and Esther (Newell) Upton, were natives of 
RLassachusctts. The maternal grandparents were 
Josiab and Triphena (Newell) Hathaway, the for- 
mer a soldier in the War of the Revolution. The 
immediate progenitors of our subject were Elias 
and Triphena (Hathaway) Upton, both natives of 
Heath, Franklin County, Mass. They knew each 
other from childhood and spent most of their lives 
in their native count}'. They came to Michigan in 
1857 and passed their last da3S in the liomc of 
a son, James, in Clinton County. The fatiier was 
a soldier in the War of 1812, and in politics was 
first a Whig and later a Republican. He and h's 



wife were members of the Congregational Church. 
Although the}' never accumulated wealth they were 
enabled to live in comfort and pass their declining 
years quietly and happily. 

The family of which our subject was a member 
comprised eleven children, namely: Triphena, Em- 
ily, Sarah, James, Josiah, Hart L.. Hannah, John, 
Martha, Roswell and Caroline. They are all living 
excepting John and Martha. Hart L., of this sketch, 
was born in Heath, Franklin County, Mass,. June 
23, 1827, and remained with his father upon the 
homestead in Alassachusclts until he re.ached his 
majority. Later he was for six years employed in 
a scythe snath factory, and afterward commenced 
to farm upon the old homestead. There he fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits for a few years, but 
wishing to try life in the farther West he removed 
to "N^ictor Township, Ontario County, N. Y., and 
worked on a farm there for eighteen months. 

In 1856, in company with his brother James, 
our subject came to Michigan and bought the farm 
where he now lives. Soon after he located here 
he built the house which is still his home. About 
seventy of his ninety-three acres are in a high state 
of cultivation and he has given his entire attention 
to the improvement of the land. All the present 
embellishments are the result of his judgment, and 
his character is shown in the efforts he has made 
to rerider his home attractive as well as remunera- 
tive. 

In December, 1863, Mr. I'pton joined the army 
as a private in Company I, Twenty -seventh Michi- 
gan Infantry. It first wintered with the army of 
the Eastern Tennessee under Gen. Burnside in the 
Ninth Army Corps. The following spring the 
regiment joined the Army of the Potomac in which 
it continued until the close of the war, being mus- 
tered out near Washington City, July 26,1865. He 
received his final discharge in Detroit, August 7, 
of the same year, .iraong the important engage- 
ments in which he participated were the following: 
the Wilderness, Spoltsylvania Court House, North 
Anna River, Bethsaida Church and Cold Harbor. 
At the last mentioned place he w.as put on detached 
duty but was soon afterward taken sick and for 
five months was confined in tiie hospital in Ports- 
mouth Grove, R. I. In Febiunry, 1865, he joined 



870 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the regiment at Pelerslmrg, Va., but lias never 
regained liis former liealUi and since lie left the ser- 
vice has been debarred from manual labor, in con- 
sequence of which he draws a pension of ^3U per 
month. 

In politics our subject is an ardent Republican 
and cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fre- 
mont. He has never held office, preferring domes- 
tic quiet to the excitement of political life. 
Socially, he is a member of the Henry Damming 
Post, No. 192, G. A. R., at L-iingsburg. On Octo- 
ber 7, 1«52, he married Miss Nancy Dole, of Ash- 
field Township, Franklin County, Mass.; this esti- 
mable lady was born in Shelburne Township, 
Franklin County, Mass., October 4, 1832, and is 
the daughter of Orpheus and Polly (Thair) Dole, 
both natives of Franklin County, M.ass. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Upton have been born three children, 
one of whom survives, Fred R., a fasmer, who 
married Miss Elva Troop and has two children, 
Ruth and Leroy. Minnie S., deceased, was the 
wife of George Grove and left one son, Bert H. 
The son Dean died in infancy. 




MIOMAS W. BALDWIN, a prominent ex- 
soldier of the Civil War, and Supervisor of 
Olive Township, Clinton County, for eight 
years past, was born in Ogden Township, Monroe 
County N. Y., March 19, 1842. His father, Elon 
W. Baldwin, emigrated from New York to Ply- 
mouth, Sheboygan County, Wis., where he died in 
1852, at the age of thirty-four years. He was a 
man of powerful frame and great muscular strength 
but this very fact made him somewhat reckless in 
his exertions and he strained himself in lifting a 
heavy burden and his death was the result. He 
was one of the first settlers in that section of the 
country, and he had to go sixteen miles through 
the woods with an ox-team to Sheboygan to buy 
his provisions. He laid out the cemetery and was 
the first man to be buried in it. He occupied the 
responsible position of Supervisor of his townshij). 
Cynthia S. Webster was the wife of Klon W. 



Baldwin and the mother of our subject. She is a 
native of New York and is still living at the good 
old ago of seventy-five years. Five of her chil- 
dren are yet living, of whom our subject is the 
eldest. Lie received a common school education, 
such as could be obtained in the pioneer log school- 
house. He was an apt scholar and [)lanned to take 
a college course, but when the war broke out he 
enlisted in the service of the country. He had, 
however, spent one year in the institute at Parma 
Corners, jMonroe County, N. Y., which was taught 
by Prof. Clark, the author of Clark's Gram- 
mar. 

The 3'oung man enlisted August 20, 18C2 in the 
Third New York Cavalry, Company A, umler Col. 
Sira^n Mix. He took part in the battles of Kings- 
ton, Goldboroiigh and Yarboro. He partici[)aled 
in the great raid of Wilson's Cavalry in Norlh 
Carolina and Virginia and was taken [jrisoncr near 
Richmond, October 4, 18G4, having been entirely 
surrounded by a detachment of Longstreet's di- 
vision. He was at this time Sergeant and had 
charge of a line of pickets. He spent tlie first 
night in Richmond and the following d.ay was re- 
moved to Salisbury Prison, where he was confined 
for five long months. A part of the time while he 
was there the prisoners numbered ten thousand. 
Little was given them except corn bread, and now 
and then a weak imitation of rice soup. When he 
was finally released he weighed onl^- seventy 
pounds. While he was a prisoner one attempt was 
made to escape, but it proved unsuccessful. He 
was excused by the surgeons fiom further service, 
and reached home in June. 18G5. He had enlisted 
as a private and was promoted to various ollicial 
positions. 

Our young hero came to Clinton County in 1.SG8, 
and located in the woods in Olive Township, i)ur- 
chasing a farm where he how resides. Not a tree 
had been cut on this land and the entire country 
was a wilderness, where deer and other wild game 
abounded. The marriage of our subject with 
Marion A. Smallcy, of New York, took place in 
18G6. She was a native of Parma Township, Mon- 
roe County, N. Y. Mr. Baldwin is a Democrat in 
his political views and has been a delegate to 
county'. Senatorial and Congressional conventions. 



PORTRAfT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



871 




and takes an active part in local politics. He 
served as Drainage Commissioner one year, Clerk, 
three years, and Supervisor for eight years. He 
was also for one year. Chairman of the County 
Board. He has been a candidate for the Legisla- 
ture but as his party was in the minority lie was 
unsuccessful. He is a member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic and was the first Master of the 
Clinton County Grange and also of the suliordin- 
ate Grange, which position he lield for several 
years. 



ENRY PEACH. A "hustler," is the term 
that is used by bis neighbors to describe 
this industrious, enterprising and successful 
}i^) young farmer whose beautiful farm and 
elegant home are so great an ornament to the 
Townsiiip of Antrim, Shiawassee County. He was 
born in Newberg, Shiawassee County, November 
C, 1854. His father was an Englishman, being 
born in Somersetshire in 1828. He served for 
seven years as an apprentice at tailoring and after- 
wards worked at his trade in England but came to 
America and located at Pontiac, Oakland Count}', 
this State, in the hopes of doing better at his chosen 
calling. He subsequently removed his shop and his 
home to Newberg, which was then a thriving town, 
and in 1858 he purchased forty acres on section 34, 
Shiawassee Township, which was at the time com- 
pletely covered with heavy timber, and here he 
began his first experience in farming. 

The father cleared and improved his little farm, 
adding to it from time to time as his means would 
permit, and at his death in 1883, he owned two 
hundred acres of land in a highly improved con- 
dition. He had been for some 3'ears a member of 
the Christian Church, and was a prominent and 
entori)rising man and one highly respected. He 
was not onl}' res|)ected but beloveil, for lie showed 
his good will to his neighbors by "lending them a 
hand" whenever it was in his power to do so. His 
faithful wife, Susan Woodtliorp, a native of Lin- 
colnshire, England, is still living and two of hci- 
four children also survive the father. 

The subject of this sketch took his early training 



on the farm and in the district school, and remained 
at home until he reached the age of twenty-two, 
after which he took charge of the homestead for 
several years, but purchased bis present farm on 
section 3, in 1877. After this he carried on both 
farms for a time. 

Henry Peach was united in marriage with Louisa 
Elsworth in December, 1876. This lady was born 
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and is the daughter of 
Aaron and Juliet (Clinton) Elsworth, both of Ohio, 
who came to Michigan and settled in Shiawassee 
County in the early days. Both are yet living and 
are engaged in carrying on farming. Two children 
Eva and Emma, have come to bless the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Peach. The beautiful home which 
he erected in 1884, is one of the most attractive in 
the township, and the other farm buildings attest 
the thorough management of the sj'Stematic farmer. 
His largest barn which was erected in 1879 and the 
other which was built in 1882 are both commodi- 
ous and capacious. He raises fine stock, especially 
sheep and has one of the best flocks in the town- 
ship. He is a Republican in politics and a man who 
is interested in public alTairs. 



UjILLIAM IL PHELPS was born on the old 
homestead, section 20, Shiawassee Town- 
^^' ship. May 6, 1814, and is one of two chil- 
dren who were born to his jiarents. His earl}- life 
was spent at home in preparing for his manhood's 
career. He enjoyed all the educational advan- 
tages common to that time and was ha[)py on the 
home place until he reached the age of twent3'-onc. 
In December, 1804, he joined a company at Michigan 
Citj- and was one of the Mechanics' Corps from 
Chicago, under Capl. Lewis Niles, in the War of 
the Rebellion. The company was sent to Nash- 
ville, where our subject was engaged in liuilding 
breastworks and such other work as would be inci- 
dent to the duties of the l\[ecliaiiics' Corps. While 
thus engaged he was taken sick at Nashville, where 
he lay for a short time in the hospital, being ill with 
typhoid fever. He was discharged and brought 
home on a bed, ,Iunc 15, 1805. 



872 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



During Mr. Phelps' early life, while at home on 

a farm, in the winters he flid the cooking for the 
men in his father's lumber camp, for his father was 
largely engageii in getting out timber on his own 
laud in Genesee Connt3'. After his return from 
the war he rented a farm for a period of three 
years, having united himself in marriage, July 3, 
1865, to Miss Edna Hendee, of Venice. She was a 
daugiiler of William B. and Sophia (Potter) Hen- 
dee, who are still living in the village of Vernon. 
Mrs. Phelps' family' settled in Shiawassee Countj- 
about 1850, having formerly lived in New York, 
the father being a native of Vermont. The mother 
was born in New York. 

Mr. Phelps was engaged for the three j-ears in 
which he rented his farm in supplying lumber 
camps with feed and provisions in Saginaw County. 
He also dealt in feed, flour, hay, etc., sometimes 
supplying as raan^' as twelve camps. He was also 
the proprietor of a feed store at St. Charles, of 
which he and his father were partners for three 
years. In the fall of 1867 he bought the farm 
upon which he at present resides, the same that his 
grandfather, .lames Phelps, had settled upon in 1833, 
this land having passed through five transfers in 
the meantime. The original barn erected by his 
grandfather is still standing. The farm at first 
contained forty acres, but now has one hundred. 
In 1876 Mr. Phelps erected a comfortable and 
attractive nine-room house, which makes a most 
delightful dwelling for his family and it is a 
most inviting meeting-place for his many friends. 
He is at the present time devoting himself to gen- 
eral farming. He has good stock, among which 
are many fine thoroughbred Jersey cattle. 

Our subject is a Republican in his political pref- 
erence and has usually been sent as a delegate to 
the State Conventions. He is not, however, in any 
sense a politician and has refused all olliccs that 
have been offered him. He and his wife are active 
members of the Maple River Baptist Church. He is a 
Prohibitionist, but not in favor of a third party. 
No children have ever made their advent into the 
famil3% but Mrs. Phelps has assisted in the rearing 
of her sister, Lena 1). Hendee, who lived with them 
from tliirteen years of age until her marriage, which 
occurred October 21, 1883. She is now Mrs. Or- 



son Sugden, of Shiawassee County. William Rose 
has also been a member of the familj- from the age 
of twelve 3'cars until he had attained to his twen- 
tietii j'ear. He is now a resident of Hazleton. 



'• ' ^5- 



':^ 



^1 OSEPH H. BOBBINS, of the Bobbins Table 
Company, Owosso, is one of the best known 
citizens of that city. The works of tliis 
company were started in 1873 upon a small 
scale by Benjamin F. Bobbins and his son, Joseph 
H. They were at first located on State Street and re- 
moved to their present location,in 1878,on the corner 
of West Main and Bobbins Streets. In 1885 his 
father died and he took his sou, Joseph, Jr., into 
partnership. At that time the present firm known 
as the Bobbins Table Company was formed. The}' 
are well- placed and have a fine outfit, availing 
themselves of all the latest improvements in ma- 
chinery' and the best methods of transacting busi- 
ness. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Alleghanj- 
County, N. Y. February 13, 1844. He is the 
3'oungest son of Benjamin F. and Mar^- A. 
(Rideout) Bobbins, both of whom were natives of 
New York. The Bobbins' ancestr}- is Scotch and 
the Bideout family came from Holland originally. 
The parents of our subject had six children, onl^y 
Joseph H. surviving. His schooldays were spent 
in his native county until he reached the age of sev- 
C'lteen years, after which he drifted West, traveling 
through several States. 

In 1868 he came to Owosso and there learned the 
trade of a cabinet-maker witii N. H. Robinson, and 
worked at this trade until 1873, when he began tiie 
manufacture of tables. As his business has in- 
creased he has extended its works and increased its 
capacitj'. His main building is 40x100 feet in di- 
mensions and is two stories in height. It has two 
wings, 36x80 feet, and is all heated b\- steam. The 
machinery is driven b}- an engine of fifty-four- 
horse power. He employ's forty-five men the year 
round and his output of tables is on an aveiage of 
about two hundred a week, for which he finds a 
ready sale. His tables enjoy a reputation of su- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



873 



pcrior style ami finish and it is with ditliculty he 
can supply the demand as fast as the orders come 
in. 

Mr. Roljliins was married in 1866 to Miss Knima 
Jones, of Waupiin, AVis. Tliis lady is a daughter 
of William M. Jones and is a native of New York. 
To their happj' home five children have come, 
namely': Joseph H., Jr., Charlena D., who is book 
keepei' -for her father; Evora H.; Elbert W. ; and 
Benjamin P. Mr. Robbins has served for the past 
eight years as Alderman for the Fourtli Ward. 
He is a Republican in his political convictions and 
earnestly supports that p.art}'. 



^ ^ 



(i=T'RANK WE8TC0TT, the efficient Postmas- 
l^lgi ter of Vernon, Shiawassee County-, and the 
l^ owner of a hardware store at that place, is 
.accounted one of the leading business men of the 
community. The history of his life is as follows: 
He was born in Genesee County, Mich., on the 26th 
of December, 1852, and is a son of A. F. Westcott, 
ft native of New York, born in Jefferson County, 
April 26, 1829. His father is a tinsmith by trade, 
and throughout the greater part of his life has fol- 
lowed that business. He first came to Jlichigan in 
1850, and located in Pontiac, Oakland County, 
where he worked .as a tinner until his removal to 
Flint. He embarked in business for himself in 
Byron, Shiawassee County-, and located in Vernon 
in 1861, establishing a tin shop at that place. He 
is industrious and is an enterprising business man, 
who by his own efforts has made all that he now 
possesses. It was not long after he had located in 
this county before hie fellow-townsmen recognized 
his wortii and ability, and called upon him to fill 
a number of public offices of honor and trust. He 
has served as Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, 
President of the Village Board, and for the long 
term of twenty years was Vernon's popular Posl- 
m.aster. As a public official he has proved true to 
every dut)' devolving upon him, and won the con- 
fidence and high regard not only of his friends but 
of those opposed to him politically. He supports the 
Republican party at the liallot box, and socially is 



a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows. On the Itli of July, 18.o2, Mr. Westcott suf- 
fered tlie loss of an arm, two fingers and an eye 
by the premature discharge of a cannon while en- 
gaged in aiding in the celebration. He now resides 
on a farm in Vernon Township, and is one of the 
honored and highly respected citizens of the com- 
munity. 

The wife of A. F. Westcott and the mother of 
our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Catherine 
E. Stone. She was born in Jefferson County, N. 
Y., March 22, 1834, a'.id belongs to a family noted 
for longevity. Her father, Solon Stone, who was 
born in Massachusetts, on the 19th of March, 1801, 
is now living at the advance<l .ige of ninety years, 
and still retains his mental and physical faculties 
to a remarkable degree. He resides witli his daugh- 
ter in Vernon Township. His mother reached the 
extreme old age of ninety-six years. The family 
of Mr. and Mrs. Westcott numbers three children, 
two sons and a daughter. 

The eldest and the only surviving child is our 
subject. His entiie life has been spent in this 
State, and under the parental roof he remained un- 
til sixteen years of age, when he began clerking in 
a hardware store. Subsequently he was emploj'ed 
as a salesman in a drug store for four years and 
while serving in that capacity gained the exj eri- 
enee which has proved of such benefit to him in 
his after life. He embarked in business for him- 
self in 1874, in connection with his father on a 
very small scale but so well has he succeeded and 
so rapidly has his business grown that be now car- 
ries a stock valued at -$3,000. He possesses the 
essential characteristics of success, is enteri)rising 
and progressive, sagacious and far-sighted, courte- 
ous in manner and fair in all liis dealings. 

In 1875, Mr. Westcott was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Mary E. Porter, a native of this Stale, 
born in Macomb County, June 22, 1856. She is 
the youngest of a family of eight children. By 
her marri.agc one child has l)een l)orn, a daughter, 
Nellie E., born July 21, 1883. This worthy couple 
rank high in the social world, having many warm 
friends throughout the community, and their home 
is the abode of hospitality. Mr. Westcott Is one of 
the iirominent citizens of Vernon, favorably known 



874 



rORTKAIT Ai^D BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




both in social and business circles. He bas the 
interests of the village at beart, and liberally aids 
in all enterpdses calculated to upbuild and benefit 
the communitj' or promote the general welfare. In 
politics he is a stanch Republican, and has held the 
office of Clerk of the Village Board. For twenty 
years his father filled the position of Postmaster. 
In 1889 Frank Westcott was appointed Postmaster; 
he displaj's the same fidelity and promptness in the 
discharge of everj- duly that characterized his fa- 
ther's administration and is justly- popular. In his 
social relations he is au Odd Fellow and also a 
member of the Knight of the Maccabees, of Ver- 
non. 

^AVHJ L. PUEGLE, the popular and effi 
cicnt Supervisor of Grcenbush Township, 
Clinton County, represents one of the 
early families of this locality and is worth- 
ily succeeding his father in the duties of a farmer 
and citizen. He is a veteran of the Civil War and 
as such commands the respect of lovers of their 
country wherever he meets them. His home is on 
section 12, of the township named, and the property- 
that be owns and operates there consists of eighty 
acres supplied with various improvements, such as 
fit it for the residence of a family' who enjoy home 
comfort and social pjeasures. 

Before sketching the life of our subject we will 
make brief mention of his progenitors. His pater- 
nal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
His father, Isaac Eacgle, was born in Morris County, 
N. J., January 27, 180G. and married Jane Night- 
ser. In 1835 he emigrated to Ohio and for a 
number of years his home was in Knox County. 
Late in the '40s he made a second remov.il, travel- 
ing with a team and wagon to Clinton County, this 
State, and consuming some thirteen days in the 
journey. The family spent the first winter in 
Essex Townsliip, coming to Grcenbush Township 
in the S[iring of 1849 and settling in the woods on 
section 11. AVliite settlers were still few and 
Indians were the principal neighbors of the Eaegle 
family. The hardships incidental to pioneer life 
were endureil by lliem and they are able to recall 



verj' vividly the scenes of those daj's. For many 
years Mr. Eaegle served as Justice of the Peace 
and his decisions were based upon the broad law of 
justice and brotherly kindness. Politically, he was 
a stanch Republican. His family consisted of nine 
children, those now living being David L., John 
L., William, Abram, Isaac X. and Mary E. 

David L. Eaegle was born in Morris County, N. 
J., April 6, 1833, and was scarcely more than an 
infant when his parents went to Ohio. He came to 
this .State when al)out fifteen j'ears old and attained 
to his majority here, taking a part in the develop- 
ing processes in which his father was engaged, and 
adding to his education whenever circumstances 
permitted. The schools of the time did not afford 
opportunities for extended stud}' but in the ground 
work of English education the pupils were thor- 
oughly taught. In his early manhood our subject 
went to Whiteside Count}', 111., to work on a farm 
and when the war broke out he enlisted there, en- 
rolling his name in the Ui'ion Army, August 7, 
1861, and becoming a member of Company B, 
Thirt}'- fourth Illinois Infantry. 

The first real battle in which Mr. Eaegle fought 
was Shiloh, which occurred on the anniversary of 
his birth, April 6, 1862. It was not the way in 
which he was accustomed to celebrate, but he was 
willing to make an exception, as he full}' realized 
the nation's need. Soon after he was engaged at 
.Stone River, and during the battle there he and 
fifteen comrades were ca[)tured by the rebels and 
taken to Libby Prison, where the}' passed several 
months in confinement. After enduring the usual 
hardships of prison life Mr. Eaegle was paroled and 
sent to Annapolis to await exchange. He finally 
returned to his company and regiment and subse- 
quently took part in the battles of Mission Ridge, 
Resaca, Ga., and Bentonville and made one of 
the gallant sixty thousand who marched with 
Sherman to the sea. On the 23d of December, 1863 
he had veteranized, re-entering the service in the 
same company and regiment in which he had first 
gone to the front. He enlisted as a private and 
passed through the various stages of promotion to 
the rank of First Lieutenant, receiving his com- 
mission as such from Gov. Oglesby of Illinois, 
November 7, 1864. At the conclusion of the war 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



875 



lie took |)arl in the Graiul Review at Washington 
and not long after returned to this State, having 
received his discbarge .Inly 18, 18()5. 

Mr. Eaegle secured a companion in life June 10, 
18G6, being married on tliatd.iy to Carrie C. Tripp, 
a daughter of Edwin anil Margaret Tripp, early 
settlers of Clinton County. Mrs. P^aegle's mother 
is still living iu (ireenbush Township. To ]\Ir. 
and Jlrs. Eaegle there have been born three chil- 
dren, one of whom, Elza E., is deceased. The 
living are Linnic J., and Lielle, the former now the 
wife of C. A. Putt. The daugiiters have been care- 
fully instructed by their mother, who is a lady of 
more than ordiuar}- intelligence, and both parents 
have made it their aim to prepare them as well as 
possible for useful careers in life. 

Mr. Eaegle is now filling his second term as 
Township .Supervisor and in former 3ears he has 
been Treasurer three terms and Highway Commis- 
sioner one term. He is an enterprising, public- 
spirited man and a valued member of society. He 
is connected with the Masonic order and the Grand 
Army of the Republic and easts his vote with the 
Republican part}-. Mrs. Eaegle is a member in good 
standing of the Evangelical Church and is highly 
esteemed by her acquaintances. 



W EWIS BRYANT. This well-known resi- 
ffS) dent of Clinton County has been carrying 

^ on the work of an agriculturist here for 

man}' years, and has made a good living, and, 
what is far better, has won the regard of his ac- 
quaintances by his upright life. He is one of those 
to whom the present development of Essex Town- 
ship is largely due, having brought a tract of land 
under cultivation, and borne a part in the toils and 
privations to which all early settlers were subject. 
His estate consist of eighty acres on section 1, and 
bears good buildings, adequate for every need, and 
the other improvements that befit it. The farm 
work is carried on according to approved and tried 
methods, and results in line crops and a conse- 
quently satisfactory income. 

The birtliiilace of Mr. IJryant was Seneca Count}', 



N. Y., and the date of the event September 17, 
1825. His parents are John and Anne (Hodge) 
Bryant, natives of New York and Connecticut re- 
spectively, and now living in this State. The 
mother, who is with her son, is in her eiglit}--fifth 
year, and the father, whose home is in Clenaugh 
County, is two years older. Of the nine children 
born to them there are five living beside our sub- 
ject, namely: Daniel, Mrs. Louisa Phillips, Mrs. 
Jane Barret, Mrs. Mary Gardner, John and Helen. 
In 1841 the [larents came to Michigan and located 
in Washtenaw County, where they resided a num- 
ber of years. After making their home in other 
places they finally came to Clinton County. 

Our subject received but a limited education, his 
attendance being confined to the schools kept in 
the primitive log cabins of his youthful days, and 
he is mainly self-educated. Like many another 
man similarly reared, he is well informed on all 
general topics and converses well regarding them. 
He was sixteen years old when he accompanied his 
parents to this State, and he grew to manhood 
amid pioneer scenes and took a considerable part 
in the work that was going on around h'm. Habits 
of industry, sturdy princi|)les and worthy aims 
flourished in such soil, and he became a man of 
sterling merit. In the spring of 1852 he removed 
to Clinton County, and located on section 2, Essex 
Township, but ere long changed his residence to 
the section on which he now lives. His home was 
in the woods and three hundred Indians were 
camped in the vicinity, their tepees being conspicu- 
ous from some points of view. They were friendly 
and gave no trouble except, perhaps, by undue 
familiarity. 

December 25, 1816, Mr. Bryant and Miss Loui.sa 
Hollenbeck were united in marriage, and nobly lias 
the wife borne her part in the duties that have lain 
before them. She was born in New York, August 
20, 1825, to Cornelius and Fannie Hollenbeck, who 
were of the old Knickerbocker stock, and witli 
them she came to Michigan when eleven years old. 
From that time until her marriage her home w:is in 
Wayne County. Her brother and sisters who are 
living are: Harriet, wife of William Wyman : 
George; Sophia, wife of Solomon W}man; and 
Sarah, wife of .hinics (irubaiigh. Mr. and Mrs. 



876 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Bryant bad five cliilclren, but the onlj' survivor is 
John F. Emma L. Morrison, daughter of our sub- 
ject, died July 13, 1889, when thirty-one years of 
age. Slie was the wife of W. J. Morrison. 

Mr. Br\'ant has served .is School Dircector, and 
takes part in various movements that tend to pro- 
mote the general welfare. lie casts his vote in the 
interest of Democracy. His sterling integrity is 
widelj' known and his word is relied upon .as 
closely as his bond. He and his estimable wife 
have many warm friends, and the general wish is 
that they maj' enjoy many more years of happiness 
and prosperity. 

eHARLES H. SAYRK,a prominent citizen of 
Shiawassee County, whose farm is located 
on section 25, of Vernon Township, first saw 
the light of d.ay in Yates County, N. Y., his natal 
day being April 3, 1835. His father, Lewis Sa^'re, 
was born in Steuben County, N.Y'., and there he was 
reared to manhood and took to wife Zillali H. Ben- 
edict, whose native place was Orange County, the 
same State. After marriage they made their first 
home in Yates County, N. Y., and their first home 
in the West was in Vernon Township, Shiawassee 
County,this State. The father entered a tract of 
land on section 24, where not a tree had been cut, 
nor a road put through. He cut logs enough to 
build a house, 18x24 feet, on the ground, and clear- 
ing the forest proceeded to plant a crop. He 
fenced his farm and i)Iaced upon it many improve- 
ments, making it his permanent home until his 
deatii which occurred in 1874. Lewis Say re was a 
sturdy Democrat in his political views and a man 
who was honored by his neighbors. He filled the 
office of Justice of the Peace for sixteen 3ears with 
great acceptability and profit to his constituency. 
He was Supervisor during one term to fill a va- 
cancy, and also acted as School Assessor. His 
widow is still living, liaving reached the good old 
age of eighty-two years. They were the parents 
of three children, two sons and a daughter. 

The subject of this sketch is the second child of 
his parents, and was only six years old when he 
was brought by them to Michigan. He went to 



school but little in his Eastern home and his first 
schooling in Michigan took him through the woods 
three and a half miles to a log building, which is 
the one known as the Lovejoy schoolhonse. He 
completed his education in District No. 8, of Ver- 
non Townsliij). He remained faithfully with his 
father, .assisting in the farm work until he reached 
his twenty-fifth \ear when he established a home 
of bis own. Tiie marri.age of C. II. S.ayre to 
Judith De Mund occurred June 1, 1865. This 
estimable lad^' was born in Seneca County, N. Y., 
December 10, 1844, and is the eldest daughter of 
Joseph and P^lizabeth (Wyckoflf) De Mund. Her 
father, who was a native of New Jersey, survived 
until the jear 1883, and her mother, a native of 
Seneca County, N. Y., is still living, and makes her 
home in Vernon Townshi[). 

Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sayre 
located in the place where their home now stands 
and lie engaged in tlie sawmill, and in the w.agon 
woodworks business, making woodwork for w.igons, 
plows and cultivators. He found this a business 
for which there is a demand and lie h.as continued, 
in it up to the present time. He built a mill on 
section 25, and carried it on in connection with 
farming. His father and brother Daniel were both in 
partnership willi him, the former for some eigliteen 
3'ears, and the brollior for seventeen years, but 
Charles finally bought them out, and has continued 
the business successfully alone. The children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Saj'rc are two daughters and two sons : 
]\Iary, the wife of C. E. Sherman, resides in Xcv- 
non Township, and the other three, Fred D., Frank 
J. and Lorena M., reside at home. Four hundred 
and forty acres of excellent arable land constitute 
the farm of Mr. Siyre, but of this he has given his 
son, Fred, one hundred and twenty acres. All of 
his land lies in Vernon Township, except eighty 
acres which he owns in Presque Isle County. He is 
doing a general farming business in connection 
with his milling industry, and has a fine flock of 
one hundred and twentj' siieep, in tlie raising of 
which he is successfully engiiged. 

Until quite recently Mr. Sayre espoused the doc- 
trines of the Democratic part}' but he now votes 
for Prohibition. For fifteen 3'ears he was School 
Assessor. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- 



SAW- MILL . SOUTH pF_ g£5lJ}£AlC£^^ 



RESIDE:MCr OF C.M.SAYRL, SEC . 25. ./CRWOl 1 TR.SHIAWASSr.t CO.,,VIICH 




^F5'DEUCE G!- ERFORD NASH , SEC 26., LEBANON TR, CLINTON CO., MICH 




RESIDENCE or AUSTIN RY0N,SEC.3.,SCI0TA IP. , S H I AV>/ASS EE CO., MICH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



879 



copal Chmcli of Gaines, Genesee County, and was 
for some time Trustee of that organization. Some 
years ago he was identified witii tlie Masonic 
fraternity, both at Bj'ron and also at Gaines, 
but is not at present connected with anj' order. 
His residence which is pleasant I3' located cost some 
$2,000. A view of this attractive rural abode ap- 
pears on another page. Mr. Sayre also owns a house 
and lot in Durand. He is a man who is higlilj' 
esteemed and cordially liked by the community in 
general, and his genial nature and strict integrity 
make liim prominent in both social and business 
circles. 



-^^<^®-°^" 




USTIN RYON, who is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising on section 3, in 
I J the town of Sciota, Shiawassee County, is 
a native of this State. He fust opened 
his eyes to the light of day in Merango Township, 
Calhoun Count}', on the 16lh of November, 184G, 
and is the fifth in a family of seven children born 
unto Daniel and Jlahala (Stanhope) Ryon. His 
parents are more full}' mentioned in the sketch of 
Luther Ryon, which appears on another page of 
tills work. Austin spent the first nine years of his 
life in Calhoun County, and then with the family 
came to Shiawassee County, where he has since 
made his home. He was reared to manhood upon 
a farm in the town of Middlebury, and in the dis- 
trict schools of the neighborhood he acquired his 
education which has been greatly supplemented by 
reading in later years, thus making him a well- 
informed man. 

At the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Ryon left 
the parental roof and began life for himself. He 
secured employment in the neighborhood as a farm 
hand and worked in that capacity for two years, 
during which time, by industry and economy, he 
accumulated a sufficient sum to enable him to pur- 
chase forty acres of land, which constitutes a part 
of his present farm. The entire tract was covered 
with timber, but he at once began to clear and im- 
prove the same, and in course of time his labors 
were rewarded with abundant harvests. As his 
efforts were crowned with prosperity and his finan- 
cial resources were increased, he extended the 



boundaries of his farm until it now comprises 
eighty acres; sixty-five of which are under a high 
state of cultivation, and with the exception of ten 
acres of that amount, all lias been cleared by his own 
hand. 

The land is divided into fields of convenient 
size, and upon it are to be seen the latest improved 
machinery and good buildings. Elsewhere in this 
volume appears a view of his commodious frame 
residence and barns, which are models of conve- 
nience. The former is SSxGO feet in size. We 
wonder more at Mr. Ryon's success when we know 
that he had nothing with which to start out in life 
save a three-year old yoke of cattle. His prosper- 
ity is due entirely to his own efforts and is justly 
merited, for he has lead an industrious, useful and 
honest life. As a citizen he is true to every duty 
devolving upon him, and whether in public or pri- 
vate life, his associates alike hold him in high re- 
gard. He is a member of the Patrons of Industry, 
and himself and wife hold membership in the 
Methodist Church. In politics on question of 
national importance he is a Democrat, but at 
local elections he votes for the man whom he 
thinks will best fill the ofBce, regardless of party 
ties. 

On the lOth of December, 1871, a marriage 
ceremony performed in Middlebury Township 
united the destinies of Austin Ryon and Miss 
Catherine Kief, who is a native of London, C'an.a<la, 
and a daughter of Arthur and Helen (Britt) Kief. 
Their union has been blessed with two children, 
sons — Arthur and Elmer — who are still at home 
with their parents. The Ryon household is the 
abode of hospitality, and the members of the fam- 
ily are occupying an enviable position in the 
social world, where worth and merit are received as 
the passports into good society. 

., : ;g^J#^^e..^ 

^ AMES WOOD, Jr. Rush Township, Shia- 
wassee County, may well be considered rich 
in sons who nobly did their duty in the 
conllict for the supremacy of the old Hag. 
Among these we are pleased to name the gentle- 
man whose name heads this paragraph and whose 



880 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



fine farm is located on section 3G. Ho was born in 
Wayne County, N. Y., January 30, 1830. His fa- 
ther, James Wood, a New York farmer, married 
Emeline Wood, daughter of Squire Wood of New 
Yorii, a soldier in the War of 1812. He had six 
children three sons and three daughters of whom 
Emeline was the eldest. One of her brothers took 
part in the Civil War and died of starvation in a 
rebel prison. She became the mother of two chil- 
dren, our subject and his brother Joel. 

James Wood, Sr., died the year after the birth of 
our subject, and the following year, 1837, his 
widow auc^ her parents came to Wheatland, Lena- 
wee County, Mich. Afterward Esq. AVood came to 
Shiawassee County, and buying forty acres in 1858, 
made his home here until his death a few years 
later. He was a stanch Democrat in his political 
views and an earnest worker for the principles of 
the party. 

James Wood, Jr., began to work upon the farm 
when he was thirteen or fourteen years old and his 
opportunities for schooling were indeed meager. 
In 18G.5, when he was then twenty years old, he 
bought a farm of fifty- five and one-half acres on 
section 36, of Rush Township. This land was all 
woods and the young man proceeded to clear it 
away. 

The marriage of our subject in 1866 united his 
fortunes with those of Ellen Dutcher, a daughter 
of Robert Dutcher, of New York, the father of 
twelve children of whom Ellen was the sixth, being 
born in 184G After becoming the mother of three 
chiklren, George, Lester, and Ellen G., she died in 
1872. In 1874 Mr. Wood was a second time united 
in marriage, taking as his wife, Isabel Galloway, a 
native of Ireland, whose natal year was 1846 and 
who came to tiiis countr}' with her parents when a 
little child. Robert and Nancy Galloway still live 
in Owosso, Mich. To James and Isabel Wood have 
been granted one daughter. 

In 1890 Mr. AVocd built a handsome and com- 
modious residence and everything about his place 
shows him to be f, progressive and practical man. 
His political convictions ally him with the Republi- 
can party, for which he is quite a worker. His 
military career began in 1864 when he enlisted in 
the Twcntj'-sevcnth Michigan Infantry. He was 



seul to Washington, then to Cit^- Point and took 
part in the battle of the Wilderness. After this 
battle he was transferred to Company A, Second 
Michigan Infantry. During the liattle just referred 
to, Mr. Wood was at the front as lie was also eiur- 
ing the subsequent engagements, up to the lime of 
the liattle of Petersburg. 

Arriving at Petersburg on the night of June 10, 
our subject was placed in charge of the works upon 
the next day and was twice shot, once in the neck 
near the jugular vein, and once in the shoulder, 
this latter ball going through and lodging in the 
spine where it is still located. He was carried off 
the field and sent to the hospital at Mt. Pleasant 
where lie remained until winter, when he came to 
the hospital at Detroit. In March of the following 
year he went back to his regiment at Petersburg 
and was there until the close of the war. He went 
directly from Petersburg to AVashiugton where he 
did garrison dutj- until July 30, when he was mus- 
tered out of service and returned home. He soon 
bought the farm upon which he now resides and 
has made it his home up to the present time. 




^ RS. JESSIE WHITE, the well-known 
widow of John B. White, who resides on 
section 23, Fairfield Township, Shiawassee 
County, is a native of Ontario, Canada, 
and was born February 7, 1842. She is tlie daughter 
of James and Turnbull (Renlon) llermister, na- 
tives of Scotland, where they were reared and mar- 
ried. She is one of the younger children in a fara- 
ilj' of eight snd has two brothers and one sister 
still living in Canada. Some of her nephews have 
followed this branch of the family into Michigan. 
Her brothers wiio are living are William Hermis- 
ter, of Warkworth, Canada, and John Ilermister of 
Orilla, Canada, both of whom follow agriculture as 
their life work. 

John B. AVhite was a Canadian by birth and his 
natal day was February 23, 1832. His j)arents 
were Natlian and Helen (Blizzard) White. His 
father was born in New York and his grandfather 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



881 



in England. Mrs. White had been acquainted with 
the brother of John B. in Canada but she met liini 
who was to become her husband first in Michigan 
where slie had come to visit u brother who was then 
living there. 

Tlie marriage of .Jolm B. While and Jessie Iler- 
mistcr took place March 23, 1SG6, and they at 
once went to house-keeping in a log house upon 
the farm which Mrs. White still calls her home. 
Mr. White had previously owned land in .St. Clair 
Count}', but he sold it and bought llie eighty acres 
where the house now stands. lie afterward bought 
forty acres on section 26. B^' the marriage of this 
worthy couple three children were boru, name!}': 
Mary,born March 30, 1868; James N., May 18,1872 
and Mabel J., March 13, 1875. 

Mr. and Mrs. White had not been given any- 
thing njore than a fair common-school education 
and it was their earl}' and earnest desire that their 
ciiildreii should have more than tliemselves of tliis 
precious [)reparation for life's duties and enjoy- 
ments. They have therefore given to them excel- 
lent advantages which have been impi'oved to good 
purpose. The daughter, Mary, has been teaching 
for some five or six j'cars and is doing well in her 
chosen prufession, and Mabel, the younger daughter, 
has just graduated from the Ovid High .School and 
expects to begin teaching during the coming sea- 
son. These two daughters and a son make their 
home with their mother who was bereaved of her 
husband by death, February 16, 1887. His dealii 
was caused by that terrible disease, cancer of the 
stomach. 

The husband of our subject was one of quite a 
numerous family, as his father was twice married, 
John IJ. being one of the children of the first mar- 
riage. His full brother, Hiram, lives near Basselt, 
Chickasaw County, Iowa, and has three children. 
He was at one time a resident of Farfield, Iowa. 
Of the second marriage there are three children liv- 
ing in .St. Clair County, Mich., namel}': Harriet, 
Mrs. McArthur; .Sara, the wife of William Owens 
and tlie mother of three children; Henry, who is 
married and has two children. Mary died leaving 
five children to the charge of her bereaved liusband, 
Richaid Lankin. Cynthia married Joel .Snicads 
nd left four children. George was a soldier for 



four years and there is no certainty as to what be- 
came of him, although the last time he was heard 
from he was in Iowa. 

Mrs. White was one of a large famil}' of sisters. 
Three died unmarried, Agnes, Jane and Mary. 
Betsey, Mrs. Edward IMiillips, lives in Coburg, Can- 
ada and has five cliihlrcn living. Turnbull, mar- 
ried John Hicks and lived in Percy, Canada, but 
is now deceased; slie left seven chihlren. Mrs. 
White and her chihlren find tlicir great happiness 
in their domestic life as they arc more than ordi- 
narily S3mpathetic in their aims and wishes. 



RTHUR M-. HUME, M. D. The healing 
( @//j| i ;irt is one of the most gracious in tlie long 




catalogue of professions. In it a con- 
scientious man with a love for S3'mpathy 
with his fellow-beings has a scope for his natural 
kindness of heart and personal dynamic force that 
enter into but few other phases of life. Dr. Hume 
was born in Medina, Lenawee County, this State, 
July 16, 1859. He is the son of Alonzo S. Hume, 
a native of New York State who removed to Lena- 
wee County in 1836. The father of our subject was 
born in 1812 and was the son of Moses Hume, a 
native of Massachusetts. His great-grandfather 
Hume was a soldier in the War of the Revolution 
and as he was a .Scotchman by descent doubtless he 
was one of the many who were least willing to give 
up the struggle. His father was a native of .Scot- 
land. The mother of Dr. Hume was Elizabeth 
Hopkins. .She was born in Reading, England, and 
emigrated to America when but fifteen years old. 
The father died in Lansing December 6, 1889, and 
the mother of Dr. Hume died in Corunna, Shia- 
wassee County, June 9, 1888. 

Oursubject is the 3'oungest of nine children born 
to his parents. He passed his youth on the farm, 
where he attended the common schools until he 
was prepared to enter Oak Grove Acailemy. Here 
he pursued his studies for three years. He then 
began teaching at the early age of sixteen, which 
work he alternated with attendance at school him- 
self. In this way he finally completed his education, 



882 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



after wliicli he read merticine with Dr. W. C. Hume 
of Be 11 u ill {4 ton. He then entered Detroit Medical 
College, from which he was graduated in March, 
1881. He first located at Jliircellus, Cass County. 
Mich., where he began his practice. In 1881 he 
removed to Bennington, where he continued until 
October, 1883, when became to Owosso formed a 
partnership with Dr. Jabez Perkins, a prominent 
physician and surgeon of tiie place and the firm is 
now known as that of Perkins Ar Hume. Both 
gentlemen have an extensive practice in town and 
country. 

Dr. Hume was married in January, 1882, to 
Miss Ida M. Norris, a daughter of Willard Norris 
and a native of Owosso. Two children brighten 
and make cheerful their pleasant home. They are 
Ethel D. and Harold A. The Doctor is a member 
of the State Medical Society and also of the Amer- 
ican Association. He is a member of the Owosso 
Academy of Medicine and also of the Clinton 
County Medical Society. He belongs to the 
Owosso Lodge, No. 81, F. <fe A. M., of which he 
has been Master for two j-ears; also the Owosso 
Cliapter No. 89, R. A. .^I. For the past four years 
he has been a member of the Board of Healtli in 
which body he had done efficient work, being in 
the advance in all questions regarding sanitary 
precautions for the public benefit. He is a Republi- 
can in jiolitics. His pleasant home is located at No. 
o2G East Exchange Street. 



^ 



E^ 



^^EORGE D. MASON, County Treasurer of 
llf (_— Shiawassee County, is a young man of un- 
^J^J) usual ability and intelligence, being well 
educated and wide-awake and the possessor of an 
excellent judgment and good sense in business 
affairs. He is one of the very youngest of county 
ollicials in tlie State, having been born in Owosso 
Township, this countj', October 3, 1868. His fa- 
ther, Ezra, is a native of tlie same township and 
his grandfather, Ezra L. was an earl}- settler tiiere, 
coining from New York Stale about 1839, and 
bringing on his family at a lime when only two 
other households had been iucated witliin the 



bounds of Owosso Township. In his later years he 
resided in the city of Owosso and handled real 
estate. For a number of \ears he was Supervisor 
of Owosso Township and for a long while was 
County Surve^'or. He was a man of Ciiristian 
faith and character and was connected witii the 
Baptist Church. His political afliliations were with 
the Republican partj'. 

The father of our subject grew up in Owosso 
and after taking what education he could obtain in 
the district schools, pursued a course of stud}' at 
. the commercial college in Ann Arbor. He then 
took charge of a farm and at different times filled 
positions of trust and tesponsibility, being Count}' 
Surveyor for nine years and being for some time 
Supervisor of Owosso Township and also the 
Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors. 
After serving as County Treasurer from 1887 to 
1891 he returned to his farm. He was for twelve 
years Secretary for Shiawassee County of the 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company. 

The motiier of our subject is a native of New 
York Slate and the daughter of tiie Rev. S. II. 
Davis, a pioneer minister of the Baptist Church 
who now resides at Durand, this county. She is a 
Presbyterian in her religious faith. Her four chil- 
dren who were all sous are as follows: Our sub- 
ject; Edward L., now a member of the Sophmore 
Class at the University of Michigan; Frank was 
killed by an accidental shot in June, 1888; and 
Fred is still at home. 

After attending the district school and gradu- 
ating in the Perry High Sciiool in June, 1885, 
George D. Mason taught in Rush Township. His 
first teaching was when he was a little over fifteen 
years of age. After .assisting his father in his ca- 
pacity of Secretary of the Insurance Company, he 
became, January 1, 1887, Deputy County Treas- 
urer. In these two capacities as assistant he really 
did the business of the Treasurer of the county and 
.assistant to the Secretary of the Insurance Com- 
pany and did it so well that in the fall of 1890 
befoi-e he was twenty-two years old he was nomi- 
nated on the Republican ticket for the oflice of 
County Treasurer and received the election, enter- 
ing upon his office New Year's Day, 1891. He is 
ideiiti(icd with the Free and Accepted Masons and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



883 



Willi the Kuiglits of the Maccabees, and in politics 
is a true blue Republican. He is an active and 
earnest member of the Presbj'terian Church of 
Corunna in which he occupies the position of Trus- 
tee as well as of Treasurer. He is an unusually' 
bright and capable man for his years and has no 
doubt a splendid future before him. 



-^^ 




[(^ ARTIN L. CORBIN is one of the progres- 
sive farmers of Watertown Township, Clin- 
ton Countj', wliere he resides on section 
22. He has one hundred acres of finely 
improved land, upon which he has placed excel- 
lent farm buildings and all the accessories which 
mark a well-managed farm. He is the son of 
Henry H. and Polly (Edgerton) Corbin, natives 
of the State of Connecticut, who soon after their 
marriage removed to Monroe Countj', N. Y., where 
Martin L. was born June 21, 1830. 

The subject of this sketch grew up upon his 
father's farm in New York and remained at home 
until he reached his majority. Three years later, 
in 1853, he was united in marriage with Frances 
Lamberton. He and his bride came to Michigan 
the following year and made their home in Water- 
town Township, but a great trial soon befell Mr. 
Corbin in the death of his beloved wife, April 16, 
1859. Siie departed, leaving him with one son — 
Fred L., who was bo.-n September 10, 1856. This 
young man is now married to Hattie Boylan and 
resides in the same township with his father, upon 
eighty acres of land. 

January, 1800, saw the second marriage of our 
subject. He was then united with Martha J. 
Lowell, a daughter of Josiah and Johannah Lowell, 
who were i)ioiieers of Michigan. Mr. Lowell came 
to Clinton County in the year 183'J, and in 1840 
brought his famil}' into what was then a wilder- 
ness. They came at that time from New York 
State, where Mrs. Corbin was born Se|)tember 2, 
1828. For further details in regard to this fine 
old pioneer family see sketch of Olhnian Lowell 
in tliis book. 

The marriage of this worthy couple has been 



blessed with five children, three of whom are now 
living: Mary F., born January 0, 1861, resides at 
home with her parents. She prepared for teaching 
by attending school at Grand Rapids, Lansing and 
Ypsilanti, and has taught about ten terms of 
school. Frank IL, who was born November 8, 
1803, died November 6, 1865; Harry L., born 
June 20, 1865, died August 4, the same year; 
Clara A., born July 29, 1866, became Mrs. John 
Hunter and resides in Watertown Township; Hat- 
tie, born January 6, 1870, was graduated in the 
class of '90 of the State Normal School at Ypsi- 
lanti, and has been teaching in the Center School, 
Watertown Townsiiip. In politics Mr. Corbin is 
a Jeffersonian Dem(xrat and takes an intelligent 
interest in political movements and ))ublic affairs. 
He and his wife have been for a long time mem- 
bers of the Watertown Grange. Thej' were char- 
ter members and are active promoters of all move- 
ments in the interests of the farming community. 



\T/AMES W. WOODWORTH, a prosperous 
farmer of Ovid Township, Clinton Countj', 
was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., July 
9, 1857. He is a son of John and Louise 
(Peterson) Woodworth, both of whom were na- 
tives of New York. His father was engaaed in 
agricultural pursuits but, altliough living in the 
country, was ambitious that his children should 
have the best advantages for education, and after 
giving this son all the available help in the com- 
mon schools, sent him, at the age of eighteen years, 
to a seminary at New Marlboro, Mass., at which 
institution he remained for three years. After 
leaving there he attended for one 3'ear Eastman's 
Business College at Poughkecpsie, N. Y. 

When our subject was only eight years old his 
parents removed from New York to \'irginia and 
located at Richmond. He resided in that (ilaco until 
1879, wiien he removed West, making his honie at 
Abilene, Kan., where he took a farm and carried 
it on for about five years. After this he removed 
tc) Jliciiigan and engaged in farming in Ovid 
Township, where he has since resided. He has a 



884 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



place of ninety-two acres in a high state of culti- 
vation and well iroproverl. 

The subject of Ibis sketch was united in mar- 
riage May 20, 1884, with Emma H. Wright, of 
New Marlboro, Mass. She was a daugiiter of S. 
W. Wright, a merchant of that place. This happy 
marriage lias resulted in the birth of three beauti- 
ful children, all of whom are living and in health, 
and are a constant joj' to their faithful and de- 
voted parents. Helen was born July 20, 1885; 
Margaret, May 20, 1888; and Alice, March 8, 
1890. Mr. Woodworth's political convictions are 
in accord with the doctrines of the Republican 
party and he is intelligent in his views on political 
matters, and earnest in the advocacy of his own 
principles, but is not in any sense an oftice-seeker, 
and has never held anj' office in this township. 
His interest in educational matters may perhaps 
be considered as pre-eminent over that which he 
shows in oilier public affairs, and he desires not 
only for his own family, but for all the youth of 
his township, the best possible opportunities for 
preparation for future usefulness. He is a good 
judge of stock and keeps flnc animals of various 
kinds. 



/nS GOULD, M. D., one of the most popular 
citizens and genial men of Henderson, has a 
fine drug store in that village and also fills 
the ollioe of Postmaster, as well as dealing in gen- 
eral merchandise. His birthplace was Genesee 
County, N. Y., and the date of his nativity, De- 
cember 28, 1847. His father, Jason Gould, was a 
farmer and blacksmith, and was born about tlie 
year 1823, in Rensselaer County, N. Y. He re- 
moved to Western New York when it was a new 
countr}' and came on to Michigan in 1854. He had 
been united in marriage in 1846 to Grace E. Cor- 
bett. Her parents, William H. and Loretta E. 
(Wright) Corl)clt were from Eastern New York, 
and wero the parents of eleven children. 

I\Irs. Jason Gould, who was born in 1834, cinu- 
late<l her niotlier's oxami)]o and was also the motlier 
of (eleven ciiildrcn. J.ason Gould came lo Hrancli 
County, Mich., and in time he gained the i)ossession 



of a farm and cleared it and made his home there. 
He is now a hale and hearty' old gentleman of 
nearly seventy years, and a stanch Democrat, his 
influence being felt markedly among his neighbors 
in Branch County. The paternal grandfather of 
our subject bore the name of Otis Gould and was 
a farmer and dair3'man in Massachusetts, where he 
was born in 1790. He married Dollie Searles, who 
was born in Eastern New York about the year 
1792, and eleven children was also the number of 
their household. He was a Democrat in his politi- 
cal views and he and his worthy wife were devout 
members of the Baptist Cliurcli and died in West- 
ern New York. 

Young Otis Gould received a common-school 
education remaining a schoolboy until the year 
1864 when he enlisted in the army. He like many 
of his young companions felt his heart stirred 
during the days of the Civil War and finally could 
no longer restrain his patriotic impulses and en- 
listed in January, 1864, in Company M, Eleventh 
Michigan Cavalry. He first went to Detroit and 
then to Lexington, Ky. He was attached to the 
Western Army and was in the engagements at Mt. 
Sterling, June 9, and at Cynthiana. the 12th of the 
same month. He assisted in breaking up John 
Morgan's band and then went to the forks of the 
Cumberland, where they camped out. In October 
they were sent to guard King's Salt Works. Our 
subject was wounded by a bullet in the right arm 
and was left on the field when the army retreated, 
and was captured but being taken to a prison hos- 
pital was sent to Richmond where he was exchanged 
and forwarded to Annapolis. Receiving a furlough 
he went home for awhile but on the lltli of De- 
cember returned to Annapolis. He received an- 
other furlough in January and remained until 
March 11, when he reported at Kalamazoo and 
thence was sent to Detroit and back to Tennessee 
when he met his regiment at Lenore Station. Eroin 
there the.y went to I'ulaski and in July were mus- 
tered out of service. 

Dr. Gould took up the study of medicine in 
1873 at Fremont, Ind., under Dr. Lyman Abbott. 
He afterward took lectures at Ft. Wayne and be- 
gan the practice of medicine in 1879 in Indiana. 
In Julj' of the same year he came to Michigan an<l 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



885 



settled nt Charlotte, Chesaning and Oakley, suc- 
cessively, and in 18S3 he came to Ilendersun where 
he pursued his i)ractice until quite recenll}-, his 
health requiring' that he should give it up. This 
gentleman is prominently identified with the Odd 
Fellows, being a member of Kmanuel Lodge, No. 
153 at Henderson, and he is Surgeon of T. C. Crane 
Post, No. 128, G. A. R. of this village. He is a 
Republican in his political views and h:is the good 
will of his fellow-citizens to a more than usual de- 
gree. 

In 1888 Dr. Gould was united in marriage witli 
Mrs. Lillie (Davidson) Kephart, of Lo Roy, Os- 
ceola County, Mich., who had one son, Ilugli, 
b}' her first marriage. This l.idy is a dangiiter of 
James L. Davidson, of London, Canada. One son, 
Glen ()., h.is been granted to him and his .accom- 
plished and amiable wife. 



as. ALLISON, who carries the finest and 
most complete stock of jewelry in St. John's, 
' Clinton County, was born in Oakland 
County, Mich., June 11, 184C, and his earliest 
recollections are of the pioneer scenes of frontier 
life. His father, Samuel, was born in New York 
of Quaker pai-entage. He was descended from two 
brothers who came from P^ngland and settled in 
New York. About 1830, Samuel Allison, who had 
been engaged as a farmer in New York, came to 
Michigan accompanied by his family. He took up 
one hundred and sixt}' acres of land in Avon Town- 
ship, and commenced its improvement. In 1855 
lie sold this piece of property and removed to 
Norlhvilie, Wayne County. Ten years later lie 
located in A'ernon, where he died in 186C. He was a 
Democrat, in politics, and a faithful member of 
the Christian Cliurch. 

Il.attie (Waterbury) Allison, the mother of our 
sul)ject, was born in Sanford, Conn., and died in 
Lapeer, Mich., at the ripe old age of seventy-nine 
years. The subject of this notice was reared on 
his native homestead until he was nine years old, 
when he accompanied his parents to Northville, 



Waj'ne County, and there was a pupil in the graded 
scliools. When seventeen he commenced to learn 
ihe jewelry business and worked in various jilaces 
at his trade. In 1867 he removed to Ionia and 
started in the business for himself, continuing for 
twelve years until 1 879, when he came lo St. John's 
and bought out the establishment of R. B. Kmmons. 
He now carries on a lucr.ative trade in his chosen 
avocation and is well known as a reli;ibie dealer in 
diamonds, jewelry, watches and clocks, etc. His as- 
sortment of diamonds is especially fine. 

Mr. Allison was married in Owosso, in 18()8, to 
Abbie E. Gould, daughter of the late Col. E. Gould 
of Owosso. Mrs. Allison was a nati\'e of Ohio, and 
has borne her husband three children — Robert G. 
who is in the jewelry business with our subject; 
Louis B. who belongs to the class of '93 in the State 
Agricultural College at Lansing; and Nellie G. 
Mr. Allison is a stockholder in the State Bank of 
St. John's and in the Owosso Savings Bank. He 
is a Vestryman and Warden in the Episcopal 
Church of St. John's. Politically he is a Democrat 
and has served as delegate to county. Stale and 
judical conventions. Socially be belongs to the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights 
of Honor. 



W EWIS UHRBROCK. This gentleman holds 
I (j^) a position among the proinine.it and thrifty 
J^ ^-^v German-American citizens of Clinton 
County, and we take great pleasure in presenting 
to our readers an account of his life and character. 
It is impossible within the limits of a volume like 
this to follow his career in every detail but an out- 
line will be given which will indicate the promi- 
nent features, and the reader will be able to fill out 
the picture by his own imagination. The home of 
Mr. Ulirbrock is on section 33, Greenhush Town- 
ship, where he has been living since the fall of 
1869. He is the fortunate owner of one hundred 
and eighty acres of fertile land, which is under cul- 
tivation and supplied with a line of well con- 
structed buildings. 

The natal d.a^- of Mr. Uhrhroi-k was December 3, 



886 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



1 828, and his parents were John and Maiia Uhr- 
brock, natives of the Fatherland, where their son 
was born and lived until twenty-five years old. 
The lad received a good education in his native 
tongue and when of suitable age entered the army, 
in accordance with the law of tlie Empire, and 
spent two years in camp and field. He was appren- 
ticed to a cooper and spent four ^-ears in becoming 
acquainted with his trade. When he decided to 
seek a broader field for his labors in the country 
across the sea, of whose advantages he had heard 
much, he emliarked on a sail-vessel which was six- 
tj'-fourdays in reaching New York. After arriv- 
ing in the New World he began to pick up the Eng- 
lish language and is able to transact all business 
in this tongue. When he came to his present farm 
he found two acres of cleared land here and the 
balance of the estate he has denuded of its forest 
growth since he took possession. 

The wife of Jlr. Uhrbrock was known in her 
maidenhood as Catherine DeVries. She became the 
mother of seven children, five of whom are living, 
namely: Anna, Maggie, Flora, John and Louisa. 
Mr. Uhrbrock is a member of the Lutheran Church, 
and in politics is a Democrat. He has gained the 
reputation of an honest, industrious man, whose 
word is reliable and whose perseverance and good 
management are fittingly attested in his fine estate. 



•^^E 



E^^ 



<Sl IjfclLLIAM AVIDEMAN. AVhatever the nat- 
\^// ^^'^^^ advantages of a country, ils liistory 
WW must depend upon tiie men who have re- 
sided there, and by their energy and ability added 
to the original facilities and attractions. The gen- 
tleman whose name introduces these paragraphs, 
altiiough not an old settler of Clinton County, has 
been for nearly a decade identified with its pro- 
gress and is known as the owner of a fine farm on 
section 7, Grecnbush Township. A traveler here 
cannot fail to be struck with admiration for the 
farm, it is so well cultivated, so finely improved 
and stocked with such good animals and a number 
of niodein machines. Inquiry reveals the fact 
that it consists of one hundred and si.\ty acres of 



valuable l.md, and is the home of Mr. Wideman. 
The reader will notice with pleasure a view of this 
rural abode on another page. 

The Buckeye State claims Mr. Wideman as her 
son, and in Medina County his birth occurred 
March 31, 1839. His parents John and Barbara 
Wideman, were natives of Pennsylvania, but when 
children accompanied their parents to Canada, 
where they were married. Later they removed to 
Medina County, Ohio, and cleared a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres. Thej' had a family of 
eleven children, and our subject has three sisters 
and one brother now residing in Gratiot Count}-, 
this State. Mr. Wideman passed his youth in 
Ohio, aiding his father at home and receiving the 
advantages of a common- school education. He 
keeps himself well informed as to general events 
and news of the da}-, and having a decided taste 
for reading, gives decided evidence of culture and 
intelligence. 

In 1809 Mr. Wideman removed from Ohio to 
Michigan, and resided for a time in Kalamazoo 
County. Thence he went to Newark Township, 
Gratiot County, and there made a home in the 
woods, clearing a space upon which to build a home. 
During the years of his residence there he accom- 
plished much pioneer work and saw the primeval for- 
ests give place to broad fields of cultivated land, a 
sparsel}' settled region become populous and thriv- 
ing towns dot the wide expanse. In the fall of 1883 
he came to Clinton County and made his home 
upon the farm in Grecnbush Township where he 
now resides. He started in life at the bottom of 
the ladder and by industry-, energy and persever- 
ance has attained to the possession of a handsome 
property, and has gained the respect of the entire 
community-. 

On January 29, 1871, in Gratiot County, Mich., 
occurred the ceremony which united in the hol}- 
bonds of wedlock William AVideman and Harriet 
A. Barrus, the daughter of Robert T. and Harriet 
A. Barrus. The happy union was blest by the 
birth of five children, as follows: Lena, Glen, Jen- 
nie, Millie and Robert B. The children are nil at 
honie and are receiving excellent educational ad- 
vantages in the public schools. The loving wife 
and devoted mother passed from earth July 13, 



^iVia^t^-. 



.««:i*<A*C^ta, 




RESIDENCE Of WILLIAM WIDE MAM , SEC . 7. , GREEN RUSH TR,CLINTOIJ CO., MICH 







^i»j!<,,»,e^~^'^.'^ ■'.■ '^.-i. -^i^-^s^^: - r^-'^ ■ ■ : :^r!*s&-^ 






RESIDtiiCE CF- GEORGL A . r lU NTUUTl , SEC. £j.^r/!l LyDLEDURY TR.SH lAWASSLE CO . ,IV1ICH 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



889 



1885, mourned not only by Ler family, but liy her 
many friends in the community. She was higlily 
esteemed for Ler social graces and noble qualities 
of heart and mind. Religiously she was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and labored 
earnestly for the spiritual welfare of the neighbor- 
hood. 

In his political views Mr. Widemaii is a Repub- 
lican and a man of deep intelligence in the dis- 
cussion of public matters. He bears an honorable 
reputation among his neighbors and fellow-citizens 
and is looked upon as a man of much capability, 
who has contributed his quota to promote the 
growth of the county, and has aided in elevating 
the moral status of the community. His fine farm 
attests to the presence of a thoroughly systematic 
manager and is universally conceded to be one of 
the best in Clinton County. 






^^EORGE A. HUNTOON. Shi.awassee County 
ill <^m) contains many beautiful estates, but none 
^^S) arc more comfortable than that of Mr. 
Huntoon, a fact wli'ch will be apparent to the reader 
when he glances at the view of this fine farm pre- 
sented on another page. The thrift of the owner 
is indicated by the many substantial buildings 
which combine utility and neatness, the chief among 
them being an elegant residence. The most ap- 
proved methods of husbandly are used in the cul- 
tivation of the estate and the large barns arc taxed 
to their utmost every season with the grains which 
a bountiful liarvest yields. Even a cursorj' glance 
will convince tlic observing passer-b}' that agricul- 
ture is here both an art and a science. 

Mr. Huntoon is proud to say that lie is a native- 
born citizen of the State of Micliigan. He was 
born in tlie township of Walerford, Oakland 
County, September 17, 1845, and is the son of 
Daniel and Mary (Staulake) Huntoon. The father, 
who followed the occupation of farming, had been 
|)rcviously married, and hy his first union had three 
children — riiilelus, Piiineas and Horace. 'J'lic 
mother, wlio came to tiiis counliy from England, 



was also previously' married, and by her first iius- 
band, whose name was Marshall, she had two chil- 
dren, John and Jane. When our subject was onl^' 
four years old he was orphaned by the death of his 
father and was reared under the devfited care of his 
mother. He had no brothers or sisters of his own. 

When quite young Mr. Huntoon came to Shia- 
wassee County. Although he attended the district 
school and atterward went to the schools of Cor- 
unna and Owosso for about two years he did not 
have the advantages in the educational line which 
are given to the youth of to day. In 18GG he 
commenced work for himself on the place where he 
now lives, it having been previous!)' purchased with 
property left him by his deceased father and was a 
tract of one hundred and sixty acres of heavily 
timbered laud. Upon this he has made the im- 
provements which now mark it as one of the best 
farms in the county. 

On November 17, 1875, Mr. Huntoon and Miss 
Harriet A. Ilerrick, a native o'f Middlebury Town- 
ship, this county, were united in the liolj' bonds of 
wedlock. The mother died .July 17, 1887, leaving 
two children, who are still at home with their fa- 
ther. They are tlva L., born November 13, 1873, 
and Charles H., August 19, 1879. The second mar- 
riage of Mr. Huntoon was solemnized October 9, 
1889, when Miss Jennie C. Ilerrick, of Middlebury 
Township, this county, united her destinies with 
his. Mr. Huntoon erected his two-storj- brick resi- 
dence in 1876, and about the same time erected 
the handsome barns which adorn his farm. One of 
his barns measures 44x50 and has eighteen-foot 
posts. He is now building a new barn for grain 
and sheep and it will be 25x56 feet with eighteen- 
foot posts. His grain barn with shed is 29x75 feet 
with the same altitude. He also has a corn house, 
a carriage house, and a tool house 16x30 feet. He 
is greatly interested in tlic cultivation of fruit and 
has a line orchard. 

In political matters Mr. Huntoon believes in the 
[irincipies of the Republican party and has for 
eleven years held the ollice of Township Clerk. He 
also takes an active interest in educational afifairs, 
has given his children a thorough education, and 
his daughter is now attending scliool at Ovid. He 
prefers home life and tlic luirsuit of his agricultural 



890 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



interests to the meeting's of lodges or societies. He 
has always hired more or less help in the carrying 
on of his farm and especially in the clearing of the 
land. For some time he has been successfully en- 
gaged in the sale of windmills, pumps and tanks 
throuu;hout the neighborhood. 



GEORGE OLIVER, a prominent farmer of 
Tatertown Township, Clinton County, re- 
sides on section 15. His farm is finely im- 
proved and has upon it two sets of farm buildings, 
and various accessories of a well-kept farm. He is 
the son of George and Ellen (Pott) Oliver, natives 
of vScotland. They were both born in Roxbury- 
shire, and were married there before removing to 
Canada. They located in the County of Leeds^ 
Canada, where the subject of this sketch was born, 
his natal day being the 6lh of August, 1819. 
The subject of this sketch was reared upon a 
farm and received but a very limited education as 
there were but few schools in that region during 
the time of his boyhood. He learned to read and 
write and after be grew to manhood wisely devoted 
all Ills leisure time to the improvement of his mind 
and his advancement in knowledge, and in this 
w.ay has been able to accomplish a great deal, and 
may be called an exceedingly well-read man when 
we consider his early opportunities. When he was 
twenty-one 3'ears old he learned the trade of a 
carpenter and joiner and worked at this for about 
twelve years. 

The marriage of Mr. Oliver took place in Aug- 
ust 1848. He was then bap[)ily united with Re- 
becca Clow, a daughter of Peter Clow. Her par- 
ents were also of Scottish birth and came many 
years ago to Canada, where this daughter was born 
in the county of Leeds on March 15, 1824. This 
marriage has been blessed with the birth of seven 
cliildren, who are all living. The oldest son Peter 
C, lias been twice married. His first wife was a 
Miss Clow and after her death he married Miss 
Biddlecom. He followed the vocation of a car- 
penter and resides in Lansing. Ellen, Mrs. Cron- 
kite, lives in Riley Township, this county; George 



R., married a Miss Morgan and lives in Waterlown, 
this township. Phoebe was married to Mr. New- 
som and is now a widow and makes her home with 
her parents. Theresa married Mr. Kulilman and 
now resides, a widow, in Gratiot Count}', this State. 
Margaret S. is a teacher by profession and makes 
her home with her parents. She was educated at 
Ovid and Lansing, this State. Albert W. is mar- 
ried to Miss .lenne, and now lives on the farm 
which he conducts for his father. 

Mr. Oliver is a Republican in his political views 
and intelligent in regard to matters of public inter- 
est, but does not seek office. The family are 
members of the Methodist E|)iscopal, Congiega- 
tionaland United Brethren Churches in which they 
are influential and where thej' find a broad field of 
infiuence and labor. Mr. Oliver came to Michigan 
in February, 1865, and at once settled upon the 
farm where he now resides. 



^^^^^:i?^^i^:5^^ 



-t-**^-- 



^^ HANDLER B. CHALKER. Among the 
(if^L prominent farmers of Shiawassee County 
^«^7 who, after years of arduous toil, have re- 
tired from the active duties of life and arc now 
spending their declining years in the enjoyment of 
the comforts which they have accumulated, especial 
mention belongs to the gentleman whose name in- 
troduces this brief biographical sketch. He owns a 
fine farm on section 3, Vernon Township, which 
for many years he actively cultivated and im- 
proved, but which is now rented. It comprises 
one hundred and six acres, and is embellished with 
all modern improvements. The residence is com- 
modious, while the outbuildings are such as are 
always to be found on the estate of the progressive 
farmer. 

It will not be amiss, before entering into the de- 
tailed account of the life of Mr. Chalker, to record 
a few facts concerning his forefathers. His grand- 
father is supposed to have been a native of Massa- 
chusetts. He was a tanner and currier by trade and 
served in the Revolutionary War. Nathaniel 
Chalker, father of our subject, was horn in Massa- 
chusetts in 1780 and was reared in Vermont. He 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



891 



served in the War of 1812. When he attained to 

man's estate he emigrated as far west .as New York, 
where he located in Seneca County on a farm, and 
remained many years. During the early history of 
Mieliigan he came hither in 1837 and settled in Ver- 
non Township, Shiawassee Coaiitj'. 

The farm upon wliicli the father of our subject 
located was unimproved and in the midst of primi- 
tive surroundings. He at once commenced its ini- 
provement, built a small log house, and gr.adually 
evolved a ple.asant homeste.id from the hitherto 
unattr.ictive place. Here the remainder of his life 
was passed and he died at the age of seventy -two 
years in 1852. Politically, he was a Democrat and 
in liis religious affiliations belonged to the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. Tiie mollier of our subject 
bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Corry and was 
a native of New .Jersey, where she was re.ired to 
womanhood. She cspeiieuced all the hardsliipsof 
pioneer life and died at the age of eighty-four. 

The parental family included four children, three 
sons and one daughter, all of whom lived to mature 
years and married. Of these our subject is the 
eldest child and he w.as born in Seneca County, 
N. Y., October 23, 1813. He was reared in his na- 
tive State, receiving a good common-school edu- 
cation and remaining witli his parents until he was 
twenty-three. He was married April 12, 1837, in 
New York, to MissPhehe Sickles, who was born in 
Seneca County, N. Y., September 6, 1813. Im- 
mediately- after their marri.nge the young couple 
came to Shiawassee County, and settled on the 
place where he now resides. It wfis then a wilder- 
ness, inhubiled mostly by Indians. The family' were 
soon comfortably domiciled in a log house which 
Mr. Chalker built and which was 20x24 feet in 
dimensions, and in that [nimitive abode many 
happ3- years were passed. 

Five children came to bless the home of our 
subject and his estimable wife, .as follows: Mary, 
the wife of John Patchel, resides iu Vernon Town- 
sliip; Ellen and Alexander B. are deceased; Jane 
resides at home. Mrs. Chalker died July 7, 1874 
and her remains were interred in the Vernon Cemc- 
ter}'. She w.as a woman of noble character, whose 
kindness of heart and hospitable nature were uni- 
versally appreciated. Mr. Chalker cast his first 



Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson and is still a 
firm Democrat. He has served his fellow-citizens 
in various ollicial capacities, has been School In- 
spector, Justice of the Peace twenty years, Super- 
visor ten years, and w.as Town Clerk at an early 
day. For many years he has been a Mason, an<l 
holds membership in the Blue Lodge at Vernon, 
Roj'al Oak and Corunna. 



"5-Hi-=^^^-H-J- 



m 



^' AMES HAIRE is numbered among the pros- 
perous farmers of Ovid Township, Clinton 
County. He has a fine tract of land con- 
sisting of oiie hundred and twenty acres 
fi'eed from stumps and stones and placed in condi- 
tion to raise crops of high gi ade and large qu.antity. 
A thrifty orchard adds Its value and beauty to the 
scene, and farm buildings of various kinds are 
arranged at suitable points. In other d.ays Mr. 
Haire took considerable interest in breeding trot- 
ting horses but Is not now engaged in that work; 
he however still retains his liking for good sto'jk 
of all kinds. He li.as done much of the work 
necessary in order to fit a forest or wild plain for 
cullivation and knows what hard work is as well as 
any man in the neighborhood. 

In the paternal line Mr. Haire is of Irish stock 
and Ills father, John Haire was born on the Emer- 
ald Isle. His mother, Eliza (Covert) Haire, was 
born in Yates County, N. Y., and the home of the 
good couple was on a farm. For some time they 
lived in McConib County, then spent a short time 
in Livingston County and in 1857 came to Clinton 
Countj'. Here the father died in August, 1882, and 
the wife in March, 1884. They were the parents of 
six children: Margaret, Hannah (deceased), James, 
our subject, Cornelia, Selcslia and (J eorge (deceas- 
ed). Our subject was born in McCorab County, 
May 14, 1847, and passed his boyhood amid rural 
scenes. He obtained a district-school education, 
going to the temple of learning nearest his home 
in Ovid Township and in the intervals of study 
helping to improve the property on which he now 
lives. When the family canic liillier but little of 
the acreage was cleared and it has been the aim of 



892 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Mr. Hairc to continue the work until the whole is 
in proper conflition. He has succeeded and also 
added to the extent of the farm, and at the same 
time has bought and sold land in various parts of 
the State. He now has town property in Ovid 
and St. John's and lie also loans money. 

In 1872 Mr. Haire went to Nebraska and took 
up eighty acres of Government land where the 
town uf Hastings now stands. He divided his 
acres into town lots .and thus disposed of them, 
then getting rid of all his interests there returned 
to this State. He spent some two years in the 
Southwest but was quite content to make Michigan 
his permanent home. Mr. Haire is a supporter of 
tiic principles laid down in the [ilatform of the 
Democratic l>arty. He takes much interest in liie 
promotion of the cause of education, altliougli he 
derives no direct benefit from better schools, as he 
is not an attendant and has no sons or daughters 
to send. However, a man of good intellect and 
the American spirit of progress must needs be 
zealous for others and for the general advantage, 
and so Mr. Haire is awake to public improvements. 



-^-^■1^- 



GRACE M. SKINNER. It is with pleasure 
that we present to our readers a sketch of 
one of the most prominent, wealthy and in- 
(^|) fluenlial farmers and stock-raisers of Clin- 
ton Count}', who resides on section 22, Essex Town- 
ship, and is a native of W.ashington County, \i., 
where he was born October 16, 1811). He is a son 
of Harvey and Hannah (Searles) Skinner, the former 
being English, and the Latter Scotch by birtli. He 
is the youngest of their thirteen children. 
^ When three )'cars old the subject of this sketch 
lost his father by dcatii, and when fifteen years old 
he, with his mother and other members of the fam- 
ily came West and made their home in Lenawee 
County, Mich. There he lived for three years, af- 
ter which he returned East, residing for several 
years in Livingston County, N. Y. In 1839 he 
again came to Michigan, and for several years made 
his home in Elaton County, and came to Clinton 
County in 1852, settling on his present f.arm, where 



he has ever since resided. Here he owns manj' 
broad .acres, and his farm is among the best in the 
county. He has done much pioneer work, for be- 
sides developing this farm he cleared up a farm in 
E.aton County. 

Mr. Skinner's first marriage united him with Ur- 
sulla Reeves, who bore him six children, four of 
whom are now living, namely: Emily, Mrs. Frank 
(Uranch), Horace, Ilarvey and Abel. He married 
for liis second wife Mrs. Eliza Everts, by whom he 
had four children, namely: John, Alice; James, a 
graduate of Ann Arbor University and Superin- 
tendent of Lapeer, Mich., schools; and Eliza. His 
present wife w.as before their marriage, Mrs. L. C. 
Taylor, and by her he h.as one child. Sterling. 

Mr. Skinner is one of the representatives pio- 
neers of his district. He is a public-spirited man 
and a leading member in the Congregational 
Church in which he has for many years served as 
De.acon. His political atliliations are witli the Re- 
publican party. Our subject raises Durliam cattle, 
and Fercheron horses in connection with general 
farming. He has for some time r.aised Poland- 
China, Suffolk, Essex and Berkshire hogs, but is 
not now handling much of that kiml of stock. He 
began for himself when fifteen years old, and al- 
though his early educational advantages were mea- 
ger he has by means of persistent and intelligent 
reading given himself a generous education, and 
made himself one of the intelligent men of his 
townsliii), .as well as achieving success .as a farmer. 



"if) OHN MEACHER was born in Worcestershire, 
England, February 6, 1824, and is a son of 
Thomas and Sarah (Woodman) Mcaclicr, 
both of whom are natives of tlie same local- 
ity. The father was by occupation a farmer, and 
the boj' came to America with iiis [);irents when but 
twelve years old, making his home in Cuyahoga 
County, Ohio, not far from Cleveland. Before 
coming to this country, John attended a boarding 
school in England, and up to the time of his emi- 
gration had excellent school advantages which he 
s.ndly missed after coming to the New World. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALP.UM. 



893 



Tliomas Meacher marie his home upon a farm 
near Cleveland, and when iiinetccn j'cars old the 
son took an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade 
and followed tiiis calling for about ten years, lie 
cuiue to Mieliigan in October, 1853, and took up a 
tract of eighty acres in the wilderness. lie had to 
cnl his way more than three miles througli the 
woods to reach his land. His deed is signed by 
President Franklin Pierce. 

Miss Caroline Clement, became the wife of John 
Meacher, September 2, 1818. This lady had been 
living in Cleveland, but was originally from Eng- 
land. Six children were born to her, namely: 
George C, born February 14, 1850; Harriet E., 
December 26, 1852; Frank, .Inly 3. 185(5; Eraily, 
January 19, 1858; Charles J., April 14, 1861; and 
Agnes, February 18, 1864; Fredie, wlio died when 
but three years old. The other children have estab- 
lished homes and families of their own. Their 
motlier was called away from earth April 16, 1882. 

Mr. Meacher has made all tlie clearings, and put 
in all improvements which now appear upon his 
farm, and lias seen great changes and experienced 
severe hardships. The Indians were numerous 
when he first came here and cara[)ed upon the river 
banks. He tells of game being plentiful, and at 
one time he and his brotiier-in-law had sixteen 
deer hanging up in his yard, and could not sel) 
them nor give them awa^'. He is a Republican in 
his political views, and has ailhered consistently to 
the doctrines of that party. He can remember with 
interest tlie days when Fredeiiek Douglas used to 
speak in lliis county in defense of the ami-slavery 
principles, and realizes the great change which has 
taken i>lacc in public ::entiment since the days when 
that noble and al)le lilack man was subject to mob 
law. 



•J^^- 



<S iiilLLIAM M. WARREN. "He who buil.ls 
\,-J// well builds for the future." The gentle. 
^^/¥j man whose name heads our sketch and wiio 
died June 4, 1891, showed that in building up a 
character he intended his good deeds to live after 
him. William M. Warren ■ was born March 20, 
1812, in Fishkill, Dutchess County, N. Y. At the 



early age of fourteen he bought his time and found 
employment on some of the most important public 
works then in progress in that State. Mr. Warren's 
father died when their son was sixteen years of 
age. His motlier lived to be eighty-two years of 
age. Tlie parents were of P^nglish and Scotch 
origin and our sutjject was the eldest in a family of 
eight. The parents were Comstock Warren and 
Sarali (Scotield) Warren. Their family were Will- 
iam M., Hannah, Jacob, Isaac, Maria, Abby, George 
and Carrie. All of the children lived tj be grown. 
One sister, Abby, is now Mrs. Rufus Rowland, of 
Flint. Our subject is the only one who lives in Shi- 
awassee County. 

In his early business life Mr. Warren showed him- 
self competent and trustworthy and won the esteem 
of his employers. Wlien twenty years old it was his 
intention to go to Michigan and he had started on 
the way but was persuaded to defer the journey 
for a time. March 5, 1833, a few days before he 
wastwenty one years old he married Laura Sprague, 
of Hannibal, Oswego County, N. Y. Siie died at 
Bancroft, October 10, 1884. Coming to Mieliigan 
from New York in 1836 their married life here 
continued for forty-eight years. At their golden 
wedding eighty-two guests gathered in their home 
to celebrate their anniversary'. 

In 1835 Mr. Warren was for a few months en- 
oaired in business and showed such enterprise, 
shrewdness and integrity as promised success in 
that line if he had followed it. He came to Mich- 
igan in Se|itcmljer, 1H36, with his wife and only 
child and settled in Shiawassee County. Mr. War- 
ren often said that if he had not learned in New 
Y'ork wliat diiching could do for a country he 
would not have remained. He proved himself 
earnest and enterprising as a [lioneer and an efli- 
cient helper in some of tiie leading improvements 
of that early day. He helped build the first mill in 
the county, drew into it the first log and heliied 
saw the first board. This mill was at Shiawassee 
Town. He also helped to build the first mill in 
Owosso and was one of the three men who sowed 
the first wheat in the county. He bought the seed 
wheat at White Lake on a return trip from Detroit. 

Mr. AVarren was the father of seven children, 
four sons and three daughters. They are Olive L„ 



894 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Sarali, George W., John S., Ahby J., Charles H. and 
Edwin A. Of these all survive him except one 

daughter who died in infancy. Tlic eldest child is 
now Mrs. II. A. Hart, of Bancroft; the eldest living 
son is connected with the Phelps Lumber Company 
at Big Rapids, and the Agricultural Improvement 
Compan}-. John lives at Pomona, Cal., wliere he 
is a minister of the Methodist Church and doing 
efticient work as an evangelist, being well known in 
various parts of the country as a most eloquent 
preacher. He was graduated at the University at 
Ann Arbor and then entered the Normal School at 
Ypsilanti and after that was for some time a teacher. 
The fifth child is Mrs. A. G. Warren, who resides 
in Bancroft. The youngest, Edwin A., whose home 
is in Sturgis, this .State, is a music teacher of a 
wide reputation, traveling through the South wiiere 
he gives concerts. His wife is a temperance lec- 
turer. 

The original of our sketch first settled on forty 
acres one mile northwest of Bancroft. Here he 
remained seven years. He added to his farm until 
he had three hundred acres, a part of the original 
tract having been platted and added to the city. 
He gave land for a railway station, arranging that 
certain trains should stop at iiis home. For fifteen 
years previous to the building of the railroad no 
did teaming for the Ball Company at Owosso, being 
overseer for some time of from fifteen to twenty 
teams. He was an ardent supporter of Abolition. 

Mr. Warren was in advance on all questions con- 
cerning public health and well-being. He made a 
particular study of drainage and in his Inter years 
did much to drain the lower country, especially in 
and around Bancroft. In (lolilics Mr. Warren was 
a Republican having voted for William H. Harrison 
in 1840. He was well informed and always capa- 
ble of o-iving an intelligent opinion on all public 
matters. Mr. Warren was one of the members of 
the Baptist Cliiirch to which he united himself 
when fifteen years old. Later, however, he trans- 
ferred his membership to the Methodist Churcli in 
which he remained until his death. 

As a farmer in Micliigan our subject was always 
most successful; he seemed to have an innate knowl- 
edge of the requirements of nature and so fed his 
fields tliat in return they always yielded him the 



largest crop. He built a very pleasant home in 

which he dwelt until the death of his wife, after 
which he lived with his son Charles. In 185.5 Mr. 
Warren purchased a large tract of Government 
land at Big Rapids, recognizing the advantages 
that the place must certainly some time be from a 
manufacturing point of viesv. His son George 
platted this tract after the town was started and it 
is now very valuable. 



-^•^^f^^^;^^^^^^^ 



-V- 




ICHARD TOMPKINS. Among the fore- 
most pioneers of Duplain Township, Clinton 
County, we find a number of British-Amer- 
ican citizens who brought to their adopted 
home the sturdy industr}' and manl3- self-reliance 
which characterizes the yeomanry of the British 
Isles. This class h.as ever been among the best 
emigrants which have favored the Western country 
with their life labors and we are pleased to make 
mention of Richard Tompkins,who was born in Ox- 
fordshire, England, July 12, 1832. His father, 
Edward, was born in Blackthorn, Buckinghamshire, 
and his mother, Mary Coppock, was a native of 
Milton, Oxfordsliire. The father was in his early 
years a baker but during tiie boyhood of our sub- 
ject he managed a farm upon which this bo}' spent 
his earl}' years, continuing with his parents until 
he w.as twenty-five years of age. 

Young Tompkins did not have the advantages 
of a liberal education but attended the parish 
schools until he was fourteen years old. He came 
to America in 1857 and located in Commerce 
Township, Oakland Countj-, and worked on a farm 
there about five years. In 1862 he came to Clin- 
ton County and purchased a farm of fortj' acres in 
Ovid Townshii). He resided there for two years, 
tlien sold his propertj' and bought the |)lace where 
he now resides on section 35, Duplain Township. 
He found that five acres of his land had been 
chopped, and with that exception he has cleared 
the entire place except a small portion which he 
has left for firewood. 

Tlie matrimonial union of our subject with Mar- 
garet McClintock was an event of great importance 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



895 



in the life of tlic young man. It took place April 
9, 1864. The laily had hei- girlhood home in Ovid 
Township, Clinton County, and she became the 
mother of eight children: Sarah, born February 3, 
1865; Charles E., December 23, 1866; .Tohanna C. 
September 20, 1868; Alice C, February 3, 1870; 
Mary B., February 10, 1872; Herman, November 
2y, 1874; Pearl, July 1, 1877, and Raymond R., 
December 29, 1879. His wife died January 12, 
1891, and left this large family of children witii 
their father to mourn their loss. Her children all 
survive her. Sarah is now Mrs. William Ncal and 
Johanna is the wife of Thomas Woodworth, of 
Duplain Township. Both of these j'oung men are 
farmers. Mr. Tompkins has given his undivided 
attention to farming ever since he came to this lo- 
calit}-. He raises a variety of crops and makes 
corn, wheat and all the cereals prominent in his 
work. He is a Patron of Industry and is much inter- 
ested in the workings of that fraternity. 



'\tl OEL SYLVENUS WHEELOCK, M. D. This 
successful and prosperous physician of Han- 
croft was born in Lockport, N. Y., March 9, 
1848. His father, Joel Wlieelock, a native 
of New York was a farmer and the son of an Eng- 
lishman. The mother, Lois Chase, was also a nat- 
ive of New Y'ork, and now makes her home with 
her son. 

The youth made his home under the parental 
ro(jf anil had reached the age of flfteen, when he 
came to Michigan, making his home with his uncle, 
Lewis VVheelock, owner of the Saginaw Salt Works. 
For three or four years he woiked by the month in 
a saw-mill and then went into iiartnership with his 
employer, building a mill at Coleman Station, which 
he conducted until on account of failing health he 
sold out ills interest when he was twenty-eight 
years old. Finding that it was necessary to seek 
a different spliere of laboi he decided to study 
medicine, although he made a success of his mill- 
ing operations. He attended the Adveotist College 
at Battle Creek, and in 187') entered the Home- 
opathic Medical Department of the State Univer- 



sity at Ann Arbor. Tliree years later he graduated 
in the class of '78. Among his classmates are 
Profs. AVood and McLauiihlin, now belonjrinw 
to the faculty of the University; also Dr. Olive, a 
prominent physician of Detroit. 

The young Doctor opened up his practice at 
Holt, Ingham County, Mich., remaining there some 
four years and in 1882 came to Bancroft where he 
has built up a fine practice, mnking a specialty of 
g3'necology. He has met with admirable success 
and has an extensive practice. 

The lady who presides so graciously over the 
home of Dr. Wheelock, bore the maiden name of 
Zilpha Rosannah Baiie\'. She is a lady of fine 
presence and attractive appearance and is exceed- 
ingly popular and greatly admired by all who 
know her. They were united in marriuge April 
24, 1872, in Midland County, Mich., which was 
her home. Her parents were Leonidas P. and 
Prudence (Bugby) Baile}- and she was born in Ni- 
agara County, N. Y., April 27, 1854. She took 
her higher education at the Normal school at Ypsi- 
lauti and taught for one terra. She was induced 
to take up the study of medicine on account of Dr. 
Wheelock's frail health, as they feared that he 
might be laid aside from his profession, and she 
wished to prepare herself to care for the family if 
it should prove necessary. She graduated from 
the Michigan rniversity of Ann Arbor and has 
since been in active practice, being unsually suc- 
cessful ill her work. 

The chililrcn of these two able physicians are as 
follows: Edith P., born March 2S. I 875, and Lois, 
April 20, 1885. Edith is in the High School and 
will graduate next^'ear. She is a flue musician and 
a 3'oung lady of more than ordinary attractions as 
she inherits the intellccUial ubility and charming 
physique of her mother. The mother is a |irouiin- 
ent worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union and lectured ably before the county conven- 
tion. They are members of the Slate Homeo- 
pathic Association. Mrs. Wheelock is especially a 
student of hygenic conditions of living, and lec- 
tures occasionally on subjects in this line. She is 
said to be an im[)ressive and iileasant speaker and 
has a manner of unusual refineinent and cultiva- 
tion. Their pleasant hojne in the heart of the vil- 



89 C 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lage Is the center of much domestic and social en- 
joyment. Both the Doctors are public-spirited and 
wide-awake to the interests of the community, both 
local and natiouiil, bein^ Republicans in their pol- 
itical views witli strong prohibition tendencies. 

-^'> ♦ :|3 " C|: « *. — 



E 



LI GALLUP, one of the prominent farmers 
of Eagle Township, Clinton County, is tlie 
fj fortunate owner of two hundred acres of 
fine land on section 35. He bougiit this tract in 
1856, when not an ax liad been swung against the 
trees that clothed it and no part of its soil had been 
turned by the plow or spade. It is now a well im- 
proved farm under a high state of cultivation, and 
nearly all divided into fields from wliicli good 
crops are garnered at the proper time. A small 
part is left in woodland. Tlie farm is well stocked^ 
both with domestic animals and good machinery 
and its owner is carrying on tlie work of general 
farming systematically and with pleasing success. 
A view of this pleasant homestead appears in con- 
nection with this biographical notice. 

Eli Gallup, Sr., father of our subject, was born 
in Stonington, New London County, Conn., and 
was of Welsh ancestry, although the family had 
been established in America in a very early day. 
The grandfather of our subject was a Corporal in 
the Revokitionary Army and served notice on the 
citizen soldiers to report for duty. Corporal Gal- 
lup had four brothers who were Revohilionary 
pensioners also. The father of our subject lived 
to a green old age — ninety-one years — the date of 
his demise being May 1, 1882. His wife bore the 
maiden name of Sally Crary. 

Eli Gallup, of this sketch, was born in Alban}- 
County, N. Y., April 27, 1821, and was reared on 
a farm, receiving only a district-school eilucation. 
He worked for his father long after his majority 
and did not establish a home of Ins own until 1854, 
when in his thirty-fourth year. He then married 
Anna Honor, an estimable woman, whose price has 
indeed been "far above rubies" and whose children 
"rise up and call her l)lessed." The children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Gallup are Mary, Ella and Ambrose 



E., of whom we note the following: Mary was born 
Maj' 13, 1858, and is now the wife of Fred. W. 
Shuart, a farmer ne.ir Portland, and the mother of 
two children; Ella was born September 21, 1862, 
married John Niles and lives in Grand Ledge; 
they have one child; Ambrose was born August5, 
1866; he is single and living with his parents on 
the old homestead, of which he has charge. He re- 
ceived a good education and takes quite an active 
part in politics and is sound in the i)rinciples and 
policy of the Democratic party, which he served as 
a dehgate at the last Stale Convention. Being a 
young man with special ability as an organizer, he 
is bound to take high rank among the working 
members of the party. 

Our subject and his son are equally ardent in 
their attachment to the Democratic party. Mr. 
Gallup is a Mason and at one time was a member 
of the Chaiiler at Portland; on his withdrawal 
from that bod^- he became a charter member of the 
Chapter at Grand Ledge. The family' has held 
membership in the Christian Church and are not 
only earnest and conscientious in the ordinary 
affairs of life, but show a very charitable disi)osi- 
tion and abiding interest in the welfare of those 
around them. The farm of Mr. Gallup is cut by 
the Detroit. Lansing it Northern Railroad and his 
facilities for shi|)ping produce are excellent. 

, : sS^^J^i^c : .^ 

RED ABERLE, one of the stirring business 
^^ men of Owosso, having a wareroom and 
office on Comstock Street, where he deals 
in hides, pelts and tallows, is a native of the city 
where he now resides, and first saw the light Janu- 
aiy 22, 1861. He is the only son of Jacob and 
Earneslina Aberle, both natives of Germany. His 
mother died in Owosso when the boy was only five 
years old. The father migrated to the United 
States in 1848, before his marri.agc, and landing in 
New York City, came directly to Michigan, locat- 
ing in Ann Arbor for awhile, where he met and 
married the lady who became the mother of this 
son. 

Soon after their marriage the parents of our sub- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



899 



jcct removed toOwosso and the father started a tan- 
nery on Comstock Street, where he built up a 
large business, continuing in it up to 1884. At 
that time he moved to Uoulder, Col., where he is 
the proprietor of the Brainard Hotel. 

The subject of this sketch took his schooling at 
Ovvosso and became an apprentice to the tanners' 
trade. After six years he established himself in 
his present business. He is well versed in the de- 
tails of his trade and has built up an excellent 
business, and has a good connection, shipping to 
different [)arts of the country nnd commanding 
good prices. 

Mr. Aberle was married February 28, 1883, to 
Miss Carrie Gabler, of Fremont, Neb. She was 
born in Iowa and is a daughter of Christian Gab- 
ler. Her parents were natives of Germany and 
became early settlers in' Iowa. One son, Roy, has 
crowned the union of this excellent couple. Mr. 
Aberle is the owner of considerable valuable city 
property, and takes a pride not only in his business 
but in the prosperity of the town. 



E SPENCER ROBINSON, one of the old 
settlers of Antrim Township, owns one liun- 
4 dred and sixty acres of choice land on sec- 
tion 9, upon which he located thirty-four years ago 
when it was a wilderness. In productiveness 
and neatness of appearance it is not outdone 
by any farm in the township. Mr. Robinson came 
to Antrim Township in the fall 185C, and then lo- 
cated tlie land upon which he moved the fallowing 
.spring. 

The young farmer built a shanty, and like most 
pioneers, began at the bottom round of the ladder. 
During these many years he has not been idle, .is 
is attested by the general ai)pearance of his farm, 
of which he raaj- well feel [iroud. Tlie elegant 
farm house, well furnished throughout, and the 
good, sul)stantial barns and outhouses all sjieak for 
the industry of the owner. 

Mr. Robinson is a native of Micliigan, being 
born in Lodi Township, \yaslitenaw County, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1833. His father, Loami, was born in 



Maine in 1799, was reared in Vermont, and re- 
moved to Caj'uga County, N. Y., where he was 
married to Isabel Edmonds, a native of Massachu- 
setts, who was born in 1808. In 1831 he came to 
Michigan and located Government land in Lodi 
Township, Washtenaw County, upon which he set- 
tled and proceeded to improve it. 

Loami Robinson lived upon this farm for 
several j'ears and finally removed to Ann Arbor, 
where for some j'ears he lived a retired life, dying 
there in 1870. lie was an honored pioneer and a 
man who commanded the respect of everybody 
who knew him. His fellow-citizens placed him re- 
peatedly in the office of Supervisor and other 
official positions. He was a zealous member of the 
Christian Church and for many years a Deacon. 
He was a representative man in the highest sense of 
the term and a representative farmer. 

The mother of our subject was an ardent Christ- 
ian woman, who died in 1888. having been the 
mother of thirteen children, nine of whom are yet 
living. Some of them are filling prominent posi- 
tions, one of them being the principal of Detroit 
public school. Our subject was horn in the log 
house which his father had l)uilt in the woods 
and covered with elm bark, two years previous. 
He received most of his education in the pioneer 
log schoolhouse of that day and made the most of 
his opportunities, being able to teach school wiien 
he was nineteen years old. After he became of 
age, he worked for himself for a fevv j'cars, and in 
the fall of 1856 came to Antrim Townsi)ip and 
purchased his present farm. He was married 
July G, 1854, to IMiss Alalilda Isabel, who was 
born in Lodi Townsliip, Washtenaw County, this 
State. 

The political convictions of Mr. Robinson have 
led bim to affiliate with the Republican parly, and 
he is unusually well informed ui)on the political 
issues of the day. He is not a seeker for office, 
but has been called upon to administer various 
local offices, such as Clerk and School Inspector. 
He raises good grades of stock, and Shoi-t-horn 
cattle have been favorites with him, but of late he 
has interested liimself more especially in Jerseys. 
He has some fine specimens of Porcheron draft 
horses. He began life with limited means 



900 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 



and has made a success of his efiforts in every 
(llrection, not only in his farm life, but in liis deal- 
ings with his fellow-men. Both his and his excel- 
lent wife's company are highly esteemed in social 
circles, and are welcome additions to the con- 
gregation at Morrice, where they attend church. 
The genial charity of spirit exhihiled by Mrs. 
Robinson makes her beloved b}' the whole com- 
nuinit}'. 

.RANGE WHITLOCK. For half a century 
this highly respected man has made his 
home in Clinton County', and he has seen 
the country developed from what was but a wilder- 
ness, with here and there a clearing and a little 
village springing into life, to a vast region of fine 
farms and beautiful towns. In I hat which his eyes 
have seen his hands have participated, and in re- 
calling the stirring incidents of pioneer times he 
can rejoice that he was able to do a pari in the 
noble work that was carried on. He is now, in his 
declining years, receiving an income suflicient for 
every want, his efforts having resulted in securing 
to him a fine estate on section 27, Greeubush Town- 
ship, riis farm consists of two hundred and forty 
acres and he has given each of his children a fair 
start in life. 

Chittenden County, Vt., was the birthplace of 
Mr. Whitloek and his natal da^' was March 25, 1813. 
Ills parents were Joseph and Milly (Wasson) Whit- 
lock, natives of Connecticut and Canada respect- 
ively, and on the father's side he is of English 
lineage. He is the eldest of the surviving children 
of his parents, the others being Mrs. Sarah A. 
Thomas, a widow living in Shiawassee County; 
Millie A., wife of Minor Chipman of Owosso, and 
Betsey, who married L. R. Comstock and lives in 
Owosso. "When but ten 3ears old our subject left 
his father's roof and started out in the world, hir- 
ing out to Horace Sprngue of Addison County, 
Vt., as a farm hand. He worked for that gentle- 
man nearly four years, receiving several months 
schooling each 3ear. He was obliged to look out 
for opportunities for study and managed to attend 
the district school in Superior, this State, in the 



winter of 1838-39. He is mainly self educated, 
not having had liberal advantages, but having 
been well grounded in practical branches during 
his early years. 

In the fall of 1838 Mr. Whitloek came to this 
Slate and bought one hundred and sixty acres of 
land from the Government, at the usual price of 
$1.25 per acre. The land was in Clinton Count\', 
in a locality uninhabited save by Indians, and not 
wishing to take up his residence here Mr. Wliil- 
lock went to Washtenaw County where he remained 
until 1840. A few families having located within 
a comparatively few miles of his purchase, and he 
thus being able to find a boarding place, he came 
back to Clinton County and entered upon his pio- 
neer labors. He hewed down forest trees, removed 
stumps and brush, and by the aid of a sturd}- team 
of oxen began to cultivatS the soil. Energy and 
perseverance conquered and by degrees a licautiful 
farm look the place of the former wilderness. 
While working for his own interest Mr. Whitloek 
exercised the hospitality and spirit of true broth- 
erly kindness which were almost universal among 
pioneers, and thus became known far and near as 
one worthy of respect and friendship. 

In the fall of 1845 Mr. Wliitlock secured a con- 
genial companion in the person of Miss Phebe A. 
Hiscock, with whom he was united in marriage 
November 25. His bride was born in the Empire 
State, to Isaac and Phebe i^Crandall) Hiscock, and 
is distantly related to Senator Hiscock of New 
York. A few mouths after their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Whitloek settled upon the farm, wnere a 
comfortable log cabin had been built, in which 
they resided until 18GG. That year saw them 
sheltered in a more modern residence, convenient 
and substantial, which still affords them shelter. 
In the course of time there came to brighten their 
home three children, who were named respectively 
Orange A., James W. and Jhuy E. The daughter 
is now llie widow of Floyd Coleman, w lio formerly 
lived in Clinton County. 

Mr. Whitloek lias been Highway Commissioner 
of the townshii) and for many years has been ably 
serving as Justi<'e of the Peace. He possesses a 
logical and judicial mind and his decisions in cases 
that have come before Uim have become proverbial 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAI'HICAL ALBUM. 



yoi 



by reason of their fairness and honesty. He has 
been interested iu whalover piumised to be for the 
public good and at all limes ready to bear a part 
in work tt;nding toward that object. He has been 
Treasurer of Keystone Grange in Greenbush Town- 
ship and his son William has been Master of tiio 
same societ}'. Mrs. Whillock is an esteemed mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. Husband and wife 
have many sincere friends in this localitj' and may 
well be classed among the representative pioneers 
uf the neighborhood, eminently worthy of repre- 
sentation in a biograi)hic'al album. Mr. Wiiitlock 
was chairman of the Board of the Farmeis' Mutual 
Fire Insurance Con:pany of Clinton and Gratiot 
Counties for twenty-two years in succession, and 
has been Justice of the Peace for forty-five years 
with the exception of probably six months. 

^(^pLNEY A. CHAPIN, Postmaster at .St. 
John's, is one of the most prominent among 
the young men of the city. His father. 
Charles A., was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y. The 
grandfather, Volney, w.as born in Burlington, Ot- 
sego Countj-, that State, April 21, 1803. His early 
years were spent upon the farm, and his opportuni- 
ties for an education were limited. When seven- 
teen years of age he was apprenticed to the black- 
smith's trade, but not liking his master, he ran 
away and went to Moravia, N. Y., where he be- 
came an ap[)rentice in the works of Jethro Wood, 
the reputed inventor of the cast iron plow. 

After learning the trade and working a few years 
as journeyman, Mr. Volnej^ Chapin's first business 
venture was at Ogdensburg, where he carried on a 
foundry in partnership with George Ward, of Mo- 
ravia. He continued in business until the summer 
of 1831, when, with his wife and son, Charles A., 
he removed to Rochester, and established a foun- 
dry which he carried on until the spring of 1833. 
In June of that year, he brought his family to 
Michigan and located at Ann Arbor. He bought 
a foundry- of Samuel A. .Sperr^-, which had just 
gone into oi)oration. He formed a partnership 
with Joaalhan Hussy, of Moravia, N. Y,, which 



continued for about ten years under the firm name 
of V. Chapin & Co. All the coal and iron that 
were uscil in those early days and up to 183'J, were 
brought from Detroit by wagons, and such were 
the conditions of the roads, that it took from four 
to six days to make the round trip. This put up 
the price of these commodities to an extravagant 
figure and made the foundry business an expensive 
one. 

From a small beginning this business grew t() be 
large and successful. Their plows were sent into 
adjoining States, and the^' made the gearing and 
machinery for most of the mills iu Michigan. From 
1843 to 1846 Mr. Chapin was sole owner, and em- 
ployed sixty men in the manufacture of plows, 
mill machinery, saw-mill engines and boilers, thresh- 
ing machines, separators, stoves and tinware. In 
the summer of 184G he sold a half-interest to a Mr. 
Loomis, and the business was managed under the 
firm name of Chapin & Loomis. A few ye.'.rs later 
Charles Tripp was admitted to the firm, and his 
name added to that of the other partners, and in 
1859 Mr. Chapin sold out his share of the business 
to the new partner. 

In 1844, in connection with George Ward (his 
old partner), Volney Chapin built the spring mills, 
of Ann Arbor. In 1846, with his brother-in-law, 
Col. Daniel Sloan, he bought the water-power of 
Judge S. W. Dexter, known as the yellow mills. 
On this they built the Dover Mills which are now 
owned by Thomas Birket. In 18ol he bought one- 
half interest in the paper mill in the lower town 
from J. H. Lund. This he sold to his son, Charles 
A., in 1852. Two years later he purchased an inter- 
est in this business, which was then managed under 
the name of Lund, Chapin A Co. They built a 
new paper mill at Geddes, and the business was 
carried on until 1865, when it was discontinued. 

Mr. Volney Chapin, Sr., was also largely inter- 
ested with his son Volney and F. E. Jones in a 
business which was carried on under the name of 
Jones, Chapin & Co. They had branches at Niles 
and Decatur, Mich., Ciiicago, 111., and Davenport, 
Iowa. He retired from this firm a few years before 
his death. His business in salt and lumbering in 
the Saginaw Valley was very extensive, and he was 
a large dealer in pine land, owning at one time some 



902 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



six thousand acres in Saginaw County. He gave 
his name to Cliapin Township in that county, and 
had large manufacturing interests there, in the mail- 
ing of himber and shingles. He was one of the 
most prominent, liberal and public-spirited men in 
W.isiitenaw County, and none was more respected. 

The marriage of the grandparents of our subject, 
Volney and Chloe (Sloan) Chapin took place in 
Rochester, N. Y., in 182S». The lady was a resident 
of Newport, Herkimer County, that State. In 
1839 and 1840, this gentleman was the Treasurer of 
Washtenaw County, and at one time was President 
of the First National B:ink in that city. From 
1860 to 18G4, he was Treasurer of the University 
of Michigan. 

The father of Volney Chapin, Sr., was Dan, who 
was born in Bennington, Vt., June 16, 1768. He 
married Dobora Wright in Otsego County, N. Y. 
His father was Gad Chapin, who served in the Col- 
onial War against the French and Indians, and 
held a commission as Captain from Kiiig George 
III. He settled at Bennington, Vt.. and in the 
Revolution served with the Vermont troops. In 
1789 he came with his family to Otsego County, 
N. Y., where he settled on a farm about twelve 
miles from Cooperstown. The Chapin family are 
to be found in the early history of Massachusetts. 
Deacon Samuel Chapin, the progenitor of all who 
bear this name in America, removed from Boston 
to Springlield, Mass., in lG12,and in October, 1652 
he was appointed one of the magistrates of Spring- 
field. 

The mother of Volney Chapin the younger, was 
Miss Fannie E. Kingsley, a daughter of the Hon. 
James Kingslej', who was among the first attorne3-s 
to practice law in AVashtenaw Couniy. He was 
born in Canterbury, Conn., January 6, 1797, and 
reared and educated at Brooklyn, in the same 
county until the age of nineteen years, when he 
went to Providence, R. I., and i)ursued his classi- 
cal studies at lUown University. He then studied 
law at Brooklyn, and was admitted to the bar. In 
1823 he went to Virginia, and was engaged as a 
private teacher in the family of Ludwell Lee, a son 
of the famous Richard Henry Lee. Three years 
later he went to Mississi|>pi and made his liome in 
the town of Grand Gulf, but soon after the yellow 



fever broke out and he concluded to try the climate 
of Michigan. He came on foot from Detroit to 
Ann Arbor in the fall of 1826. In .January of the 
next year lie began to practice law in that city, be- 
ing the lirst as has been said to be admitted to 
practice in that citj-. 

In 1830 the Hon. James Kingsley was married 
to Lucy Ann Clark. In 1828 he was appointed 
Judge of the Probate Court of AVaslilenaw County, 
which responsible olHce be held for eight years. 
From 1830 to 1833 he was a member of the Legis- 
lative Council of the Territory of Michigan, and in 
1831 he was appointed a Trustee of the University 
of Michigan. He was elected to the Lower House 
of the State Legislature in 1837, and the following 
year and from 1839 to 1842 he was a member of 
the State Senate. While belonging to that body he 
drew up, in 1842, the first charter for the Michigan 
Central Railroad by which it went into operation, 
lu 1848 he was again a member of the State Legis- 
lature, and in 1850 he was a prominent member of 
the Constitutional Convention. He became one of 
the regents of the L^niversity of Michigan in 1852, 
belonging to the first set of elected regents, which 
position he held for six years. He was again in 
1869 and 1870, a member of tiie Lower House, 
which was the last otlicial position held by him. He 
was the second M.ayor of Ann Arbor. About the 
year 1872, he removed to his farm near Corunna, 
where he resided until August 10, 1878. He tiien 
had an amputation performed at Ann Arbor, from 
which he died August 17. He was one of the most 
prominent men in the State. 

The mother of our subject still resides in Ann 
Arbor, and is a member of the Episcopal Chui'ch, 
to which her husband was also attached, and where 
he served as Vestryman. The}' were the parents of 
three children, of whom our subject is the second 
born. He was born in Ann Ai'bor, September 19, 
1857, and here he w.as reared and educated, being 
a graduate of the High School, in 1876, when he 
was eighteen 3'ears old. He then came to St. John's 
and engaged as a clerk for Asher Tcachout, in the 
dry-goods business. He served in this capacity 
until 1881, when he became Assistant Postmaster. 
In 1887 he engaged in the grocery- business buying 
out James Richarilson, and forming a partnership 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 



903 



Willi a Mr. Madison iiinier lliefinu name of L'li.ipin 
A Madison. This enterprise lasted for about a 
year, when our subject sold out bis interest and 
took tlie position of Assistant Postmaster under J. 
M. Frisby. March 9, 1891 he received bis com- 
mission-as Postmaster, in which ofiicc he well ful- 
fills bis dutj-, and makes every effort to accommo- 
date the public and forward the business interests 
of the town. He is a prominent and active mem- 
ber of the Episcopal Church, and in his politics is 
a Republican. 




AUGUSTUS PARKER, a well- 
and popular citizen of Bancroft lias 
he office of Justice of the Peace for 
nearly sixteen years, greatly to bis own credit and 
the well being of the community. He was ap- 
pointed Postmaster of B.ancroft, October 1, 1889, 
and is a popular and efficient official. He was 
born August 24, 1843, in Marion Township, Liv- 
ingston County, Mich., his parenis being David and 
Sarah M. (Rust) Parker both natives of the Empire 
States who removed to Michigan in 1829 and came 
to Shiawassee County, making their home in An- 
trim Township in 1859. 

The father of our subject was a man of strong 
character and clear convictions of duty and receiv- 
ed many local olHces at the hands of his fellow- 
citizens. He was Township Clerk and also Super- 
vior, and filled for four years the office of Slieriff, 
to which he was elected in 1868. He was a strong 
and ardent supporter of the Government during 
the dark days of the Civil War. He spent eight 
years in Owosso where he was interested in the brick 
yards and passed away January fi, 1888, at the age 
of seventy-eight years. 

George A. Parker was a soldier in the Civil War, 
enlisting in Company A, Tenth Michigan Infantry 
under Capt. H. S. Burnett. He was mustered into 
service at Fliut, February 12, 1862, and was sent 
to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., where bis regiment 
was attached to Grant's Army. He w.as in action 
at Corinth, Shiloh, P>oonsville, luka, Ilunlsville 
and Nashville to Stone River, Chattanooga and all 



the engagements of Sherman's march to the sea in- 
clufling the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, under 
Sherman's command. At Kenesaw Mountain he 
received a gunshot, the ball passing through bis 
right elbow and he was sent to the hospital. He 
was kciit one year in the Post (Juartermaster's office 
at Louisville, Ky., on detached service as a clerk 
and was mustered out after the surrender of Lee's 
army under general order No. 161. 

During the time that Mr. Parker was in the 
army ho did much detail service. At one time at 
Farmington, Miss., he was detailed to carry from 
Col. Lum directions to the Loorais battery to change 
position. He was knocked down bj' a shell bursting 
' near him, and retired to camp with the sight of his 
right eye impaired, which resulted in the loss of 
same. 

This br.ue soldier returned to Michigan and be- 
gan farming. He was given the office of Under 
Sheriff under bis father and attended to bis busi- 
ness for four years, after which he returned to the 
farm but in 1880 came to Bancroft where be has 
been for some time in the produce business, ship- 
ping apples, potatoes etc. He has shipped as many 
as seventy-seven thousand bushels of potatoes and 
and forty-seven thousand barrels of apples in one 
season and has a broad and extensive line of cus- 
tom. He has bandied Shropshire sheep to a con- 
siderable extent. He has sixteen acres of land 
adjoining the village of Bancroft which he has 
platted and made thereof an addition to the vil- 
lage; his farm consisted of one hundred and one 
acres. 

Mr. Parker was married October 10, 1868 to 
Miss Florence L. Gaylord, a daughter of John and 
Hannah (West) Gaylord, who were the first set- 
tlers on Indian Reserve at Mags Bridge in 1852. 
Mrs. Parker's natal day wau March 1, 1814. Two 
children have come to bless this home: Hugh W., 
now a young man of twenty -one is assistant Post- 
master and carries on a stationery and notion store 
in connection with the post-office. Ethel is a 
charming child of ten yeais. Mrs. Parker's mother 
makes her home in this household and has now 
reached the age of seventy-three years. Mr. Gaylord 
dieil in 1886. He was a man of earnest Christian 
character and a member of the Congregational 



904 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Cburcli and litul filled the position of Postmaster 
at Burns for nearly twenty-five years. Mr. Parker 
ranks iiigli botli as a citizen and in polilieal circles. 
Mrs. Parker is a lady of intelligence and refinement 
and their beautiful home in the suburbs is the 
center of a delightful social life. 



■^UDGE MATTHEW BITSFL The Judge of 
Probate of Shiawassee County, is one of the 
youngest men holding such an office in the 
/ State, and the fact that he was chosen for so 
responsible a position gives conclusive evidence of 
the good opinion of his associates and acquaint- 
ances. In his case, as in that of many a man of 
note in thriving towns, the foundation of knowl- 
edge and power was laid in the district school and 
the fields that comprise the home farm. The hab- 
its of application and industry were acquired and 
a sturdy independence gained, and when better 
opportunities for stud^' were at hand the 30ung 
man was ready to take advantage of them and as- 
similate that which he read for his future good. 
From worth}' ancestors ho inherited an inclination 
toward the higher things of life and his home 
training deepened his aspirations. 

The paternal grandfather of Judge Bush bore 
the same given name as himself. He was born in 
Englanil, emigrated to America and carried on 
farming in Ulster Countj', N. Y. lie was a soldier 
in the War of 1812. His wife lived until 1886, 
surviving him many years and attaining to the 
venerable age of ninety-two. Peter M. Bush, father 
of the Judge, was born in Ulster County, and was 
engaged in farming near Marbletown until 1877. 
He then sold his land, tame to this State, and spent 
the remnant of his days at Stanton, Montcalm 
County, dying there in 1879. Years ago he was 
an Abolitionist and he was afterward identified 
with the Republican i)arty. His religious home 
was in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Elenor Mayes, was born 
in Roxbury, Greene County, M. Y., and died at 
Edmore, Montcalm County, Mich., in 1884. Her 
father, ICdward Mayes, was also a native of Greene 



County and was a farmer and drover. The Bush 
family consisted of five children, three daughters 
and two sons, and Matthew was the second in order 
of birth. 

The birthplace of Judge Bush was at Marble- 
town, Ulster County, N. Y., December 6, 18.53. 
His time up to the age of seventeen years was 
spent like that of other lads living on farms, and 
he then began teaching in the district schools. He 
followed the profession two years, then learned 
telegraphy in the store of Winter Bros., at Ron- 
dout, which was connected by telegraph with an- 
other establishment in Kingston. During this time 
he had charge of the newspaper department about 
two j'ears, then took a station on the Wallkill Val- 
ley Railroad, being agent and operator at Shawan- 
gunk. He had been there but a few weeks when 
he was taken sick with the measles and was obliged 
to give up work. When he was able to resume 
active duties h.e determined to take up law an<l 
August 12, 1873, began the study vvith Messrs. 
Launsbery & DeWitt, of Kingston, both of whom 
afterward bceame members of congress. Accord- 
ing to the existing laws of New York it was neces- 
sary to serve a clerkship of three years in a reputa- 
ble law oflice before being entitled to admission to 
the bar. The statute was complied with b_y Mr. 
Bush, and in September, 1876, at Saratoga, he re- 
ceived his license to practice. 

The initial work of the young lawj'er was done 
at Kingston, where he remained until 1879. He 
then turned his footsteps Westward and located in 
Vernon, Shiawassee County, where for a jear ho 
was in partnership with Alex McKercher. He then 
practiced alone until the fall of 1888, when the Re- 
publicans of the county nominated him for Probate 
Judge. Proving successful in the race he at once 
made preparations for assuming the duties of the 
office and entered upon his work in January, 1889. 
The term is one of four years and during the per- 
iod that has alreadj' elapseil Judge lUish has gained 
credit by his faithfulness and good judgment in 
administering the duties which belonged to him. 
He still owns his residence at Vernon and has an- 
other in Corunna, to which place he removed in 
order to be near his office. The first position of 
an official nature that he held in the State was that 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



905 



of President of the village of Vernon, but lie has 
frequentl\- actcil as a delegate to the Hepublican 
conventions, both countj' and State, and has been a 
member of the Republican County Central Com- 
mittee. He has always been a Republican and he is 
very firm in his political faith. 

Judge Bush was first married to Flora Mc- 
Kercher, by whom he had one son Walter M. She 
died of consumption in May, 1885. The present 
wife of Judge Bush bore the maiden name of An- 
nie E. Veruey and w.as married to Mr. Bush at 
Vernon in March, 1887. She was born in Lero}', 
Calhoun County, and educated in that place and at 
A'ernon. Her father, the late Rev. James Verney, 
was a minister of the Congregational Church and 
she is an earnest member of that religious body and 
has been an etiicicnt worker in the Sunday-schools 
of Vernon and Corunna. She is the mother of 
two children whose respective names are James V., 
and Russell A. Judge Bush belongs to the Blue 
Lodge in Vernon and Chapter in Corunna, and is 
a Knight Templar, enrolled in a Commandery at 
Corunna. He is also an Odd Fellow with his name 
on the roster of a lodge at Vernon. He is social, 
intelligent and cordial in his bearing, and his 
friends are b}' no means confined to the members 
of his own party. 



^-._-.a4«^.^>i<s — , 



'^ 



AMES HEATH. It is a delight to the 
biographer who is seeking out the promi- 
nent men of such a county as Shiawassee to 
enter the home of a man like James Heath, 
so whole-souled and hearty, and so full of the milk 
of human kindness. He is, although of Northern 
birth, a man who is typical of the gentlemen 
farmers of the border States of Kenluck}', Missouri 
and Arkansas. His farm is located on section 25, 
Shiawassee Township, and it is well worth a visit 
to see it in its well-kept condition, showing so 
plainly the hand of a genuine faimer. 

Our suliject was born in the city of Rochester, 
N. Y., February 18, 182!). His f.athcr, James, 
was a native of Berkshire County, Mass., and a son 



of Aaron Heath, a native of England, and a Revo- 
lutionary soldier. His mother, JIary Ann Mann, 
was born in New York. James was the second in 
a famil}' of four children, who were by name: 
Maria, who died in Ohio; James; Mary, the widow 
of J. C. Rogers, of Owosso, arid Lewis W., who is 
known as Captain Heath, of Grand Rapids. This 
son was a captain in the army and inspector of the 
Postoffice Department under (iovcrnor Cosgrovo. 
One son, Nathan, by a former marriage lives in 
Sylvania, Ohio. 

The Rev. James Heath, the father of our subject, 
was known far and wide as a noted revivalist and 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
had remarkable abilities and was in demand as an 
assistant to pastors throughout New York, Ohio 
and Michigan. He began to preach when a boj' 
of sixteen years and was active in ministerial work 
for fifty two years. lie was a prominent man in 
the church, a strong Abolitionist and progressive 
in his ideas. During the latter part of his life he 
attached himself to the Protestant Methodist 
Church, as the Methodist Episcopal Church was 
too conservative on the anti-slavery question. He 
died in 1861 at the age of sixty-eight, passing his 
last days with his son James in Lenawee County, 
Mich. 

When our subject was only six years old, the 
family removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and 
at the age of sixteen years he learned the trade of 
a cooper, and followed it for ten years in Cuya- 
hoga County, Ohio. In 1858 the young man re- 
moved to Lenawee County, Mich., and purchased 
one hundred and twenty acres in Medina Township, 
where he lived for five years. In 1864 he came 
to Shiawassee County, where he had two hundred 
and twenty-eight acres of fine land, one mile north- 
east of Bancroft. 

Upon this farm which now consists of one hun- 
dred at.d fifty acres of finel}' improved land, there 
is situated a commodious home, which is beauti- 
fully located in a very fine natural grove and which 
cost !J2,000. All outbuildings which arc necess.ar}' 
for the successful carrying on of a farm m.ay be 
found here. One barn measures 36x36 feet and 
the other 32x42. The farm is located on both 
sides of the Shiawassee River, and is conseciuently 



906 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



finely situated for raising stock, in which Mr. Heath 
takes great pride. He is breeding Hambletonian 
horses, and one of his 3"0ung animals sold not long 
since for $475, and he frequently sells for 1300, 
they being sired by old "Louis Napoleon." He 
also has very fine driving horses and alvvaj's takes 
premiums at fairs. His farm is also well stocked 
with fine wool sheep. He is a support of agricul- 
tural fairs and is always selected as a judge of 
horses. He is a Republican in his politics, but not 
at all an oflice seeker. His mother lived with him 
until her death in 18G8, at the age of sixty-eight 
years. 

The Lady who presides over this beautiful home 
and extends its hospitality to the friends of the 
family, was united in mairiage with our subject 
October 11, 1854, her maiden name was Julia Wal- 
ton, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Andrew 
Walton, a New Yorker, who is still living on a farm 
in Ashtabula County, Ohio, at the very advanced 
age of ninety-six years. The children who have 
blessed this happy home arc: Charles, living in 
Burns Township; Sarah; Fred; Lewis, who lives in 
Owosso; F'rank, in .Seattle, Wash.; Elgiva; Wini- 
fred. Sarah is Mrs. C. Case, of Shiawassee Township ; 
Fred lives in Dakota; Winifred is a student at the 
High School at ISancroft, and is taking a musical 
training, having an excellent voice wliich gives 
promise of producing great results under the edu- 
cation which is being given her. Mrs. Heath and 
Elgiva are prominent members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 



-S^^ 

\f^ R. COLIN Mccormick, of Owoss(, was 

born in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada, 
September 3, 1848. He is the sixth of nine 
children of Duncan and Mary (Kerr) McCormick, 
both of Scotch descent. The boyhood of our sub- 
ject was spent upon the farm and in the district 
schools of his native county, until he reached the 
age of sixteen years, when he began teaching and 
continued four years, after which he went to Toron- 
to and gi'aduated in the Normal School. He then 
took up the study of medicine entering the ollice 



of Dr. J. D. Van Valsor, of Blenheim, Ontario. He 
took his first course of lectures at McGill medical 
college at Montreal, Canada, and the second and 
third courses in the State University of Michigan, 
taking his diploma in 1872. In 1873 he located in 
Dansville, Ingham County, this State, and took 
charge of Dr. Sherwood's practice for several 
months while that gentleman was absent taking a 
course of lectures. After this he made his home in 
Bennington, Shiawassee Count}' and remained there 
for two years. 

In June, i875. Dr. McCormick located perman- 
ently in Owosso, where he has built up an excellent 
practice, and has made his mark in the profession. 
His marriage with Miss Mary A. Crawford took 
place in December, 1875. This ladj' is daughter of 
Donald and Mary Crawford, of Duart, Kent Coun- 
ty, Ontario, Canada. Five children have been sent 
to cheer and enliven this home, namel}' Minnie, 
Nellie, William CUadstone, Anna and Maggie 
(twins). The mother of these children died May 
26, 1889. 

Dr. McCormick served the city of Owosso one 
term as Mayor, being the incumbent of tliat oflice 
in 1883. He was also the Secretary of the Board 
of Education for three years from 1880 to 1889 
and Health OlHcer a number of terms. He was 
elected Censor of the Detroit Medical College and 
he is a member of the State Medical Society and 
was Secretary of the Owosso Academy of Medicine 
for seven years and President for two years. He 
was a stockholder in the First National Bank. His 
present residence on Exchange Street is a handsome 
brick edifice, which was built in 188G, and is situ- 
ated in extensive and pleasantly arranged grounds. 

This honorable gentleman is a member of the 
Owosso Lodge No. 88, I. 0. O. F., also of the 
Oriental Encamiunent No. 59, and has held all the 
offices in that body, lie also belongs to the Canton 
Semper Fidelia No. 9, of which body he has been 
five times elected Captain. He is also identified 
with the Ancient Order of United Workmen No. 
48. He occupies the position of Examining Ph}-- 
sician for several of these bodies. He is a member 
of theUniversity Alumni Club of which he has been 
elected Vice-President. Me operates a good farm 
of between eigiity and one hundred acres and i)ays 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



909 



some attentiou to stock of good grades, cs[ieciall3- 
horses. He was for six years chairman of the Re- 
publican city committee. His residence is among 
the best in the cit}-, being modern in its style of 
arciiilecture and having all modern imi)rovements 
for the comfort and convenience of the family. 



-^^ 



<», IMLLIAM A. ALDRICII. Among the well- 
\/\/// '^"own families of Walertown Township, 
^^^ Clinton County, none are more favorably 
mentioned than the Aldrich family. The subject 
of this sketch whose portrait appears in this con- 
nection resides on section 32, where he is engaged 
in cultivating his father's farm of one hundred and 
twenty -six acres. This Land is in a high state of 
cultivation and h.as upon it two good sets of farm 
buildings. It was all unbroken timber when it 
was purchased by Silas Aldrich, the father of our 
subject, some thirtj'-six years ago. The father still 
resides on the farm, which he has cleared with the 
help of his son William. This son was then so 
young as to be too small to give hia father the 
necessary help, but they together sawad boards 
from their trees to build a small platform, ujion 
which the boy stood while he Iielped in drawing 
the cross-cut saw through the trunks of the trees. 
William Aldrich was twenty-one j'ears of age 
when he learned the wagon-makers trade, and he 
followed this business for some nine years, but in 
consequence of the failure of his father's health he 
returned to the farm where he liiis ever since re- 
sided. His father was the son of William and Mary 
(Blew) Aldrich, who were natives of Rhode Island, 
where he w.as born. His early rearing and educa- 
tion, however, were carried on in Rochester, N. 
Y., as his parents removed to that place when he 
was only two years of age. His father w.as a sold- 
ier in the War of 1812. 

The father of our sultjcct was born August 17, 
1812, and on A|)ril 13, 181 1, he was married to 
Martha M. Nelson, a daughter of William and 
Hannah Nelson, who were natives of New York, 
where she was born November 13, 1821. This 
marriage was blessed with the birth of three chil- 



dren: Frances F., born December 2, 1817, is now 
the widow of W. F. Ajjpleton, and resides at Grand 
Ledge, Mich.; Mary born in 1855, died at the age 
of nine years; William A., the subject of this 
sketch, was born February 22, 1852, and on August 
19, 1876, he was united in marriage with Sarah J. 
Clark, a daughter of .John W. Clark, whose parents 
came to Oakland County, Mich., at an early day. 
She was born in that county, December 13, 1859. 
Three children have blessed the home of our 
subject and his noble wife, namely: Silas M., born 
September 27, 1878; Herbert C, September 29, 
1884, and Mary Izella, November 7, 1887. In pol- 
itics Mr. Aldrich is a Democrat, and he is a mem- 
ber of the Farmers' Alliance. 



-^1- 



m- 



\f/OHN W. BRYANT. Among the represen- 
tative and time-honored pioneers of Clinton 
County and indeed of Central Michigan who 
i^// are worthy of representation in this Album, 
it is with pleasure that wc name the venerable gen- 
tleman whose name heads this brief sketch. His 
home is on section 0, Greenbush Township, and he 
is a native of Seneca County-, N. Y., where he was 
born, January 11, 1824. He is a son of Daniel 
and Orena (Roberts) Bryant. His mother was a 
native of New .lerscy and this is her eldest son. 

When about five or six years old the subject of 
this sketch migrated with an uncle to W.ayne 
County, Mich., and there resided a short time bo- 
fore coming to Clinton County. In the fall of 
1836 he came with his uncle, Samuel Foreman, to 
De Witt Township and remained with him until jie 
was of .ago, as his parents both died in the Fast. 
He received but the scaniiesl rudinionts of an edu- 
cation, as the log schoolhousc of that d.ay did not 
furnish as systematic and thorough a training as 
was desirable, but he has always paid a great deal 
of attention to matters of public interest and iius 
been a thorough reader, and in that way has gained 
for himself the benefits of an intelligent under- 
standing of many questions. 

The marriage of our subject took place in Wayne 
County, this State, in August, 18IH, Ills bride 



910 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was Frances E. Phillips and she became the mother 
of one daughter, Josephine, who is now the wife of 
Dwight S. Morrison. Mr. Bryant settled upon the 
farm which he now occupies waj' back in the '50s. 
This laud was then practically a dense woods 
and the first liome was in a log cabin where the 
familj' endured great hardships and did thorough 
pioneer worli. He has seen the country grow from 
a wilderness to its present highly cultivated state. 

When Mr. Bryant came to this region St. John's 
contained only a log hut or two. He has helped 
to organize the township and improve it in manj' 
ways. He has served on the School Board and lias 
taken his part in organizing the ranks of the Re- 
publican party in this region. Although he can- 
not in any sense he called a politician, yet the prin- 
ciples of this party receive tlie endorsement of his 
judgment and he is active in promoting its prog- 
ress. Both he and liis good wife are representative 
pioneers of this region. 

Mr. Bryant owns a half-interest in one hundred 
and twelve acres of land and is a successful man in 
the conduct of his affairs and tlie attainment of a 
fine prop©-ty. All the citizens of the township 
join in wishing a calm and peaceful period as the 
closing epocli of the lives of this venerable and 
praiseworthy couple. 



•^^E 




yALTER FLOATE. Among tlic prominent 
^\f\JI/ '*^^'^' politicians, leading agriculturists and 
rejiresentative citizens in whom tlie read- 
ers of this Ali!U5i will be truly interested is llie 
subject of tills sketch. He resides on section 2, 
?]ssex Township, Clinton Count}', and is a native 
of Sussex County, England, being born there Jan- 
uaiy 26, 1829. His parents, John and Sarah (Skin- 
ner) Floate, were both natives of England, and 
they reared this their only son in his native count}'. 
He received but a limited education, and from 
early 3'outh engaged In farming, but lie early im- 
bibed a love for reading, and has kept liimself In 
touch witli tlie live issues of the da}'. In 1853 he 
emigrated to America, taking p.sssage at London 
on the sail vessel called ' 'The Congress," and after. 



an ocean voyage of forty-two days he landed in 
New York City, and coming to Michigan settled in 
Macomb County. There he resided for several 
years and finally came to Clinton County, in 18G6, 
establishing liimself on the farm in Essex Town- 
ship, upon which he now resides. 

Mr. Floate owns eighty acres of fine land which 
he has brought from the condition of a wilderness 
to a state of cultivation, and upon which he estab- 
lished a happy home. He was married April 13, 
1855, to Mrs. Sarah A. (Sill) Holmes, a native of 
Connecticut, who was born October 15, 1827. This 
lady is a daughter of James and Harriet (Rock- 
well) Sill, both natives of Connecticut. Her pater- 
nal ancestry is Irish and her maternal English. Her 
grandfather Sill was a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. 
Floate lost her father when in her second year, and 
her mother lived until April 13, 1885, when she 
died at the home of our subject. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Floate have been granted four 
children, namely: Charley J., Ira H., George M., 
and Lizzie M., who is now the wife of Ray Sessions. 
Mrs. Floate had been previously married and was 
at the time of her second union the widow of Mi- 
randa Holmes. By him she had three children, 
two of whom are now living, namely: Livona, 
(Mrs. James Vosper,) and Jetora (Mrs. Thomas 
Anderson.) 

Mr. Floate has served as Commissioner of High- 
ways for Essex Township, and was elected Justice 
of the Peace, but not desiring office failed to qual- 
ify as he prefers the quietude of home life. He 
is a member of the Farmers' Club of Essex Town- 
ship, and served as its first President two years. 
He is also prominently connected with the Stock 
Breeders' Association of Clinton County, and for 
two years served as its President. He raises fine 
Merino sheep an<l has always taken an active inter- 
est in promoting the progress of the agricultural 
class, either socially or industrially. 

Our subject is a Republican in politics, and is 
identified as a charter member with the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen of Maple Rapids, the 
first organization of that kind in the State. He 
lias served as Slaster Workman in this order, and 
is identified with the Clinton County Pioneer So- 
ciety, as is also his intelligent and worthy wife, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



911 



they are both looked upon as amouor the leading 
members of society in their township. lie had only 
twent}- shillings left in his poei<et when he reached 
Macomb County, Mich., and it is tiirough iiis own 
unaided efforts that he lias acliiovcd tiie prosperity 
■which is his to-dav. 




^ AVID B. GREEN, a prominent resident of 
Middlebury Town.ship, Shiawassee Countj', 
was born in Warren County, N. J., July 
18, 1840. He is a son of William T. and 
Catherine (Brands) Green. His father's family 
was originall3' from France and came to America 
with Lafayette, at the time of the Revolutionary 
War. His mother's people were from German}', 
but his parents were both born and brought up in 
New Jersey. His father was by occupation a far- 
mer and our subject lived with his parents until 
the war broke out and then enlisted. The family re- 
moved to Michigan when the boy was twelve years 
old and located in Oakland Township, Oakland 
County. Our subject had only the advantages of 
a common-school education, attending the coun- 
try schools in the winter. In the spring of 1862 
he removed to Shiawassee Counl}- and located in 
Middlebury- Township. 

In August, 18G2, the young man enlisted in 
Company E, Fourth Michigan Cavahy, under Col. 
R. II. G. Mint}', and was sent to Louisville and 
thence to Nashville, where they joined the Army 
of the Cumberland, following Bragg in his retreat. 
The first general engagement was at Stone River, 
at Lebanon, December 31, 1862; then at La- 
vergne, and Rover, Tenn.; then in succession at 
Liberty, Penn., McMinnville, Middletown, Shclby- 
ville, Tenn., Cliickamauga, Rossville, Ga., Cross- 
roads, Tenn., Mission Ridge, Kingston, Dallas, Lost 
Mountain, Big Shanty, Noondaj- Creek, Kencsaw 
Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, 
Lost Mountain (againU^ome, Double Bridges 
and Macon. ^^^ 

The detail from the comiiany to which Mr. 
Green belonged, captured Jefferson Davis, May 10, 
186.5. He was the second man on the ground 



when that notable was captured. During all the 
service through which he passed he never received 
a wound nor was obliged to be in the hospital, al- 
though he had a narrow escape at Cliickamauga. 
He was mustered out of service in Nashville, Tenn., 
July 1, 1865, and reached home July 10. 

After reaching home this young veteran began 
farming and improving his place and was married 
on November 4, 1867, to Mariah Rogers, of Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. He has three children: Kiltie E., born 
May 14, 1870; William II., September 19, 1868; 
and Grace S., April 29, 1875. His chihlron are all 
living and at home with their parents. Mr. Green 
has a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres, 
in a high state of cultivrition. In politics he is a 
Republican and has hold the offices of Township 
Clerk and Treasurer and is now filling his second 
term as Supervisor. He belongs to the Order of 
Odd Fellows and takes an active interest in educa- 
tion, giving his chihlivu the best advantages avail- 
able and furnishing his eldest daughter instruction 
in music. 




i'LVESTER E. SCOTT, a grandson of the 
first actual settler in Clinton County, was 
born October 23, 1838, in DeWitt Town- 
ship. His grandfather, David, was born 
in November, 1779, in Litchfield, Conn., and being 
left an orphan at an early age, was throvvn upon 
the world to earn his own livelihood. Coming to 
Michigan about 1825, he settled on a farm a mile 
and a half south of Ann Arbor and continued to 
reside there for eight years. When he came to 
Clinton County, October 4, 1833, he took up land 
from the Government where Ihe village of DeWitt 
now stands, built a log cabin and went to work to 
clear the land. He hart' then no neighbors within 
forty miles of his home. He was a hard worker 
and farmed extensivcd}'. owning at one time some 
eight sections in this vicinity, lie built a double 
log house which he used .as a hotel for emigrants 
and it w.as the pioneer hotel of thai region. His 
home w.as indeed in the wilderness surrounded by 
wild animals and Indians. lie could si)eak the In- 



912 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



diaii language and was friendly and neighborly 
with the red men. He died jMay 7, 1851, at the 
age of seventy-one years. 

Eunice Forbs, the grandmother of our subject, 
was born at Shoreham, Vt., January 14, 1780, and 
died May 7, 1840. She and her husband were both 
of the Univcrsalist faith. The}' were the parents 
of eleven children, six of whom grew to maturity. 
Her son, Sylvester, the father of our subject, w.as 
born August 29, 1806, in Genesee County, N. Y., 
and coming with his parents to Michigan in 1825, 
remained with them until about the time they re- 
moved to tliis county, to which he followed them 
in 1834. He built a log house on a. farm a quarter 
of a mile from DeWitt, and was engaged in im- 
proving his land when he was killed by an 
accident in the first sawmill which was ever 
erected in the county. His death occurred 
April 22, 1838, when in his thirty-second year. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Sophroaia Cooley , 
was born in Massachusetts in 1811, and bravely 
carried on the farm and brought up her sons after 
the sad death of her husband. 

The subject of this sketch attended the district 
school in the log schoolhouse under the rate bill 
system. He spent the days of his boyhood upon 
the farm and among the Indians. Somewhat later 
he rented a farm in the neighborhood, a part of 
which he afterward bought. His marriage took 
place July 31, 1864. His bride, Mary Winans, 
was born in Livingston County, Mich., August 12, 
1841. They have had two children. Their eldest, 
Theron, died in infancy and the daughter Beatrice 
L. is at Albion College, Mich., taking a course in 
music at the Conservatory. Mr. Scott is an excel- 
lent farmer and upon his fine farm in the outskirts 
of the village of DeWitt and situated upon a beau- 
tiful street, wiiich is lined with large maple trees, 
stands his attractive and commodious frame resi- 
dence. He has two large frame barns and other 
outbuildings suitable and necessary to the carrying 
on of a farm. Ninety-five acres of his one hun- 
dred and fifteen are under the plow and he carries 
on mixed farming. His house was built in 1868 
and his barns, one in 1854, and one in 1878. Both 
lie and his worthy wife are efficient and happy 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with 



which they have been connected six and ten years 
respectively. He is in no sense a politician yet is 
deeply interested in the movement of both local 
and national affairs. He was a Democrat until 
1875 and since then has been a Prohibitionist. 



rlhM AURICE COLEMAN is another of the 
\\\ British-American citizens of Duplain 
w Township, Clinton County, one who has bj- 
his life of sturdy industry and undaunted 
courage and perseverance, shown himself a credit 
alike to the land which gave him birth, and the 
country of his adoption. He was born in Somer- 
setshire County, England, November 23, 1860, and 
is a son of Charles and Maria (Rice) Coleman. 
His parents were born and brought up in Devon- 
shire, his father at Hatchbecham, and his raotlicr 
at Fiugrave. The father was by occupation a 
blacksmith, and gave his son a common-school 
education. After remaining with his parents until 
he became of age the young man began life for 
himself by working on a farm in England. 

Our subject decided to come to the United 
States in the spring of 1875, and after spending 
two years in Onondaga County, N. Y., in work 
upon a farm, he decided to go still farther West, 
and made his home for two years and a half near 
Shipman, Macoupin County, 111., where he pursued 
farming labors. After that he came to Michigan, 
and located in Duplain Township, Clinton County, 
where he remained about five years. He then went 
to "torn and bleeding Kansas," and spent three 
years in Wabaunsee County, engaged upon a 
ranch. 

Returning to Michigan and locating in Duplain 
Township, this young man determined to establish 
a home of his own. and was married March 2, 
1887, to Alice F. Lowe, of this township. Two 
children crowned this union, the eldest B^'ron, born 
July 7, 1888, died October of the same year. The 
second, Joseph C, born July 15, 1889, still lives 
to be the joy and delight of his parents. IMr. 
Coleman has been on this place now for about 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



913 



three years, anrl is culUvaling a tract of about 
sixty acres. He has never sought office of any 
kind, but takes a lively interest in politics, and is 
an adherent of the Prohibition party. 



^m- 



JfOHN WOODWORTII, a citizen of Ovid, 
Clinton County, Mich., was born March 21, 
1815, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth 
Woodworth, both of whom died when he 
was a mere boy. He was then bound out in tlie 
County House of Albany County, N. Y., as he was 
born in Albany. He afterward lived with Samuel 
Rue, of Saratoga County, and remained with him 
until he reached his majority. During his minor- 
ity he received only a common-t^chool education, 
but after he became a man he took some supple- 
mentary schooling. 

After striking out for himself this young man 
followed farming at Clifton Park, Saratoga County, 
and later came to Michigan in 1837, locating in 
Hillsdale County. He remained here two and one- 
half years, and then leaving the State the fall Gen. 
Harrison was elected President, he returned to his 
native county. He was there married on February 
3, 1847, to Louisa Peterson of Clifton Park, and 
he now has five children, three sons and two daugh- 
ters. They are b}' name, Margaret, born August 
22, 1849; James W., July 9, 1855; Belle, Decem- 
ber 3, 1858; Robert C, November 1-2, 1862; and 
Frederick, April 4, 18GG. These children are all 
married except Robert, who lives in (Jhio, and 
Margaret makes her home in Virginia. The three 
others reside in Michigan. 

Mr. Wood worth removed to Virginia in 1865 
and located near Seven Pines, the scene of the cel- 
ebrated battle. He lived on a farm there until 
1881, wiien he returned to Michigan and located in 
Clinton County. For some time he managed the 
farm where his son now resides, and then moved 
into Ovid, wiiere he has since resided. He has 
now retired from active business. He has always 
been a Re))ublican since the formation of that 
party, and has held a number of offices in Rich- 
mond, Va. lie was a member of the County Court, 




Coroner, Commissioner of Highways, and Commis- 
sioner of the Poor. He was also appointed by 
Gen. Canby as Commissioner of tlie Revenue. 

One interesting fact in the life of our subject is 
that although his father's family was broken up by 
the death of the parents, and the five children were 
scattered to different places, where for many j'ears 
they were ignorant of each others whereabouts, 
they have at last come together again by accident, 
after a separation of sixty years, and have had a 
re-union. Those living are now residing in Mich- 
igan, two having died since the re-union; at that 
time their combined ages aggregated three hundred 
and fifty j'cars. 



S^M ATIIIAS FEDEWA. The name of Fedewa 
is familiar to many citizens of Clinton 
County, as the family has been connected 
* with the work carried on here, for a num- 

ber of years past. The member whose life history 
it is our purpose to sketch in these paragraphs, is 
a farmer on section 30, Dallas Township. His es- 
tate consists of one hundred and ten broad and 
fertile acres, which was reclaimed from its wild 
condition by his personal efforts. He not only 
cleared and l)rokc the land but he has put up the 
various buildings which now adorn the property. 

The parents of Mr. Fedewa are John and Annie 
(Shaffer) Fedewa, of whom mention is made on 
another page in this volume. On the farm they 
now occupy he was born April 30, 1819, and his 
entire life has been p.assed in Clinton Count}-. He 
pursued the usual course of study and on the farm 
learned much that has been of. practical benefit in 
the work to which he decided to devote himself. 
His home was with his ])arents until he was about 
twenty-six years old, when he married and estab- 
lished himself on an eighty-acre tract given him 
l)y his father. To this he added other acres, and 
the success with which he has already met, gives 
promise of still greater prosperity as time goes by. 

The marriage rites between Malhias Fedewa and 
Mary A. Thelen were solemnized Ma;)- 18, 1875. 
Tlie bride is a daughter of .lohn Thelen, who was 



914 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



l)orn in Germany ami is numbered among tiie early 
selUers of Clinton County wherein he breathed his 
last. The Thelen family incliides three sous and 
three daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Fedewa eight 
children have been born and the lively group con- 
sists of Joseph, Edward, William, Barnard, Annie, 
Albert, Nicholas and Ludwig. The parents are 
devout members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Fed- 
ewa belongs to the Democratic party. 



^ 



r^ 




EN.TAMIN F. KANN. One of the men 
most prominently interested in the growth 
of the village of Morrice, Shiawassee 
County, is the gentleman whose name heads 
our sketch. He is the owner of the flouring-mills 
and large general store, and deals laigely in wool 
and grain. He was born in Genesee Count}', N. 
Y., April 24, 1843. His parents are proud of the 
fact that they were among the lirst pioneers to 
come to the great State of Michigan. His father, 
Albert W. Rann, is a native of New York, and was 
born at Alexander, Genesee County, N. Y., May 
31, 1818, same townshii) and county in which his 
son was born. The father, who was a farmer, came 
to Michigan in 1847 across the lakes, thence by 
wagou to Shiawassee County, where he located on 
section 35, Perry Township. Starting from Alex- 
ander on the 9th of November, 1847, erected 
a log house and moved into it January 1, 1848. 

Only an old settle.- can realize what it was to 
find one's way through a perfectly wild country, to 
a new home where there were none of the features 
of civilization, no roads nor anything else indicat- 
ing human companionsliii), with unbroken forests 
on every side. Hewing down the heavy timber in 
a little space they built a log house and gradually 
cleared the stumps away from the house, which 
was a source of great wonder to the Indians, who 
visited them very frequently. Many have been 
the times when the larder needed replenishing that 
the father of our subject has stood in doors or 
gone not far from the house and killed deer, the 
meat of which he prepared for family use, and the 
pelts of the animals were sold to the trading posts. 



He traded and milled at Byron, and later at Will- 
iamston. 

It is a work of years to clear and put under cul- 
tivation a farm, and Mr. Rann's father found his 
time fully occupied in clearing land, and providing 
a subsistence for his family. He now owns one 
hundred and ninety acres of land which is under 
a fine state of cultivation. The aged couple cele- 
brated their golden wedding April 14, 1891. His 
wife was Mary Ann Bridger ; she was of English 
origin and came to America with her father and 
mother, and four sisters and brothers, when but ten 
years of age, starting from England April 8, and 
landing in America June 1, 1829. She is the 
mother of four children: Ellen V., who married 
Oliver S. Smith; our subject; Benjamin F. ; Flor- 
ence E., who married F. B. Gardner, and Henry 
E. The parents are adherents of and believers in 
the Universalist faith. The father is a Democrat, 
and has been Justice of the Peace for a number of 
years. They are both still living on the old farm 
on section 35. 

The original of our sketch was brought to this 
State at the tender age of four years and was 
reared in the wilderness. He first attended the log 
school and was later advanced to the dignity of a 
frame schoolhouse, where they had slab benches 
and quill pens. The school was conducted on the 
rate bill system. He began business for himself at 
the age of twenti-three when he engaged in farm- 
ing. He purchased ninety acres in Ingham County, 
just across the line. Here he resided for four years, 
and then removed to Rami's Mills a place on the 
father's farm and built the first grist-mill ever 
erected in Perry Township. In 1872 this mill was 
operated by steam, and he so continued it until 
1878, when he located at Morrice, and January 21, 
1878, started the mill which he at present is con- 
ducting. It w.as at first a three run of stone mill, 
but in 1889 I'e i)ul in the machinery for a patent 
roller process and it now has a capacity of turning 
out sixty barrels per d.ay. He sold his farm in 
Ingham County in 1887, which place he had pre- 
viously rented for several 3ears. On coming to 
Morrice Mr. Raun built a fine two-story brick 
store which he rented for four years, and then 
opened as a general merchandise store. At the 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



915 



time he was residing at Rann's Mills he was the 
proprietor of a store, conducting this for three 
years, from May, 1K75, to May, 1878. In both his 
stores he carried a good stock of groceries, cloth- 
ing and provisions, m.aking of it a general stock. 

Mr. Rann was married December 25, I8G6. The 
lady's maiden name was Ellen A. Lovejoy, and she 
was born in Hillsdale Couutj-, this State, August 
7, 1841. They have had five children: Earle L., 
Morton, M. Belle, George A. and Theo F. Our 
subject is a Democrat in politics and a strong ad- 
herent and believer in the Universalist faith. He 
has held the office of Justice of the Peace for eight 
years and for one year has been Township Super- 
visor and Village Trustee, and President of the 
village for six years. He is a member of Perry 
Lodge, No. 150, I. 0.0. F., and a charter member 
of P.ancroft Lodge, No. 138, K. P. 

Mr. Rann has been one of the most energetic 
men in building up the town in which he lives. 
He buys grain and ships it. besides flour, to the 
New England States, Buffalo and Detroit, and he 
has a fine Eastern trade. Earle L., the oldest son 
is now associated in the business. Both the elder 
sons are graduates from business colleges. 




iDWIN H. LYON, a prominent attorney of 
St. John's, was born in Scio Township, 
Washtenaw County, Jul}' 7, 186L His 
father, Charles W., was born in the same county 
and his grandfather, Lorenzo M.. came there in 
1832, wlien a young man, from New York City, 
where he was born and where he had been a clerk. 
He entered laud in Scio and made it his home, tak- 
ing to wife there Lena Lane, of Binghami)ton, N. 
Y. He engaged in farming until he retired from 
business and ended his days in Ann Arbor in the 
year 1888. His ancestry had been in New York 
for three generations. 

Charles W. Lyon attended the Normal School at 
Ypsilanti and followed teaching for some 3'ears, al- 
thougii his general avocation was farming. In 
1866 he came to Clinton County, where he carried 
on a farm and at the same time a sawmill, having 



purchased a sawmill called Lyon's Mill. In 1880 
he sold this property and came to St. John's, where 
he remained until 1889, and then again made an 
exchange of property and took charge of a saw- 
mill at Conwn}', Enimett County, where he manu- 
factured jiine and hemlock lumber, under the firm 
name of W. C. & E. H. Lyon. He now resides at 
St. John's. 

The mother of our subject, Sarah M. Lyon, was 
born at Medina, Ohio, in November, 1811. The 
grandfather. Royal C. Lyon, was a native of Rut- 
land, Vt., where he was a blacksmith, and came in 
the early days to Medina County, Ohio, and thence 
to Michigan, becoming one of the carl}' settlers in 
Bengal Township, Clinton County. He settled 
here about the year 1850 and carried on his trade 
as a blacksmith as well as being one of the pioneer 
farmers. 

The parents of our subject had five children: 
Willard C, the [)artner of our subject, who resides 
in this city; Edwin II.; Mark, who was accidentally 
killed on the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad at 
Grand Rapids; Ida M., who resides at home; and 
Fred M., who is a wanderer and has no certain 
abiding place. Edwin was reared in Washtenaw 
County until five years of age and then came with 
his parents to Bengal Townshij), where the father 
was operating the mill at L3'on's Mill. He was ed- 
ucated in the district schools and trained pracli- 
call}' upon the farm and in the sawmill. At the 
age of fourteen he entered the High School at Ann 
Arbor, then was graduated at the St. John's High 
School after three years' study. He afterward en- 
tered the liteiary department of the University of 
Michigan, where he took his diploma in 188-1, with 
the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. 

The young man now entered the employ of his 
father in the im|)lement business and commenced 
the study of law with Cook & Daboll and in July, 
1886, was admitted to the bar. He had already 
formed a partnership with Rlr. Cook, whicii contin- 
ued till the death of that gentleman, when he went 
into partnership, in 1887, with another attorney, 
under the firm name of Fedowa & Lyon, which part- 
nership continued until January, 1891, since which 
time he has carried on his profession alone. He 
has an extensive practice in St. John's and vicinity 



916 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and is one of the most highly' honored and es- 
teemed attorneys in the count}'. 

Our subject and liis brother, W. C, were at 
one time in the implement business together, but 
exchanged that business for a sawmill. The lady 
whom he made his wife in 1888 was Alice Maxam 
by name, a daughter of Lero}' and Cynthia Maxam. 
She was born in C)nondaga County, N. Y. This 
lady was a graduate of the St. John's High School 
and taugiit'for some time before her marriage both 
here and in Colorado. She was a lady of fine abili- 
ties and broad culture and was deeply mourned, not 
only by her family but by the community, when 
taken away by deatli, September 4, 1890. Mr. 
Lyon served as Circuit Court Commissioner from 
1887 to 1889. His political views are expressed in 
ihe platform of the Democratic party and although 
not an office-seeker he is esteemed as one of the 
strongest men in the party, and his good judgment 
and afifabilit}' give him a broad and enduring influ- 
ence. 

KM ORRIS ORMSHY. Among the reputable 
I iW ™^° ^^'"^ '" their conduct uf business raat- 
I] i* ters and the duties belonging to tlie vari- 
* ous relations of life have acquired a worthy 

name, should be mentioned Mr. Ormsb}', who has 
been in business in Corunna, Shiawassee County, 
since t!ie summer of 1 865. He is the oldest grocery 
dealer, in respect to his business life, in the city, 
having been continuously engaged in this line of 
trade since August of the year mentioned. He is 
also agent for the American and National Express 
Companies and be has been useful in his day and 
generation as a trustworthy public servant and 
church worker. 

Mr. Ormsby is of Irish extraction, but the family 
was established in America manj' j'ears ago. His 
father, Pliilander Ormsb^-, w,^s born in Wliitestown, 
N. Y., in 1800, and when eighteen years old went 
Oswego County and established himself on a farm 
near Mexico. He imi)roved land tlicre and fol- 
lowed farming until his death in 18,56. He was 
one of the strong Abolitionists whose belief caused 
so much agitation in political circles. His religious 



home was in the Baptist Church and he was a Dea- 
con from his early manhood. The mother of our sub- 
ject bore the maiden name of Luna Halsted, and was 
born in Oneida County, N. Y. Her last years 
were spent in this State and she died at Corunna 
at the home of her j-oungest child Morris Ormsby. 

The birthplace of our subject was in the 
vicinity of Mexico, Oswego County N. Y., 
and his natal day July 26, 1836. His early 
j'ears were passed amid the usual rural sur- 
roundings, and his school privileges were limited 
to an attendance during the winter months, while 
the summers were given to various duties belong- 
ing to farm life. When liis father died he took 
charge of the seventj' acres of land comprising the 
homestead and operated it until 1865, when he 
sold and came to Corunna. A few months later he 
was established in business iiere with M. Carland, 
and the connection continued until 1869. Mr. 
Ormsby then bought out liis partner and until 1872 
carried on the grocery trade alone. He then took 
his nephew, F. Howlett, in as a partner, and put up 
a brick store, into which they moved a stock of 
goods In September. During the centennial j'ear 
Mr. Ormsb}' .again became sole proprietor of the 
establishment, and lias carried on tlie business alone 
since that time. He carries a stock of crockery 
and wall paper, in addition to staple and fancy 
groceries, and has a tliriving trade. In February, 
1888, he became agent for the American Express 
Company and in May 1891, the business of the 
National Express Company was placed in his 
hands. 

In Mexico, N. Y., July 6, 1856, Mr. Ormsby 
and Miss Mary E. AVhitman were united in mar- 
riage. The bride w«s born in the town of Oswego 
and was the daughter of Orange Whitman, a black- 
sniitli. After more than thirty 3-eais of wedded 
happiness, she was called hence August 19, 1889. 
Tlie3' had two sons born to them who died previ- 
ous to their removal to Michigan. Mr. Ormsby 
was City Treasurer four years in succession and 
was Supervisor of the Second Ward in Corunna, 
one 3'ear. Wiiile holding the latter position he w.as 
Chairman of the Committee of Public Buildings 
and Grounds and others. He was a member of the 
Scliool Board one term. In his early years he be- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



917 




longed to the Abolition party and wlien tliere was 
no further need of lliat element in politics lie 'oe- 
came a Republican. In 1886 be was convinced 
that the liquor traffic was the most im[)ortant sub- 
ject for legislation and he abandoned the Republi- 
can ranks and became a Prohibitionist. He was 
a delegate to county and State conventions 
while working with the Ue))ublicans. While in- 
terested in all matters which [jertain to public wel- 
fare, Mr. Ormsby has been more active in church 
work than anything else. He belongs to the 
Methoilist Episcopal Church, in which he has been 
Steward and Trustee. Having a love of and talent 
for singing,he has been Chorister for a quarter of a 
century and his voice still leads the choir. 



|EV. WILLIAM C. ALLEN, the pastor of 
St. John's Congregational Church, is an 
Englishman by birth, having been born 
!i^ September 2G, 1843, in Canterbury, Kent, 
England. His father, Thomas, was born in Kod- 
ferd, Lancastershire, and was a veterinar}- surgeon, 
living at Canterbur}'. When a j'oung man he was 
in the English army and served under the Duke of 
York. He died at Canterbury at the age of sixtj-- 
one years. The family is of Norrann descent. 

The mother of our subject, Elizabeth Clark, was 
born in London. Her father was a native of Edin- 
burgh, Scotland, but made his home in London in 
early life. They were members of the Church of 
England. Elizabeth Clark Allen died in England 
when her son was but three years old, and his fa- 
ther died one year later. He was then brought up 
by his eldest sister, Elizabeth Philips, who resided 
at Dundock. Ireland. Of the sixteen children of 
this family only eight grew to maturity. William 
was educated by his sister in the National schools 
and a private academy until he reached the age of 
fourteen years. He then, in 1857, enlisted as a 
volunteer in the English army. He served his first 
five years in the second Royal Cheshire Militia, 
with quarters at C'hcster. In 18G2 he re-enlistcd 
for twelve years, as a private in the Thirteenth Hus- 
sars. 

In 1866 the young soldier came to America dur- 



ing the Fenian raid and was located in Canada, be- 
ing most of the lime in Toronto. He served until 
1868 when he purchased his discharge and began 
the study of ministry. He took a four years' course 
in theology under the Toronto pastors, being en- 
gaged in preaching at the same time. He was 
regularly ordained to the ministry, June 11, 1873, 
at Toronto. He remained tliere for some years 
and then went to St. Catherine's. He located at. 
Saugatuck, Allegan County, Mich., in 1877, and 
was pastor of the Congregational Church there for 
fifteen months. Thence he went to Wel)ster, Wash- 
tenaw County, and was for four years [lastor of one 
of the oldest churches in the State. In 1883 he 
spent nine months at St. Ignace in the Upper Pen- 
insula and there built a church. From there he 
weut to Leslie, Ingham Countj^ and was pastor of 
the church there for four years, and helped them to 
erect a neat and commodious house of worship. He 
spent fifteen months in East Tawas and in Se|)tem- 
ber, 1888, was called to St. John's as pastor of the 
Congregational Church, which built for him in 
1 890 a neat and attractive parsonage. 

The marriage of the Rev. Mr. Allen with Miss 
Rebecca Sylvester took place in Toronto, May 26, 
1871. This lady was born in Toronto and is a 
true helpmate to her husband in his pastoral work, 
being possessed of a noble Christian character. Mr. 
Allen's musical abilities are on the same par of 
excellence with his public talents and he has a high 
reputation as a performer upon the flute and cor- 
net. 



'jflOIIN BLASS, a resident of St. John's, Clin- 
ton County, was born in Columbia County, 
N. Y., October 18,1819. His grandfather 
/ was John 1. Hlass, of New York, and his 
great jriandfather was one of three brothers who 
came from German^'. The father, Jacob Blass, 
came to Indiana and settleil in LaPorte and subse- 
quently removed to Michigan, where he died about 
1875. His wife, Anna Vanderwocker, a native of 
New Y'ork, died in 1820. With the exception of 
two half brothers and two half sisters our subject 



918 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



is now the only living representative of bis father's 
family. 

This boy was reared upon the farm and had a 
walk of nearly two miles to take to reach tiie 
school. He lived with his grandmother until 
about twelve years old, when he began working 
for various farmers by the month or job as he 
could get employment. After he was eighteen 
years old he went to learn the trade of carpentry 
and when he had it partly learned he struck out 
for himself and followed this line of work for about 
twenty-two years. Having accumulated some 
means he began buying and selling land in the 
counties of Wayne and Cayuga, N. Y. He finally 
kept a tavern at Wcstbury, N. Y., for some three 
years, and afterwards sold out and came to Michi- 
gan, making his home near Cold water and work- 
ing at his trade. He subsequently bought a farm 
which he improved and disposed of. 

In 1864 Mr. Blass went to Idalio and spent one 
summer in the gold diggings in the northern part 
of the Territory. He tlien returned to this State 
and prospected for land in Nortiiern Michigan, 
but finally returned to this part of the State- 
and purchased a farm near St. John's. He sold 
this property and bought a tavern in Olive Town- 
ship, Clinton County, which has long been known 
as the "Muskrat Tavern." After carrying this on 
for about two years, he sold it and purchased the 
farm where he now resides on section 9, Olive 
Township. Most of it was unbroken and he has 
done much pioneer work in clearing and improv- 
ing it. 

The first marriage of our subject took place 
November 28, 1845, at Phelps, N. Y., and his wife 
died December 18, 1865. Of her three children 
the oldest, Densel, died in the war. Oscar is in 
the boot and shoe business in Cliicago, and Edgar 
is now deceased. The subject of this biogra- 
phy was a second time married, Februarj' 22, 1867, 
to Ophelia Emery, of Michigan, who died April 2, 
1869, leaving one child who has died. Mr. Blass' 
third marriage took place July 3, 1870, his wife 
being Lury A. Jason, of Ohio. One daughter, 
Millie, is the result of this marriage. 

Mr. Blass is an earnest and hearty advocate of 
Republican principles and is a member of the 



Grange. He began life without means, and being 
a man of great energy and push has been quite 
successful. He now owns one hundred and twenty 
acres of land and raises all kinds of stock. He has 
made liis monej' by buying and selling land and 
various methods of trade. The especial pride of 
the home of this family is the daughter Millie, who 
is now a fine young woman and one who deserves 
and receives the warmest praise of all who know 
her. She is efficient and cap.ible in domestic affairs 
and a universal favorite in society. 



-^ 



Ml ft,ILLIAM F. BEEBJ:E, a prominent young 
\rJ// farmer and stock-raiser on section 23, o' 
'J^xy Greenbush Township, Clinton County, 
where he owns one hundred acres, is a native of 
Madifon Counlj', N. Y., where he was born July 
3, 1853. lie is a son of Sylvester and Abby Ann 
Beebee, natives of New York. He has been rcai'ed 
to manhood in this county .having come hither with 
his parents when a j'outh. He received his educa- 
tion in practical life on the farm, and his book- 
learning in the district schools, which in those da\^s 
were sadly deficient in the many advantages that 
are now enjoyed by the children of Michigan. He 
is mainly- a self-educated man and is well-read and 
thoroughly well-informed in regard to topics of 
general interest. 

The marriage of Mr. Beebee, January 1, 1877, 
united him with Odessa Green, a daughter of Will- 
iam and Sarah Green, of Greenbush Township. 
The father died some 3'esrs ago and the mother is 
again a widow, having married for her second 
husband David Blank, now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Beeboe have been born three children: Nora 
L., born January 27, 1881, Bertha M., February 
18, 1887. .and Emma E., September 9, 1890. 

Mr. Beebee is a Republican in politics, and while 
not an office seeker, is intelligent in his under- 
standing of the policy of his party and is earnestly 
interested in its progress. He is wide-awake on 
matters of local enterprise and is one of the active 
promoters in cverj' movement which lends toward 
the elevation of society and the future good of the 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



919 



county. He is earnestly in favor of progressive 
movements in education and looiis to tlie interests 
of the rising generations He is prominently iden- 
tified with the Knights of Honor at St. John's and 
lie and his valuable wife are highly respected mem- 
bers of society. 

The subject of this sketch is well-known, not 
only in his township, but also throughout this part 
of the county, for his sturdy integrity, industry 
and enterprise, and for the good success which has 
met his efforts. He enjoys the unfailing confidence 
of the business community. Further mention of 
his venerable father, Sylvestet Beebee, the well- 
known Justice of the Peace, appears elsewhere in 
this Album. Mrs. Beebee is a member of the 
Ciiristian Church at Eureka. 






<il jf/ H. COLE, a merchant and ex-Slieriff of 
\/vli ^^liifiwassee County, is now engaged in 
^i/^' general mercliandising in Corunna, and is 
accounted one of the most influential and enterpris- 
ing citizens of that prosperous town. He was born 
in Brownviile, Jefferson County, N. Y., July 2.5, 
1813. His father, William N., was a native of the 
same county and the grandfather, William, was a 
native of Vermont and served in the War of 1812 
at Sackett's Harbor. He afterward became one of 
the early settlers in Jefiferson County and owned a 
large tract of land there. He died at the age of 
seventy-five years. 

The father of our subject emigrated from Brown- 
viile, N. Y., to Shiawasese County, this State, in 
1867. He made his home in Caledonia Township, 
and there bought improved land, and later pur- 
chased a farm of two hundred and fort)' acres in 
Vernon Townsliip. He is now eighty years old, 
yet bright and active and able to do a good da3''s 
work. He keeps up his interest in public affairs 
and is an earnest Republican in his political views. 
His wife, Laura Buncc, was left an orphan at an 
early age and w^as reared by her uncle. Judge Bunce, 
who was one of the first to locate in St. Clair 
County, and who laid out Port Huron and Pon- 
tiac. He was a surveyor and could talk the Indian 



language, and became Judge of St. Clair County, 
and was esteemed one of the most able men of the 
of his day in Michigan. He attained to the ex- 
treme age of one hundred and two years. When 
he reached his one hundredth year the occasion 
was celebrated at his home by a gathering of the 
most noted men of the State. He was bereaved of 
of his wife in 1848. The only sister of our sub- 
ject is Hattie, Mrs. Merrick, of Franklin County, 
N. Y. 

After attending a common district school in Jef- 
ferson County, N. Y., the subject of this sketch 
spent one winter in the academy at Ft. Covington. 
When the war broke out he was strongly inclined 
to join the army and finally <lid so in 1863, volun- 
teering In the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, 
Compan)' L He was mustered in at Sackett's Har- 
bor and joined the Army of the Potomac under 
Sheridan in the Valley of the Shenandoah. He 
was in many skirmishes and fights and in the en- 
gagement at Bermuda Hundred, his artillery lost 
one-third of its men. They were then placed 
upon provost duty until June 18fi5,and during the 
next month were mustered out of service. 

In the spring of 1866 this young veteran soldier 
went to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and engaged in farming 
for two years. He then bought a farm of eighty 
acres within the corporation limits of Corunn.a, 
Mich., which he managed until 1875. He grad- 
uallj' drifted into the stock business and for three 
years managed a market. At two diflferent times 
he was in the livery business and for two years 
Under-Sheriff under Kelso. In the fall of 1884 he 
was nominated Sheriff on the Democratic ticket 
and received the election and being re-elected 
served until January 1, 1889. He purchased, in 
April, 1891, the dry goods, grocery and notions 
business which had been under the management of 
Mr. Eveleth. 

Miss Mary Jones, of Brownviile, N.Y., became the 
wife of Mr. W. H. Cole in 1865. Her parents, 
Silas and Sarah A. Jones, were prosperous farmers 
of Jefferson Count}^ N. Y. Three children came 
to bless this home. The}- arc William N., who is 
at home; also Laura, who is with her father in busi- 
ness and Blanche who is still at home. Mr. Cole is 
often sent as a delegate to county and State Dem- 



920 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



ocratic conventions. He is a Kniglit Templar and 
has a handsome badge of that order which was pre- 
sented to him by his Deputies. He also belongs to 
the Knights of Honor of Corunna. 



-^^ 



\f> AMES SLEETH, M. D., one of the well- 
known ])rofessional men of Byron, Shia- 
wassee County, and editor and publisher of 

yjfj the Byrou Herald, was born in County 
Monaghan, Ireland, in August, 1823. He is the 
second son of Robert and Susan (Gamble) Sleeth, 
who emigrated to America in 1838 and made their 
home on a farm in Commerce Township, Oakland 
County, where they spent the remainder of their 
lives. lie and his worthy wife were earnest and 
devoted members of the United Presbyterian 
.Church and they were farmers in comfortable cir- 
cumstances. His political convictions led him to 
alliliate with the Republican party. 

The subject of this sketch was the second in a 
family of eleven children and was fifteen years old 
wiien his parents emigrated to America. He re- 
mained with them on the farm in Oakland County 
until he reached the age of twenty-three j'ears, 
when lie went to Milford and began reading medi- 
cine with Drs. Foote and Morey. He afterward 
took two courses of lectures at the medical depart- 
ment of the Western Reserve College of Hudson, 
Oiiio, graduating from that institution in 1850. 

The young man then came to Byron and began 
practicing medicine, but after one year removed to 
AVhite Lake, Oakland County, and after practicing 
two years returned to Byron, there continuing in the 
practice of his profession until the spring of 1863, 
when he joined the arm3- as an assistant Surgeon 
under a commission in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry. 
He remained with that regiment in the Arm}- of the 
Potomac until the close of the war, at which time 
it was sent West to Ft. Laramie, Wyo., and re- 
mained there until October, 1865, when he was dis- 
charged and returned to Byron. 

Dr. Sleeth then engaged in the drug business for 
about four years and after spending one winter in 
Corunna moved again to Byron and attended to 



legal business and taught school until the inaugu- 
ration of Hayes' administration when he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster at Byron, and he held that 
ofHce for eight years. After this he started the 
Byron Herald which he has since published, mak- 
ing it a neutral paper. He read law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Corunna about the year 1859, 
and has since given more or less attention to the 
practice of the legal profession. He has held 
numerous township offices .and was elected Coroner 
of Shiawassee County in 18'.)0, but would not qual- 
ify .as he did not wish the office. He is a. Repub- 
lican in his political convictions and is identified 
with the D. G. Royce Post, No. 117, G. A. R. at 
Byron. 

In December, 1854, Dr. Sleeth was united in 
marriage with Frances E. Kelsey, of Bj'ron. .She 
was born in Fairhaven, Vt., in the year 1827, 
and was the youngest daughter of Curtis and 
Betsey Kelsey. B}- this union there were born three 
children, namely: Carrie E., Minnie and Philip S. 
The first named is now the wife of William Mc- 
Donald; Minnie is the wife of J. T. Emmett, of 
Howell, and Philip has been called to the other 
world. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sleeth fire members 
of the Presbyterian Chuich and are respecteil and 
esteemed members of society. 



] ACOB HOOVER, a resident of Essex Town- 
ship, Clinton Count}-, and the father of a 
large, intelligent and prosperous family, was 
born in Mercer County, Pa., October 6, 
1826. His father, who was also named Jacob, was 
born in Pennsylvania in. 1196 and moved to Ma- 
honing County, Ohio, where he managed a farm 
until his death, which occurred in 1870. He was 
a successful farmer and a consistent member of the 
Lutheran Church. The mother Christina Bush, 
two of whose five children are now living, died be- 
fore her husband. 

The subject of this brief sketch was reared upon 
a farm and took his education in the district school, 
passing many hours upon the slab seats in the log 
school-house and jirofiting much by the earnest and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



921 



thorougli drill of Ibose pioneer sciiools, which 
made up in thoroughness what they lacked in a 
broad and comprehensive course of study. 

When the youtli reached his eighloentli ^ear his 
father generously gave him his time and he hired 
himself out upon a neighbor's farm for $10 a 
month. After five years of work in this way he 
went into the iron mines in Mahoning County, 
Ohio, for about seven years, then farmed on shares 
for six years. He came to Michigan in 18()5 and 
purchased a farm in Essex Township, Clinton 
Count}-, and moved upon it two j'ears later. This 
land, which was then covered with forest, he has 
cleared and improved and one of his first move- 
ments was to erect a log house. He at first pur- 
chased eighty-nine acres, to wliich he has adiled 
forty-eight more. 

Tiie marriage of Jacob Hoover to Cynthia Ague 
was solemnized in Edinborough, Pa., in the year 
of 1849. They became the parents of fourteen 
children of more than usual promise, and have 
found in them true parental comfort and J03' 
and have been bereaved of only one of their large 
(lock. Orin, the eldest, married and lives in Ash- 
ley, Gratiot County, this Stale; Christina J. is the 
wife of Lero}' Jones, a farmer in Bengal Township; 
Charles is married, and like his elder brother, lives 
in Ashley; Cynthia is the wife of Charles Jones, a 
farmer in Saginaw County; Loran A. is deceased; 
Eva is leaching at Maple Rapids; William and 
Harrv are at home; Maggie, a dressmaker, and 
Mar}', a stenographer and typewriter, are in Chi- 
cago; Seth C. is still unmarried; Myrtle is attend- 
ing school at Ashley, and Maude and Ralph are at 
Lome with their parents. To every one of this 
large family their parents have furnished oppor- 
tunities for a liberal education. 

Mr. Hoover is well known in Re[)ublican cir- 
cles and has more than once been sent as a dele- 
gate to County and district conventions, and for 
several ycavs ably filled the office of Highway 
Commissioner. He is identified with the Ancient 
Order of United AVorkmen and has been a Mason 
for twenty years. Both he and his admirable and 
worthy wife are active members of the Christian 
Church. He began life with no means except his 
own resolution and his manly strength and lie now 



possesses one hundred and thirty-seven acres in a 
splendid state of cultivation and a commodious 
and attractive home. Besides general crops he 
raises all kinds of stock. 

The parents of Mrs. Hoover were Abram and 
Jane (McChesney) Ague. They were both natives 
of Pennsylvania, where they spent their earlier 
years, but came to Ohio and made their home there 
many years ago. They have both long since been 
called away from life. 




ILAS A. YERKES, a prominent citizen of 
Bennington Township, Shiawassee County, 
settled on his farm on section b, in the fall 
of 1848, having at that lime one hundred 
and sixty acres from his father all in wild land. He 
began to improve it and secured eighty acres more 
which now comprises the body of his farm, with 
the exception of a small portion which was platted 
and sold as lots. He brought with him a team and 
a little money from Oakland County, where he had 
lived in Novi Township since 1827. 

The'parents, William and Hester (Dennis) Yerkes, 
were both from Nevv York, the father being born 
in Pennsylvania, and the mother in New .Jersey. 
After their marriage in New York, they came lo 
Michigan in 1825. William Yerkes was bereaved 
of his wife in 1880, when she was eighty-two years 
old, and he died in 1885 at the very advanced age 
of ninety years. He was a prominent man in the 
•ommunity, and had served in the Territorial Legis- 
lature, and afterward in the State Legislaliire for 
two or three terms. He took up Government land 
and lived on it until his death. His ten children 
all grew lo maturity, and established homes of their 
own. They arc named — Joseph, William P., Mary, 
John, Silas A., Robert, Charles, Stephen, George 
and Harrison. 

The subject of this sketch remained at home un- 
til he was twenty-one, and then took possession of 
the land which his father had secured from the Gov- 
ernment. He had been West locating land for 
the Eastern people, and had secured forty acres in 
that way. He carries on general farming, and pays 



922 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



some attention to stock-raising. He breeds Ham- 
bletonian horses, and bred ''Ray nerd" whose record 
is 2 :27. He also has "Maggie Yerkes," a mare of 
great promise. His political views lead him to 
affiliate with the Republican party with which he 
has voted continuously since 1856. He is active 
in public affairs, althougii a sufferer in health, hav- 
ing been a victim of sciatic rheumatism for thirty 
years. 

The marriage of Silas Yerkes with Eleanor Ann 
McCarty, of Owosso, took place August 18, 1849. 
This lady is of French and English descent, and is 
a daughter of Abram F. and Eliza (Andrews; Mc- 
Carty, who settled in Owosso in 1847. Their 
daughter was born in Ohio; her children are: Will- 
iam F., who died at the age of seven; and Hettie 
Eliza, now Mrs. T. Jay Perkins, who lives on a farm 
and whose husband is a partner in the spoke fac- 
tory of Owosso. Mr. Yerkes carries on his farm 
by the help of hired men. He is a Sj'mpathizer 
with and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mrs. Perkins was born March 22, 1854, 
and married September 5, 1883. They resided for 
awliile in Northville, Wayne County, where Mr. 
Perkins was conducting a mercantile business, but 
after two years returned to Bennington, where he 
became a member of the Greer & Perkins manufac- 
facturing company, buying out the Owosso Spoke 
Factory. 

Mrs. Perkins is an accomplished and enthusiastic 
equestrian, and divides her time between her hus- 
band and her horses. She has her own horses, and 
is breeding Ilambletonian Clay and Olmedo Wilkes 
horses. She has two Louis Napoleon colts, and is 
well posted on horse records. She takes a great 
interest in driving, and has been largelj' instru- 
mental in erecting a capacious liorse barn upon the 
farm which is admirably arranged to accommodate 
a number of horses, having separate box stalls, well 
ventilated and lighted. She is an intelligent l.idy, 
and handsome and of stately presence. 

The history- of Mr. Yerkes and liis wife would 
be incomplete without some reference to their an- 
cestry. The Yerkes family in this country origin- 
ated with two brothers, who came from Holland and 
settled in Philadelphia many years ago. "Baron" 
Yerkes, the street railway magnate is a near rela- 



tive of our subject. Farmington, Conn., was set- 
tled in 1640 by John and Mary Andrews. The 
genealogj' of this family- has been prepared by the 
Rev. Alfred Andrews, of New Britain, Conn. That 
gentleman is the father of the Andrews Bros., of 
Chicago, who are so well known in business circles 
as manufacturers of school supplies. The genealog}' 
shows an unbroken line from this first American 
John Andrews through Joseph and Joseph, Jr., 
William, Miles, Jason and Eliza (Andrews) Mc- 
Carty to Eleanor Ann McCarty, now Mrs. Yerkes. 



■ifJOHN WESLEY CHASE. The owner of 
the farm on section 16, Shiawassee Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, is the gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch. He was 
born in Luzerne County, Pa., June 13, 1830. His 
father was John N. and his mother Eliza (Carney) 
Chase. She was a native of Luzerne County, Pa., 
the father of Maine. John Chase, Sr., died at 
Ontario, Ind., some fourteen years ago. His widow 
survives, having attained the age of eigiity-three. 

Our subject's parents settled in Cass Count}-, 
this State, near Niles, in 1831, and about 1834 
went to Will County, 111., where they located 
about thirty miles southwest of Joliet. About four 
years later they went to LaGrange County, Ind., 
and in March, 1841, came to St. Joseph County, 
this State, where they settled on the southeast cor- 
ner of the township, where they lived until our 
subject was about thirty-eight years of age. 

la 1850 Mr. Chase made the overland journey 
to California, where he was engaged in mining at 
Sutter's old mill during the years 1850-51. His 
efforts were crowned witli fair success and he re- 
turned to St. Joseph County in 1852. Here he set- 
tled upon a new farm to which he bent his efforts 
to improve until 18G8 when he came to his present 
place. Mr. Chase has one hundred and sixty acres 
in his farm, part of which was improved when he se- 
cured it. He is engaged in general farming. He mar- 
ried, January 1, 1854, in St. Joseph County, Miss 
Sophia Pha-nix, who was born in Tompkins County, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



923 



N. Y., and who has two brothers living at not a 
great distance from her. Maxwell E. resides in 
Brighton Township and Henry Phojnix lives in the 
neighborhood of Mrs. Chase. 

Our subject and his estimable wife were the 
parents of several children, whose names are as 
follows: Emma, now Mrs. George Hartwell, of 
Benington Township; Mary, the widow of Charles 
Mosley, who lives at home with her mother; Katie, 
who is Mrs. Dennis Morris, of Newbiirg; John, at 
home; Jane, who is Mrs. William Banks, has been 
a teacher for several years in the home district; 
Pha?nix, who is in business at Owosso ; Ralph, at 
home, and Charles, also at home. Our subject is 
not connected with any church, although his father 
was a ju'ominent Methodist in pioneer daj's. The 
gentleui.an of whom we write was Justice of the 
Peace in St. Joseph County, Mich. 



<|i7 lEUT. CHARLES FOWLER. The varied 
I (©) wants of men give rise to differing lines of 
dJ^^ trade, in which men of ability can fii,d room 
for the exercise of their peculiar talents and so 
become prominent and prosperous. A glance over 
the town of St. John's will show the stranger a 
number of first-class establishments, one of wliich 
is devoted to the sale of hardware, plumber's and 
gas fitter's goods, and the manufacUire of tinware. 
A full line of shelf and heav}' lianlware is carried, 
and the other departments of the business are 
equally complete. This establishment, wliicii is the 
largest of the kind in the place, occupies five floors 
of a double store and is under the direct control 
of its proprietors, Charles Fowler and Cooley E. 
Ball. 

John Fowler, grandfather of our subject, was a 
native of Cambridgeshire, England, and spent his 
entire life there ongaged in the work of blacksmitli- 
ing. His son James, father of our subject, was 
Ijorn at Gravely in 1815, and learned his father's 
trade. He carried on a shop for some time in 
Huntingtonshire, whence he came to America in 
1851. He lived in various places, looking about 
for a location that pleased him, and finally settled 



in Tonawanda, N. Y., where he carried on a shop 
until 1870. He then came to this State and made 
his home with his son, our subject, until his death, 
in 1881. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah 
Bodger, was born at Covington, Cambridgeshire, 
England, and died in the East during the Civil 
War. They had six children, Charles being the 
first-born. His sister Hannah, Mrs. Bourne, died 
in Schoolcraft, this Slate, and Sarah A., now Mrs. 
Taylor, is living in Graadville, tlie other died very 
young. In Fenstanton, Huntingtonshire, February 
18, 1840, Charles Fowler opened his eyes to the 
light. His life to the age of twelve years was 
devoid of any incident of unusual interest, as up to 
that time he studied and played as do most lads. 
He then decided to "• paddle his own canoe " and 
made his way to New York and thence to Cow 
Bay, L. I., and for ten months worked aToong the 
oystermen on a sloop. He then returned home and 
for three years was in the employ of a Mr. Stoddard. 
In 1856 he came to this State and made bis home 
in Genesee County near Goodrich, working at 
various occupations as he found opportunity', being 
ready to turn his hand to anything and being 
handy with implements of various kinds. He 
attended school winters until he was nineteen, when 
he began teaching and soon after he became a 
student in the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. 

Young Fowler was at Ypsilanti when the war 
broke out. In August, ISO , he came to St. John's 
and entered the employ of Mr. Charles Kipp, for 
whom he worked until July 22, 1862. He then 
enlisted in the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry and 
was mustered in at Saginaw, Septemlter 11, as a 
private in Company A, and ai)pointed First Ser- 
geant that day. He received a commission as 
Second Lieutenant, December 17, 1862, and was 
assigned to Company C, of the same regiment, was 
promoted to First Lieutenant of the same company, 
February 4, 1864. In July, 1864, he was offered 
his choice of a commission of Captain or one of 
First Lieutenant and Quartermaster; he chose the 
latter and he thus became a member of the Colonel's 
staff with same pay as Captain. Some of the occas- 
ions on which he did valiant service were during 
Morgan's raid, the battle at Campbell Station in 
November, 1863, the siege of Knoxville and the 



924 



rORTKAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Atlanta campaion. After following Sherman's 
fortunes in that memorable series of marches and 
engagements, he returned to Nashville with Gen. 
Thomas and then marched to Clifton, was sent to 
Washington, tlien to Alexandria, and finallj' 
rejoined Sherman at Goldsboro. He next marched 
to Raleigh and was present at the surrender of that 
city and was afterward quartered at Salisbury, N. 
C, until July 1, 1865, when he was sent North to 
receive his discharge at Detroit, July 20. He was 
one of the fortunate few who escaped the illness or 
wounds whicli detained them from their commands, 
and was never off dutj' while he was a soldier. 

When the war was over Mr. Fowler returned to 
St. Jolin's and until March, 1868, was clerk in the 
hardware establishment of Kipp<fe McFarland. He 
then became a partner in the firm and in 1870 
another change was made, the style then becoming 
Kipp ife Fowler. In 1876 the firm of C. Kipp & 
Co. went into effect, Mr. Fowler being one of the 
three members. In 1884 the senior member sold 
his interest to his companions and Fowler and Ball 
have since carried on the business. Mr. Fowler 
lias a pleasant home where a wife and two children 
greet him when business hours are over. Mrs. 
Fowler bore the maiden name of M. Janet Irisb, 
and was born in Groveland Township, Oakland 
County, where her marriage took place in 1866. 
Slie is a daughter of Manley Irish, an agriculturist 
there. 

Mr. and l\Irs. Fowler have had four children. 
Those now living are Leah, who was born in 1873 
and is a high school student of the class of '92, and 
Robert D., a bright lad somewhat younger than his 
sister. The deceased are Charles M., who was born 
in 1868 and died in 1886 and Fred H. who was born 
in 1869 and died when four years old. Charles 
was an extremely bright and promising youth, 
whose early decease cast a shadow over the school 
with which he was connected, and left an inefface- 
able cloud in the home of his parents. When 
fk called hence he was pursuing the last year's course 
in the High School. 

Mr. Fowler was tillage Trustee six years, then 
President two yeais and is again serving in the 
former capacity. He belonged to the School Board 
nine ^ears and was chairman of the committee when 



s^ 



the present building was put up. He is an hon- 
orary member of the fire department and is one of 
tiie directors and shareholders in the gas company. 
He belongs to Charles E. Grisson Post, G. A. R., 
and is one of lis most popular comrades and equally 
well liked in general society. Politically, he is a 
stiinch Repul)lican and lie has served as a delegate 
to county, State and congressional conventions. 

I/OSKPH J. HUFFMAN, one of the noble 
defenders of our country during the Civil 
War, whose fine farm is situated on section 
12, Rush Township, Shiawassee Count}', was 
born in Portage County, Ohio, May 4, 1841. His 
father, William Huffman, a farmer, was born in 
Pennsylvania, near Reading, March 28, 1818, and 
received a common-SLliool education. He came to 
Ohio with his parents, and was married about 
1838 to Margaret Ruff, of Colunibiaiia County, 
Ohio. She was born March 28, 1815. 

The parents of our subject in.ade their early 
home in Kdinburg Township, Portage County, until 

1844, when they went to Hancock County, Ohio, 
and bought eighty acres of land. They did not 
hold liiis long but sold it and purchased another 
farm in the vicinity, where the father died in 1864. 
The}' had ten children, three daughters and seven 
sons, of whom our subject was second in order of 
birth. 

September 13, 1866, was the wediling day of 
J. J. Huffman anti Surah J. Fricks, a daughter of 
Daniel ai;d Matilda (Martin) Frick, who had four 
sons and three daughters, of whom Sarah J., tTie 
second in order of age, was born December IS, 

1845. Our subject and his wife liought eighty 
acres of land in Hancock County, and lived there 
for some twelve years, coming to Michigan in 
1878 anil purchasing eighty acres in Rusli Town- 
ship. Two lovely daughters have graced their 
home, Lillian J., who is now the wife of William 
F. Johnson, and Ada M. who remains with her 
parents. 

Mr. Huffman has for some time been identified 
with the Indeiicndeut Order of Odd Fellows in 




RE61uLli:c ur DZuiNllS SNlDEF<. oF:C. I j.,wl.D[.^L3URr TP,, SH.A\V.A^':Et C0.,M1CH. 




RLSIDEMCr. ur J.J. HUFFMAN, SFCli-.^XlJoH TP. . 5i i ! AWA^LCt E JO.,|vHCH. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



927 



wliicli he 1ms been Trensurcr anrl is now Vice 
Grand. He is a Republican in his politics and has 
been Treasurer of the township for four years and 
h.as also held offices in connection will; the scliool 
matters. In 1880, he bought forty acres of land 
and in 1883 added forty more, all on the same 
section", and now has one hundred and fifty-one 
acres, one hundred and twenty-live being under 
cultiv.ation. He started with no capital and has 
made a good farm and home by his untiring exer- 
tions and good management. 

In August, 1861, Mr. Huffman, then a youth not 
having reached his majority, enlisted in Comi)any 
A, Fortj'-ninth Ohio luf.antry. His regiment was 
ordered South and he was present at the following 
engagements: Pittsburg Landing, Siege of Cor- 
inth, Murfreesboro, Stone River, lles.ica, Chicka- 
maiiga, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Picket's Mills, 
and Kenesaw Mountain. He went as far as Atlanta 
and then returned to Nashville witli Thomas' Div- 
ision, in pursuit of Hood. The following spring 
they were sent to San Antonia and Gonzales, 
Tex. From there they proceeded to Victoria, 
where the}' received their discharge November 30, 
1865. When leaving Nashville, Tenn., for Texas, 
our subject was promoted to the office of First 
Sergeant. Mr. Huffman's experiences in the war 
have left him with some serious afflictions which 
most certainly point to his deserving a pension but 
he has never received one. He suffers greatly 
with catarrh and also with heart disease, and his 
deafness w.as caused by the Bring of a cannon near 
him. 

The attention of the reader is invited to the 
view of Mr. Huffman's homestead, presented on 
another page. 



^^AYTON B. RKED, a retired farmer and 
capitalist of Owosso, Mich., was born in 
Rootstown, Portage County, Ohio, January 
28, 1820. His parents were Abraham and Sily 
(Hitchcock) Reed; the father was born on the 
27th of March, 1777, in Kllington Township, Tol- 
land County, Conn., and the mother December 17, 



of the same year. In connection with seven other 
families this couple soon after marriage removed 
with wagon and by the aid of oxen and horses 
from Connecticut to Ohio, settling in the Western 
Reserve camping by the w.ay and being forty-two 
days on the road, finding their new home in the 
green woods of Portage County. There they 
cleared away the trees, cultivated a faun and spent 
the remainder of their days. The father died on 
January 6, 1849 and the nKjther passed away June 
27, 1834. 

Ten ciiililren clustered about the fireplace in this 
pioneer home, four sons and six daughters; of 
this household there are oul}' four living, three 
sisters and our subject. He attended school at 
Rootstown and began his business days as clerk in 
a store and after some experience there he set out 
through the West to peddle goods, going to country 
stores and having a regular circuit, following the 
business thirteen years. He afterward started in 
dealing on his own account in dry goods, adding 
such other stock as is found in country stores and 
continued in Rootstown in this business for five 
years, after which he sold out and became a travel- 
ing salesman for James Ward it Co. of Niles, Ohio. 
After serving that firm for several years he entered 
the employ of a New York house in the hardware 
line, traveling through Ohio and later being sales- 
man for Manning, Roman & Co., of Meriden, 
Conn. 

Mr. Reed came to Shiawassee Countj', in 1866, 
and locating in Caledonia Township bought, a farm. 
In December, 1890, he sold that property and 
moved to the city of Owosso where he h:is since 
resided, looking after his general business and 
transacting loans. His marriage took place June 
22, 1842. His wife who bore the name of Helen 
S. Bariium, was born in Rootstown, Portage County, 
Ohio,June 22,1825. Her mother w.as.luliet Postwick, 
who was born April 9, 1797, in Hinesburg, Chit- 
tendon County. Vt. and lived to the .age of ninety 
years. Her father, Samuel Barnum, w.as born in 
Vergennes, same county, July 21, 1796, and lived 
to the good old age of eighty-live years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reed be<'ame the parents of two 
children: Juliette A., a graduate of the High 
School at Corunna, now the wife of Albert West 



928 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



of Owosso and Laura H., wife of Walla H. IIol- 
maa of the same city. Mr. Reed has been Justice 
of the Peace and Supervisor of Caledonia Town- 
ship for several terms. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat but cannot be called in any sense a politician. 
He is also a member of the Corunna Lodge No. 61, 
1. O. O. F. Tiie family resides in .i beautiful, at- 
tractive residence at No. 519 Mason Street East. 



: ■■-^o^- c 



pjljENJAMIN F. SMILEY, a prominent resi- 
'^\ *'*2"*' o^ Greenbush Township, Clinton 
i County, was born February 7, 18.35, in 
Tuscarawas Count}', Ohio, and is a son of 
James and Elizabetli (Burrell) Smiley. His father 
was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of 
Maryland, and they were j)ioneers in Ohio. They 
had a family of eleven children and the following 
are now living, an honor to their parents and a 
benefit to the communities in which thej' move: 
Robert B., living in Kansas; John, in Davis County, 
Ind. ; our subject is next in order of birth ; Thomas, 
in Davis County, Ind.; Marshall and Susan, (Mrs. 
M. S. Itskin) in Tuscarawas County, Ohio; Jane in 
the same county ; Keziah, wife of J. A. Ilostetter, 
in Canal Dover, Ohio; and Jame^s M. and Racliel, 
(Sirs. M. J. Flood) in Tuscarawas Countj-, Ohio. 
Mary A., is deceased. 

The subject of this sketch engaged in farming 
from his early boyhood and growing up in his na- 
tive count}', took such educational advantages as 
he could there find. He is principally self educated, 
as the necessities of farm life kept him at home 
much of the time and when he attended school the 
lack of system in the schools of those early days 
prevented him from making rapid [jrogress. 

His marriage in 1860, May 30, with Elizabeth 
Putt, was an evenly of great moment in the life of 
the young man and was the beginning of a domes- 
tic life of more than usual happiness and prosper- 
ity. His wife was born in the same county with 
himself and they had grown up together from 
childhood and their long acquaintance made a 
foundation for mutual happiness. She is a daugh- 



ter of Daniel and Barbara Putt. Her father is 
still living but her mother has passed away from 
earth. 

Five children have been sent to bless the home 
of our subject, three, Clara, Robert L., and Clark 
P., have been called to the better world. The two 
who remain to cheer the hearts of their parents are 
Olive F., and Charles. Mr. Smiley removed his 
family from Ohio to Michigan in the spring of 
1881, and soon decided to make his home on sec- 
tion 22, Greenbush Township, Clinton County. 
He and his wife have by their efforts accumulated 
most of their property and now own one hundred 
and twenty acres of as fine land as there is in the 
township, all under thorough cultivation. 

In political matters our subject sympathizes vvith 
the Democratic party, but he is not a strictly party 
man, and is willing to work with his fellow-c'tizens 
of any party for the social and industrial improve- 
ment of that section of country. He has served 
as School Assessor in his district and is ever wide- 
awake to the educational interests of the young, as 
he is anxious that his children and the children of 
his ueiglibors shall have a better start in life than 
their fathei's had. Both he and Mrs. Smiley and his 
son and daughter are earnest and devoted members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and take an 
active part in social life. He is well-known for his 
sterling integrity in business matters, and enjo3-s 
the confidence of his neighbors. 




GEORGE C. REEVE is a farmer in Water- 
town Township, Clinton County, residing 
on section 26, where he owns a fine farm of 
one hundred and ten acres, well improved and fur- 
nished with fine farm buildings. His dwelling 
house is attractive and pleasantly situated, is fin- 
ished in hard wood and has all the modern im- 
provements. He is a son of Thomas and Sophia 
(Butt) Reeve, nativesof Cambridgeshire, England, 
where the subject of this sketch was born February 
11, 1810, and where he was reared upon a farm. 
The mother of our subject died when he was 
onl}' four years old, and liis father marrying again. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



929 



the bo}- was brought up b^- bis slepmother. Up 
remained at home until he was eleven years of age 
wiien he, with his father's family, came to America 
in 1851, and located in Clinton County, Mich. In 
1864 George Reeve won the hand of Jennie Reynor, 
who has been to him a true lielpmate and who pre- 
sides over this beautiful liome and shares witli him 
the fruit of their toil. Their marriage took place 
July 2, 1864. and the union has been blessed by 
the birth of five children — Agues L., born May 7, 
1866, married Stellian Wilson and resides in Ing- 
ham County ; Herbert H., born November 22, 1 868, 
married Gracie Gillett and also resides in Ingham 
County ; William R., born January 16, 1870, re- 
sides at iiorae with ills jiarents; Claude B., born 
.September 18, 1876, and George C, February 14, 
1881. 

Mrs. Reeve is the daughter of William and Han- 
nah (Ring) Reynor, natives of the Empire State, 
where she also veas born July 22, 1844. Her pa- 
rents came to Michigan in 184G and located in 
Eagle Township, Clinton County. Her fatiier en- 
listed during the Civil War and was killed while 
in the service. 

Mr. Reeve bouglit the farm where he now lives 
in 1864. It was then all timber land, and he has 
thoroughly cleared it and placed upon it the im- 
provements which now make it rank .as one of the 
finest farms in Clinton County. His residence and 
buildings are handsome and attractive and show, 
without doubt, the hand of a thorough going 
farmer and efficient business manager. He takes 
quite an interest in social affairs and is a member 
of Lodge No. 33, A. F. <fc A. M., and of Franklin 
Council No. 211, Royal Arcanum, in the same 
city. 



J^^- 



^^ ETII E. SHELDON, a retired farmer, is one 
the most prominent and influential citizens 
(if \'prnon. P'rom the active part he takes 
in public affairs he has become widel}' 
known throughout tiie eommnnity and we feel as- 
sured that this sketch of his life will be received 
with interest bj' his many friends. He is a native 
of the Buckeye State, born in Portage Count}', Oct- 



ober 14, 1834. The family to which he belongs 
was founded in America during Colonial days. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel Shel- 
don, followed farming throughout his life in his 
native State — Connecticut, and lived to be ninety- 
four years of age when he was thrown from a horse 
and killed. He was a leading citizen of the com- 
munity in which he made his home, a man of pro- 
nounced convictions, of irreproachable character 
and forfift}' years served as Deacon in the Ba[)list 
Church, being one of its most active and faithful 
members. 

Seth Sheldon Sr., the father of our subject, was 
born in Suflield Townshii), Hartford County, Conn., 
and became one of the early settlers of Portage 
Count}', Ohio, whither he emigrated when about 
twent3'-fivc years of .age. He married Julia Ban- 
croft, a native of Windsor, Hartford County, Conn., 
and a daughter of Benjamin Bancroft. Unto them 
were born three children, two sons and a daughter. 
The father died in Ohio, in 1835. He was a Whig 
in [(olitical sentiment. Mrs. Sheldon, who has since 
married Martin Post, is still living and luas reached 
the ripe old age of eighty-one j-ears. 

Seth Sheldon, their youngest son and the subject 
of this sketch was only a year old when his father 
died. His mother afterward again married and the 
family came to Michigan when Seth was a had of 
six summers, locating on section 12, Shiawassee 
Townshi|), in this county. The first home of the 
family w.as a log cabin and the}' lived in true pio- 
neer style, enduring many of the privations and. 
disadvantages such as are incident to frontier life. 
Afterward Jlr. Sheldon returned with his mother 
and sister to Connecticut, where he spent about 
two years and then again came to Shiawassee 
County, Mich. His education was completed in 
the scliools of Flint and at the .age of sixteen he 
starte<l oui for himself to fight life's battles. He 
commenced work .as a farm hand, working b}- the 
month the first j'ear and in the succeeding autumn 
and winter attended school. He then secured em- 
ploymenl as clerk in the store of John Simonson, 
with whom he remained for three years, after which 
he spent one year in a general store in Owosso. 
Subsequently he was employed in a store in Sliia- 
wassee Township, after which he went to Iowa and 



930 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



embarked in business for himself as a general mer- 
chant in Solon. The year 1856 witnessed his 
return to Shiawassee County, whereupon he inir- 
chased a farm on section 13, Shiawassee Townsliip, 
which he operated for two years, boarding at a 
neighbor's as there w.os no house ujjon the place. 

In 1858, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage 
with Miss Helen M., the third child of Henry and 
Abigail (Merrell) Woodward, both of whom were 
natives of the Empire State. Mrs. Sheldon was 
born in Byron Township, Genesee Count}-, N. Y., 
October 28, 1841, and with her parents came to 
Michigan in 1844. Her father gave his life for 
bis country during the late war, dying in Knox- 
ville, Tenn., but her mother is still living at the 
age of seventy-one years. The young people be- 
gan their domestic life upon the farm on section 13, 
and for many j'ears made it thei r home. Through 
their united efforts and their industry and enter 
prise they acquired a handsome property and as his 
financial resources increased our subject extended 
the boundaries of his farm until his landed posses- 
sions now aggregate three hundred and twenty-two 
acres, all of which Is under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and well improved. He carried on general 
farming and stock-raising with excellent success 
until 1887, when he retired from active business 
life and removed to Vernon to enjo^^ the fruits of 
his former toil. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have been born 
eleven children, eight sons and three daughters as 
follows: Herbert L., who was born July 30, 1860, 
died at the age of three years; the second, an in- 
fant son, died in 1861; Charles Wilbur, born Jan- 
uary 1, 1863, died the same year; Clara Isabel, born 
June 30, 1864, is studying music in Ann Arbor; 
Kate Klizabeth, born Sc[)tcmber 26, 1866, is the 
wife of J. A. Curtis, a clerk in one of the Vernon 
stores; Arthur F., born May 1, 1868, is now a 
student at Ann Arbor; Eddie, born May 18, 1872, 
died the same year; Charles E., born November 5, 
1873, Bertha Irene, August 11, 1875, George R., 
May 11, 1878, and Harold B., February 21, 1884, 
are still at home. 

In former years, Mr. Sheldon was a Democrat 
but is now a supporter of Republican principles 
and the present efficient President of the Village 



Board. He is also president of the School Board 
and under his able administration the schools are 
fast attaining a high degree of excellence. The 
cause of education has ever found in him a friend 
and other enterprises calculated to benefit the pub- 
lic also receive his hearty support. He is Master 
of Vernon Lodge, No. 279, F. & A. M., and is also 
connected with Chapter No. 21, R. A. M. of Cor- 
unna. As before stated became with his family to 
Vernon in 1887, erecting at that time a pleasant 
residence at a cost of ?2500. The Sheldon house- 
hold is noted for its hospitality and the members 
of the family rank high in the social world. He 
whose name heads this sketch is one of the most 
prominent and honored of Vernon's citizens, for 
by an upright life he has won the confidence and 
best wishes of all with whom he is brought in con- 
tact. 



^AMES OSBQRN, one of the prominent mer- 
chants and prosperous citizens of Owosso, is 
now at the head of the firm of Oshorn & 
(^^y Sons, dealers in Avy goods and carpets. His 
natal day was May 21, 1840, and his birthplace 
Mcadville, Pa. His father was John M. Osborn, 
a native of the same State as his son, being born in 
Meadville, January 18, 1812. He there grew to 
manhood, receiving a common-school education 
and being trained in practical life. His father was 
a soldier in the War of 1812, during which service 
he died, and the great-grandfather of our subject 
was a Revolutionary soldier. 

The Osburns came originally from England and 
made their first settlement in Connecticut. Jane 
(Morris) Osburn, the mother of our subject, was 
also born in Meadville, Pa., April 24, 1819. Iler 
father, David Morris, was of Welsh descent. Af- 
ter her m.arriage to the father of our subject the}- 
settled in their native town and there John Osborn 
engaged in the mercantile business and the manu- 
facture of hats, being a practical hatter by trade. 

In 1857 John Osburn removed with his family 
to Owosso, Mich., and there engaged in the dr}'- 
goods trade, thus becoming one of the early mer- 
chants of that village. This business he carried on 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



931 



(hiring his residence in Owosso, taking his sons into 
the liriii with him and remaining active in the bus- 
iness up to the time of his death, which tools place 
April 27, 1891. His faithful companion through 
life departed this life three days later, passing 
awaj- April 30, 1891, and both were buried in the 
same grave. Thej- were active and devoted Chris- 
tians and were identified with the Congregational 
Church, which they had ever liberally supported. 
They were the parents of seven children, five sons 
and two daughters, six of whom lived to reach the 
pge of maturit}'. 

The elilest son, Morris, a retired merchant and 
farmer, is a man well known in this section and 
liis biography will be found elsewhere in this vol- 
ume; Charles Y. is the Collector of the port of Mar- 
quette, Mich ; Fred is a partner in the store with 
his brother James; Emma, now deceased, was mar- 
lied to ^Ir. Rodney Mann; Ariann, also deceased, 
was the wife of G. L. Dimick; and Arthur died at 
the age of five months. 

James Osburn pa.sscd his school-days in the city 
schools of Meadville, Pa., and afterward entered 
the academy there, from which he was graduated 
in 18.^7. He then entered his father's store and 
assisted in selling goods and continued to reside 
with his parents, accompanying them to Owosso 
and after reaching manhood taking an interest in 
the store. When his father retired from business 
the two brothers, James and Fred, together bought 
out the stock from their father, but preferred to 
continue the firm name as before. 

The dry-goods establishment of Osburj) & Sons 
is a large double store, 52x100 feet and three stor- 
ies in height. The business occupies two floors, with 
a well selected line of dry goods, carpets and 
clothing. The marriage of our subject took place 
August 9, 1881, to Ella Larzelere. She isa daugh- 
ter of S. B. and Elizabeth A. Larzelere, the family 
being of French descent and Mrs. Osburn being by 
birth a native of New i'ork State, whence she re- 
moved with her parents to Ypsilanti when she was a 
young girl. She is the mother of one son, James L. 

Mr. Osburn has serveil his city as Alderman of 
the First Ward for eight years and was elected 
Mayor of the city of Owosso in 1878. He was a 
Stockholder and Vice-President of the Second Na- 




tional Bank before it was re-organized into the 
Owosso Savings Bank. He is prominently identi- 
fied with Owosso Lodge, No. 81, A. F. & A. M. 
Politically he is an Inde|)endent Republican. 
Both he and his charming wife are prominent mem- 
bers of society and are earnest and devout mem- 
bers of the Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Osburn 
is Vestryman. 



V.^\ ARTIN VAN B. SIMPSON. The family 
to which our subject belongs is one of the 
oldest in the county of Shiawassee, and one 
of the most notable. This representative 
resides on section 18, Owosso Township, and was 
born in Ovid, Seneca County, N. Y., January 10, 
183G. His parents, Lewis and Enay (Say re) Simp- 
son, were both natives of New York, the mother 
being a daughter of John Sa3're. Six children 
gathered about their fireside, our subject being next 
to the 3'oungest. Of the four sons and two daugh- 
ters all but one are still living. 

In 1842 the father of this household came to 
Shiawassee Count}' and secured a homestead upon 
the land where his son Edward B. now lives, a tract 
adjoining the farm of Martin. The father passed 
away from earth in 1866, at the age of sixty-two 
years. His faithful wife tarried longer than he, 
dying about twelve years ago. In 1842 they had 
no neighbors nearer than six and one-half miles, 
and were thus isolated from companionship, as the 
family was situated on the northern border of the 
settlement. In those trying days she proved her- 
self a thorough and brave pioneer and won the re- 
spect and admiration of all who knew her. 

At the age of twenty-three, Martin Simjwon be- 
gan life for himself and a few years later set up his 
own home. He was married March 6, 1861, to 
Miss Aurora Munger, a daughter of Philander and 
Abigail Munger, who came here from New York 
twenty-two 3ears ago, and spent the remainder of 
their days in Owosso Township. Mr. Munger died 
in 1866, and his widow survived until thirteen 
years ago. At the time of his marriage the young 
man secured the farm upon wliich he now lives, 



932 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



and which has been his home from that day to 
this. 

The domestic happiness of Martin and Aurora 
Simpson was not to continue long unbroken, for 
the call of patriotic duty roused tlie young man 
and led him to enlist in defense of the old flag. 
He was mustered into the United States service 
October 11, 18G3, as a private in Company U, Sixth 
!\lic'higan Cavalry. His command was attached to 
the Army of the Potomac, and he was detailed to 
brigade headquarters, and was on hospital duty 
much of the time. In consequence of this he was 
not sent into battle as was the body of his regi- 
ment. He was discharged at the close of the war, 
having experienced no injury except an accidental 
pistol wound which had shattered the end of his 
thumb. 

ISIr. Simpson buried his first wife in November, 
1874, and she left as her legacy to him one child, 
Alpheas, born June 23, 1867, who is now a son of 
mature years and at home with his father. Alpheas 
Simiison has entered the matrimonial slate, having 
been united October 23, 1887, with Miss Nora 
Toby, to whom has been born one child, Aurora, 
who. bears the name of the departed grandmother, 
and who has reached the charming age of three 
years. 

The second marriage of Mr. Simpson, which oc- 
curred March 20, 1877, brought to preside over 
his home Ann Mungcr. a sister of his former wife. 
She died four years later, being a victim, as was 
her sister, of that dread disease, comsumption. 
The third marriage of our subject occurred in 
1873, his bride being Miss Hulda Hammond, 
daughter of Dennis Hammond, of Laingsburg. She 
died in October, 1887. No children resulted from 
the last marriage. 

Mr. Simpson has seen many of life's trials and 
met with misfortunes, yet he stands to day as one 
of Owosso's substantial men. He is now so situ- 
ated as to be able to reap the benefits of a life of 
labor, and to enjoy the comforts of the handsome 
properly wliicli he has been able to accumulate. 
Several of his father's family are located near him, 
his brother, Edward, living on the old homestead, 
where Iheir early days were i)asse(l, and one sister, 
Susan, being Mrs. (ieorge T. Hall. Mr. Hall was 



one of the early settlers, and while a person of 
marked characteristics and idiosyncracies, is a man 
of character and usefulness and a highly respected 
citizen. His estimable wife is one of the really 
substantial and whole-souled women of Shiawassee 
County, whose life is full of love and sunshine. 
Of the other brothers and sister, the eldest, Mary, 
married George Collier, of Owosso, and died at the 
age of twenty-eight years, a»d Charles is a Metho- 
dist minister and in charge of a church at Ml. IMor- 
ris, Mich., while Henry is a merchant at Gladwin, 
this State. 

Mr. Simpson is a Republican in his political 
views, and while he has never figured as a poli- 
tician in the sense of an office-seeker, he has 
ever taken an active interest in public .affairs and 
the advancement of the county and State. 

"— ^ •>^^- < ■ 



\i7 UCY G. DOANE. Were it in our power 
il 1?^ to throw on the page of this Album in life 
JLA\v^ colors animated with the spirit of their 
various times, [)ortrails taken from tlie family his- 
tories of our patrons, we doubt if any would tran- 
scend in interest tliat of the family of Mrs. Lucy 
(Guilford) Doane, who resides on section 28, 
Owosso Township. For centuries past the ancestry 
on both sides of the house has numbered in its line 
a succession of men and women who have ever 
been potent factors in their communities. 

Let us glance at the first portrait on the paternal 
side. It is that of Earl John Doane, whose name 
!is is seen by reference to the Doom's D.ay Book 
hiis been bequeathed to the son of each generation 
with the exception of a short break of tiiivtj' years. 
Earl John was a stanch Briton and as valorous in 
heart as with the use of the sword, even thougli he 
decked his sturdy, rotund English body in rare 
Flemish lace, rich brocades and velvets, as was the 
fashion in those days. The Doanes were manl}' 
men .and when a strong arm or trenchant pen were 
required for the honor of Church or State they 
gave their services gladly. One of the lineal 
descendants of the family was a secretary under 
Gov. Winthrop. 



I'ORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



933 



The mother of the husband of the subject of our 
sketch, Gilbert G. Doane, was Lucy Harmon, 
daughter -of' one dr the oldest and most highly 
esteemed Colonial families of the State, of whom a 
special historj' is being prepared. Gilbert G. 
Doaue was born September 12, 1810, in Pawlet, 
Rutland Count}', Vt., and September 2, 1846, at 
Mexico, N. Y., married the charming Miss Lucy 
Guilford. Mr. Doanc' died October 30, 1885. 
Mr. Doane inherited the literary tendencies of his 
family. He received his education in his native 
tongue, began his career as a teacher in New York 
State, and tbough he suspended his teaching for a 
time, taking up the editorship of a newspaper and 
tlie manufacture of paper, so great was his love for 
his work that he resumed it on removing to 
Owosso, being acknowledged throughout Michigan 
as a liberal educator with liberal and progressive 
ideas. 

In 186-1 Mr. Doane became attached as Head- 
quarter Clerk in the Army of tlie Cumberland, for 
from the first he had been convinced that the prin- 
ciples of abolition were the only ones that would 
save the standing and honor of America among 
the nations. Naturally interested in the politics of 
his country, his study of law and civil Government 
gave him an insigiit into national affairs attained 
by but few men. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Doane attest the 
influence that intellectual pursuits in the parents 
wield over the children. Tiiey are all cultured, 
educated men and women. They are Evoera L, 
now Mrs. J. Perkins, M. D., of Owosso; Liola A., 
wife of .James Carson, of Owosso, who was a prom- 
inent educator and conducted a summer normal 
school at his own farm; Etta C, widow of the 
Rev. Henry Marden, who went as a missionary to 
Central Turkey, Asia. She accompanied her hus- 
band and remained there ten years. Prior to her 
marriage she was a tcaclier in the Owosso school. 
They started back to the United States for a vaca- 
tion, but on the way hither the husband was seized 
with an epidemic fever to which he succumbed 
and dieil, being buried in May, 1890, at Athens, 
Greece. Mrs. Marden is now (1891) making a 
visit to her childliood's home and will soon return 
to Turkey as a missionary. Charles and Ella 



Doane still live on the home farm, having a pleas- 
ing family of four children, John., Emeline, Etta 
and Elsie. 

Mrs. Doane's family, the Guilfords, were among 
the first settlers in Connecticut, having received a 
tract of land from the Crown in 1634. The place 
was given the family- name, which it still retains. 
The family have ever held a high and honorable 
position in the history of the State. The fatlier of 
Mrs. Doane, Franklin Paul Guilford, was born 
June 4, 1804, at Fair Haven, Washington Count}', 
N. Y. When twentj'-one years of age he was 
united in marriage to Saraantha Manley, June 26, 
1825, at Dresden. His wife was born June 4, 
1801, in Benson, Rutland County, Vt. Mr. Guil- 
ford was much interested in public matters, but 
never an oflice-seeker. He was formerly an ardent 
Whig and a stroug anti-slaverj' man. He settled 
in Michigan in 1849 in the present homestead with 
Mrs. Doane and her husband, where he remained 
until his death, May 17, 1880. He was killed 
before the terrified eyes of his daughter Sylvia 
while trying to stop a runaway team. He caught 
the horses b}- the head but was himself so violently 
struck by the pole that he was instantly killed. 
He was a devoted member of the Baptist Church. 
His family are Luc}', Sylvia, Amanda Kidder, 
George W., Marcia and George Paul. Sylvia and 
George Paul still remain on the old homestead. 



ry(_^ ()RACE N. KEYS, the well-known bank 
cashier in Ovid, Clinton County, has made 
his home in this place since 1882. He is 
still quite a young man, but his fiifancial 
ability is recognized, and liis integrity as a man ap- 
preciated by those among whom he has made his 
home. He was born in Holley, Orleans Countj', 
X. Y,, August 8, 1858, and is descended from old 
New England families. His parents were Horatio 
N. and Altliea fBeebee) Keys, natives of Connecti- 
cut and Vermont, respectively. The father was a 
merchant tailor, and then for ten years a merchant 
in New York, and during the hater years of his life 
w.as engaged in farming. The son received com- 



934 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



mon-school advantages prior to his sixteenth year, 
when lie bejjan to take up the duties of manhood. 

In the sprinof of 1876 Mr. Keys came to this 
Stale and locating in Clinton County near St. 
Joiiu's, for a time worked on a farm. He then be- 
came clerk in a <lry-goods store in the county seat, 
holding the place until 1879. his employers being 
Dunn & Upton. At lliat lime he began in the 
banking business as clerk and book-keeper in the 
First National Bank of St. John's, in which he re- 
mained until March, 1882, when he came to Ovid 
and was employed I)}' De Camp, Upton tV- Co., un- 
til November, 1884, when the First National Bank 
of Ovid was organized. Mr. Keys became a Di- 
lector and Cashier, nnd is still acting in the respon- 
sible position, maintaining his place in the minds 
of the people, and promoting the stability of the 
institution in which he is interested. 

Mr. Keys was married Uecember 15, 1887, to 
Anlha, daughter of E. De Cami), of Ovid. His 
wife has enjoyed excellent advantages, both in the 
way of education and home care, and is a relined 
and estimable lady. Mr. Keys is a Republican and 
his first Presidential vole was for .lames A. Garfield. 
He has been '\'illage Trustee one term, but has in the 
main given his attention strictly to business and to 
the reasonable enjoyments of the social circle that 
he frequents. 

"if/ABEZ TREADWELL HOUSE, one of the 
venerable citizens of Bennington Township, 
Shiawassee County, was born in Herkimer 
/ County, N. Y., January 21, 1817. His father^ 
Conrad House, was of German origin but was 
born in this country, and his mother, whose maiden 
name was Hannah Newell, was born in Alassachus- 
ctts. 

Jebez House is one of a family of seven children 
all of whom grew to maturity, and five are now 
living. Samuel lives at Owosso; ftlary Abigail is 
the widow of Francis House, a distant relative; 
Althea, Mrs. Erasmus Lombard of Plymouth, 
Mich.; Azuba, Mrs. Calvin Mitchell of Northtield, 
Mich. ; Maria, the eldest, who died three years ago 



in Illinois and P>erett B., who died in 1876, at 
B3ron, Mich. In 1844 the family made their home 
at Ann Arbor. The father died at the age of 
eightj'-three in 1875 and the wife hail passed away 
a few weeks previous when seventy-seven years 
old. 

At the age of seventeen our subject left his home 
and lived with Mr. William Ambler in Wayne 
Count}-, N. Y. For four or five years he clerked 
in this gentleman's store, and then took a slock of 
goods to Fort Wayne, Ind., and sold it all out 
within seven months. He then went to Plymouth, 
Mich., and worked in a shop making fanning mills, 
for three years there and at Detroit. Buying a 
farm in Salem, Washtenaw Count)-, he spent six 
years u[)on it, eullivating the farm and occasionally' 
building a mill as there was a demand for them. 
He built a saw-mill at Hieksvilleand cut one mill- 
ion feet of plank for the i)lauk road from Detroit 
to Lansing. After a year he sold this mill, but 
carried on one on his farm where he also had a 
blacksmith shop. When he sold this property he 
rented for two years from his brother-in-law in the 
same township. 

Upon New Year's Day, 1862, he made his new 
home on a one hundred and twenty-acre tract 
which he had purch.ased the previous fall. This 
farm was partial I}- improved and he traded the 
crops on his Washtenaw County farm for the crops 
which he found upon this and paid in addition 
$2,900. There is a wind-mill upon the farm which 
feeds a reservoir at the house and also one at the 
barn. He has a fine large orchard and makes a 
special crop of peaches, selling some seasons from 
$.500 to $600 wortli. This crop he has found very 
profitable in helping him out with the year's ex- 
penses. At one time he signed a note of *3,000 
for a minister, who was unable to pay it, antl it 
was upon the peach crop that he depended to help 
him clear the indebtedness. He also raises broom 
corn and makes brooms, sometimes selling $200 
worth per season. 

Mr. House was married at Pl3mouth, Mich., 
when twenty-two years old. His bride was Mary Ann 
Roc, who lived onl}- three months after marriage. 
His second marriage took place November 3, 1841 , 
at Plymouth. He was then united with Lydia 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



935 



Gorton, who was born (it Henrietta, Monroe 
County, N. Y., April 10, 1820. Her parents, 
Thomas and Hannah (Straiglit) Gorton were na- 
tives of New York, who settleil in Wayne County, 
Micli., in I83G. 

Tlie children of Mr. and Mrs. House are as fol- 
lowing: Samantlia, Ella, Major, and Lillie. Tlie 
eldest daughter is now Mrs. Pliilander Punches, 
and lives near her father; £;ila, is Mrs. William 
Jennings, whose husband is Overseer of the county 
farm, and Lillie is Mrs. Clayton Thomas, and with 
her husband lives at home witli her parents. Five 
children have been called lo the better world, 
namel}': Everett, who died in infanc}^; Caroline, 
at the age of three years; Edsel, at the age of 
twelve; Frank, when fifteen years old; and Willie, 
when twenty-one. This son enlisted to serve in the 
Civil War and died of measles at Grand Rapids, 
having been gone from home only six weeks. Mr. 
House is a Prohibitionist and was formerly a Re 
publican and has always been a strong temperance 
man. He uses no tobacco and has not tasted tea 
nor coffee for ten years. He and his family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to 
whicii he has belonged since he was seventeen years 
old and he holds the oflice of Steward in that body. 



> — €~*-^- 




R. HARRINGTON. The owner of a fine 
farm located on section 5, Vernon Town- 
ship, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., 
October 26, 1814. His father, George 
Harrington, came to Michigan in 1831, first to 
Farminglon Township, Oaklaud County, labor- 
iously making his way througli the forest growtli 
with an ox-team, by which he brought his family 
hither. Here he bought forty acres of land upon 
wliicli he built a log house. The ten years during 
which he remained on tins place were fraught with 
incident and hard labor. After clearing this farm 
he moved to Shiawassee County, and located in 
Vernon Township, where he spent the remainder of 
his life. He was a Democrat in politics and was 
instrumental in getting many of the early improve- 
ments. He was appointed Road Commissioner 



and did much to open up the way for later em- 
igration. He was a Mason and a member of the 
Royal Arcanum. 

Our subject's mother was Miss Sally Bristol, a 
native of New York State. She attained to the good 
old age of seventy years and was proud of having 
been the parent of eleven children, two daugliters 
.and nine sons, of whom Mr. Harrington is the 
second chilcj. His first sciiool days were spent in 
New York and he came with his parents to this 
Stale when seventeen years of age and remained 
wiih them, assisting in clearing aud cultivating the 
farm until he was twenty-seven years old. During 
this time he also worked at the carpenter's trade. 

On JNIarch 22, 1821, Mr. Harrington was mar- 
ried to a lady whose maiden name was Sarah A. 
Clark. She was a native of Rhode Island, having 
been born in the city of Providence. She was the 
eldest daughter of Jacob and Sally (Hopkins) Clark, 
who were also natives of Rhode Island. Her par- 
ents came to Michigan in 1833, and located in Oak- 
laud County, Novi Township, where they remained 
for three years and then came to Shiawassee 
County, settling on a farm in Vernon Townsliip 
where Mrs. Clark died at the age of about thirty- 
nine years. Mr. Clark married for his second wife 
a Miss Anna De Wolf. He died at the age of eighty- 
four years. 

The original of our sketch settled in Vernon 
Township, and thence went to Livingston County, 
Mich. VThere he remained about eight years, thence 
went back to Shiawassee County, in 1856, where he 
located on the place where he now resides. At 
the time of his location there were no improve- 
ments whatever on the place. The first house he 
built was a little frame dwelling, 10x24 feet. The 
subsequent years were passed in clearing and im- 
proving the farm, in i>lauting and reaping, that go 
to make up the days of a farmer's life. Our sub- 
ject and his wife are the parents of the follow- 
ing children; Orlan M.. who resides in Ovid; Em- 
ma the wife of Newton Strong who make their 
home with our subject; one who died at the age of 
seven years, and one child who died in infancy. 

Our subject has eighty acres of well-improved 
land, and is a general farmer. He is an enthusias- 
tic supporter of all measures that promise good to 



936 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



the community. Mr. Harrington, who is by court- 
esy given the title of Doctor throughout the 
county, has by his genial manner won frienils wher- 
ever he has been. His tenacity of principle and 
purity of purpose by right give him a place in the 
high esteem as well as the affection of his fellow- 



•S^^"' 



JOHN THOMAS COOPER, who resides at 
the old homestead on section 1, Bennington 
Township, Shiawassee Count}-, was born on 
the home farm August 24, 1853. His early 
educational advantages were those of the children 
in his neighborhood, and as Michigan is particu- 
larly progressive in educational matters and prides 
herself on her district schools, tiiey were good. In 
1872 our subject attended the Normal School at 
Ypsilanti, where he was graduated after taking a 
three years' course. He belonged to the class of 
'75, of which there were ten graduates. During 
this period he devoted himself to the full English 
course. His classmates are, as a matter of course, 
much scattered and are making themselves names 
and fame in various parts of the couuliy. One i^ 
Juilge Edwin Haug, of Detroit. 

The subject of our sketch began his career .as a 
teacher. His first school was in District No. 6, 
Bennington Township. He taught for ten consecu- 
tive winters, in the summers working for his father 
or brother on the farm and in 1876 at his father's 
death took entire charge of the home place, con- 
ducting the farm exclusivelj' since 1886. He is 
recognized as an educator of prominence through- 
cut the State and for a number of j-ears has had 
many calls to be in attendance at county institutes 
where he was engaged in teaching special branches. 
The frail state of his health, however, compelled 
him to give up this work. Although Mr. Cooper 
now devotes himself to agriculture he is deepl}' 
read in literature and keeps himself well posted in 
current events. He lias a fine library of the English 
and American authors, in the perusal of which he 
takes the greatest pleasure. 

The original of our sketch was married Maj' 7, 
1885 in Shiawassee Township to Miss Blanche 



King, daughter of Harvey and Sarah (Barnes) King. 
Her grandfather was the Rev. Silas Barnes, one of 
the pioneer ministers of the Baptist persuasion in this 
State. Mrs. Cooper was born in Ashtabula County, 
Ohio, August 10,1863. Her father died wlien she 
was three years old, lier mother surviving liim only 
ten^'eais; the daughter at the age of thirteen entered 
the family of an uncle. Dr. Horace Barnes, of Ionia, 
where she remained for five j'carsand then changed 
her home to that of her aunt Mar}^ Reynolds, wife 
of the Rev. G. M. Rej'nolds, of Shiawassee County. 
Here she lived until her marriage with Mr. Cooper. 
Mr. Cooper has one hundred and twenty-nine acres 
of land, which was the old homestead. He devotes 
most of his attention to stock-niising, taking much 
pride in the fact that he has some of the finest 
blooded animals in the county. He owns a regis- 
tered Short horn, bred b^- J. W. Ilibbard, having 
an Oxford strain of the Strawberry- Roan family. 
Our subject is a Republican. His fellow-towns- 
men have their confidence in his integrity, intelli- 
gence and judgment by electing him to the most 
honorable positions that the township can give. 
He has been Township Superintendent of Schools 
and Inspector of the same for man}- years. Al- 
though Mr. Cooper's household is destitute of chil- 
dren it is one of the most agreeable in which to 
visit. The head of the family is a man of unusual 
intelligence, culture and refinement, and the wife 
a lady whose sweetness of disposition and bright, 
genial manners endear her to all who know her. 

C5^ LINTON J. HILL is the only son of a 
worthy sire, Cortland Hill, and was born in 
^^/ Bengal Township, Clinton Count}', Mich., 
December 5, 1838, being the first while male child 
born within the limits of this county. His father. 
Judge Cortland Hill, was born in Tompkins Count}', 
N. Y., in 1811. He was reared upon a farm. He 
attended school for only one-half day, but after 
he became of age he taught school for several 
years both in New York and Penn.sylvania. He 
obtained his education by his father's lireplacc and 
studied both Greek and Latin. He came toMichi- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 



937 



gall about 18.3d.iud took up Government land near 
Homer, Calhoun County; he sold this land, buying 
near Charlotte. Eaton County, and subsequently 
transferred his property rights to Clinton County, 
where he purchased three hundred and twenty 
acres on section 31, Bengal Township, for wiiich be 
paid 82 an acre. In 183G he was married to Lu- 
cinda Rease, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y. 
She was a lady of frail form and delicate aiipcar- 
ance, and many of her friends in the East thought 
that a man who would take so frail a creature into 
a desert could have no affection for the wife of his 
choice, but her husband learned that bone and 
muscle did not make a heroine and tlia!. she had the 
nerve and grit to kill a bear and drive a gray wolf 
from her door with her broom. 

When Cortland Hill came West with his bride 
lie left her in Detroit while he built a log shaiitj' on 
his land, being thus the first settler in what is now- 
Bengal Township. Indians were numerous but 
peaceable, and wild game was plentiful. He did 
his own clearing and chopping for a number of 
years, and his te.ira was a yoke of oxen with which 
he went as far as Pontiac to mill, an i later to Ionia. 
After his first three children were born and they 
began to have religious meetings in the neighbor- 
hood, Mr. Hill bought an old horse and they all 
went to meeting on his back, the parents being 
sandwiched in between the three children. When 
they reached the church their neighbors envied 
them because they could go on horseback, while 
the others came to the service on foot. 

In 1841 Mr. Hill removed to De Witt, then the 
county-seat of Clinton County, where he engaged 
in tlie mercantile business for four ^-ears and then 
returned to his farm where he lived until his death, 
which occurred January 3, 1888, in his seventy- 
eighth year. He was Judge of the Probate Court 
for six years and served as Deputy County Clerk for 
two years. He was a Democrat in politics and was 
a candidate for the Legislature, but his party was in 
the minoritj' and he failed of election. For many 
years he was Justice of the Peace and was Super- 
visor of Bengal Township for several years. In 
his office as Justice he was more than ordinarily 
wise in his decisions and was familiar with tlie law 
of the land. He was a prominent member of the 



Grange an<l took an active interest in the order, 
making many speeches throughout the State in its 
behalf. 

Judge Hill was an intelligent student of the 
Bible and a lecturer upon astrouomj'. He was for 
a number of years connected with the Free Will 
Baptist Church, but that society' became extinct in 
his locality and he never after united with any 
church. He was a man of excellent habits anil was 
never known to utter an oath or use a b3'-word of 
questionable sound. He was held in the highest 
esteem by all who knew him. He was the Presi- 
ident and one of the most active members of the 
Pioneer Societ}' for more than a dozen years. For 
forty years he was Postmaster of the Bengal post- 
otlice, which at his death was discontinued. He 
purchased a water gristmill in De Witt in 1818 
and repaired and operated it for two years. 

The mother of our subject died February 5, 1888, 
just a few weeks after the ddhth of her faithful 
husband, with whom slie liad celebrated their 
golden wedding during September of the previous 
year. She was a conscientious and devoted mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and at the 
time of her death was almost seventy-two years old. 
She was the mother of six children, five daughters 
and one son. In the words of the father, written 
at the time of the celebration of their gohlen wed- 
ding, "These live daughters, amiable, affectionate 
and lovel}', the joy of our hearts and the pride of 
our lives — these five daughters whom we fondly 
hoped would steady our faltering steps in life's de- 
cline, are all gently sleeping in the cemetery." 

The subject of this sketch is now the only sur- 
viving member of this family. He was reared on 
the old Hill homestead and educated in the old 
log schoolhouse, never attending but one term in a 
frame schoolhouse. After he was eighteen years old 
he entered Olivet College where he spent seven 
terms and then took one j'car at the State Agricul- 
tural College. He remained at home untd of age 
and taught for some time. Subsequently he bought 
and sold stock and speculated in land for two or 
three j'ears. 

In 1868 our subject v.'as united in marriage with 
Delight Lyon, of Ohio, who died May 1, 1874, 
leaving one son — Tyler. Mr. Hill's second mar- 



938 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



rlage occurred in the fall of 1875, when he was 
united with Lora Seaver, a native of Oneida County, 
N. Y., whose parents brought her to Michigan 
when she was about a year old and who have since 
passed away. Two children blessed his marriage 
— Ray, who has died, and Dell. Mrs. Hill is 
an earnest and devoted member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Hill a Democrat in his 
political views and has been a member of the 
Masonic order for more than twenty-five j'ears. 
He has a fine farm of five hundred and twenty 
acres and has for several years raised Short- 
horn cattle, Percheron liorses, Merino sheep and 
Poland-China hogs. His boyhood life in the forest 
developed a fondness for hunting. He killed scores 
of deer in this township, and since they became 
scarce has followe<l them north and now makes 
regular trips north every fall to engage in this 
sport. He is a man of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence and a prominent and influential citizen in the 
community. 



-^'-^^' 



M. KILBOURN is a prominent druggist 
^) and real-estate dealer in Corunna. He owns 
11, the building in whicli his drug store is lo- 
cated, and carries a large and carefully-selected 
slock of drugs, medicines and druggists' sundries, 
carefully dispensing the former and taking pains 
to have only those which are reliable and pure. He 
deals in farm lands to some extent but his chief 
real-estate l)usiness is in connection with Riverside 
Sub-Division, which adjoins the county seat and 
extends to within a half mile of Owosso. It com- 
prises land on section 20, Caledonia Township, for- 
merly known as the D. B. Reed farm. It was 
bought by Mr. Kilbourn in September, 1890. The 
scheme of the new sub-division occurred to him 
and Mr. Eveleth and thirty acres of land was 
platted. Some of it was sold almost immediately 
after being placed on the market, and Detroit par- 
ties replatted a tract acquired by them. 

Mr. Kilbourn is a descendant of families of the 
Kinpire State, his fattier h.iving been born in Frank- 
lin and his mother in Oswego County. Tlie latter 
was a daughter of Harry Huntington, a millwright 



who died in Ingbam Count}', this Stale, in 1859. 
Her maiden name was Amanda Huntington. The 
father was reared on a farm and after his marri.age 
removed to Shiawassee County, this State, and was 
engaged in farmiug in Perry Township until 1865. 
He then S(jld his farm and came to Corunna, as- 
suming an interest in a iilaning-iuill, and sash, door 
and blind factory. Here he died in 18G8 at the 
age of forty-eight 3'ears. The widow remained 
here until 1887, then went to Seliua, Cal., where 
her younger son Charles is in the drug business; 
her death occurred there the following year. 

Fred Kilbourn is the elder of two children born 
to his parents and his natal day was January 10, 
1854. He was born on the farm in Perry Town- 
sliip and lived there until he was eleven years old. 
He attended the Coruiina High School after tlie 
familj' removed to the county seat, but when he 
entered his teens was obliged to go to work. He 
spent two years clerking in the genera! merclian- 
dise establisliment or Simons Bros., tlien went to 
Portland and worked two years. He next spent a 
year in a grocery store in Lansing, then returned 
to Corunna and became a clerk for Dr. Alsdorf. 
In the employ' of that gentleman he spent four 
years and then began business in parlnershii> with 
George Shattuck. This was in 1877 and the linn 
of Kilbourn it Shattuck was in force two 3'ears. 
The senior partner then assumed the entire interest 
and since that time has licon carrying on his busi- 
ness alone. Mr. Kilbourn owns a residence and 
five acres of land in Corunna, and a forty-acre 
farm with excellent improvements in the vicinity. 

In the city of Detroit in August, 1886, Mr. Kil- 
bourn was married to Miss Alma Croarkin. This 
lady was born in Dexter, W.nslitenaw County, and 
completed her education in the Sacred Heart Col- 
lege at Detroit, from whicli she was graduated in 
due time. She is a communicant of the Catholic 
Church. ]Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourn are the happy 
parents of two bright children, named respectivel}', 
Kathleen and .lohn. Mr. Kilbourn is a Mason and 
in politics is independent. His cliaracter and 
ability have been recognized b}- his fellow-men 
and he luas been called ui)on to serve them in [losi- 
lions of responsibility. He has been Alderman 
two years, was Supervisor of the First Ward one 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



939 



j'ear and City Treasurer two years. In 1883 he 
was elected to the hi.£,dicst ))osition within the gift 
of the people of C'orunna and sat in the Mayor's 
chair during the ensuing term and again in 1890. 
Ilis official stations give evidence of his reputation 
in business circles, and the competence he is secur- 
ing proves that he is a good manager and full of 
en erg}'. 



<^l OHN A. JOHNSTON. Fairfield Township 
is noted for producing some of the finest 
slock in the county, and one of the fai-m- 
ers who have given most intelligent atten- 
tion to this industry whicii is .at present proving so 
luciativo to all who are engaged in it, is the gentle- 
man whose name is at the head of this sketch, and 
who resides on section 12, Fairfield Township, Shia- 
wassee County. Besides his interest in stock-rais- 
ing he is a general farmer and has a pleasant and 
well-improved place that compares well with any 
in the county. 

Mr. Johnston was born in Brecksville, Ohio, 
July 1, 1845. lie is the son of Joseph and Mar- 
garet (llampson) Johnston, natives of Penns3'lva- 
nia but of Irish parentage. His grandparents on 
both sides were natives of Ireland. His paternal 
grandfather was Edward Johnston and his mater- 
nal grandfather was William llampson. The 
grandparents emigrated to this country at an e.arly 
day, and their children became scattered through 
the Eastern Slates. Mr. Johnston's father removed 
to Cuj-ahoga County, Ohio, with his parents when 
he was six 3-ears of age, his birth d.aj' being April 
1, 1806. There he was reared on a farm, and on 
reaching manhood married, but did not long make 
Ohio his home, coming to Kalamazoo County, Mich., 
in 18;j0. Our subject was the j'oungest of a fam- 
ily of five cliildren, all of whom were born in Ohio. 
Three of them are living, two in Kalamazoo 
County. Our subject was four years old vvhen 
his parents removed to Michigan, and he became 
familiar with all branches of farm work. 

October 9, 1870, the gentleman of whom we 
write was united in marriage to Miss Susan Bly, 
daughter of Philip and Mary Ann (Ramsey) Bly, 



natives of London, England. They were, after 
coming to this country, residents of St. Joseph 
County, this State. Our subject continued to live 
in Kalamazoo County for about seven years after 
his marriage when he concluded to better his for- 
tunes b}' removing to Shiawassee Count}'. Here 
he has purchased eighty acres of land which lie has 
earned by his own individual efforts. Mr. John- 
ston is favored, in that he has a better education 
than the average farmer, having had unusual ad- 
vantages both in e.arly school days and in home 
training. He has one child who gladdens his home 
and for whom he looks into the future with great 
expectancy, as well as some natural paternal anx- 
iet}'. This child is a daughter, Pearlyette, who is 
the wife of Lewis Loynes, and lives on the home- 
stead. She has two children to whom she has 
given the names of Joseph and John. 

Our subject casts his vote with the Democratic 
party. A brother of Jlr. Johnston formerly lived 
in this township where he was the owner of one 
hundred and twenty acres of land, but on March 
10, 1890, he died. Mr. Johnston is much cng.aged 
in stock-raising, having some fine blooded animals. 
He finds this a most lucrative business and a sure 
offset to any failures that may be in crops. 



C«l IVILLIAM H. POTTER, who is proprietor 
\,-\/// of a harness shop in Ovid, is a native of 
ft/^ the township, and was born June 2, 1864. 
His parents are John A. and Mary J. (Brown) Pot- 
ter, who were born in New York and Michigan 
respectively. The father was a merchant and in his 
store in Ovid the son obtained commercial training 
and learned the details of business life. In the 
schools here the lad pursued his studies until seven- 
teen years old, and he then entcrc<l the busines col- 
lege in Valparaiso, Ind., and was graduated after 
diligent use of a year and a half of time. Return- 
ing to Ovid he took a position in the banking 
house of Sowers &: White, and kept the books of 
the establishment about eighteen months. 

Mr. Potter then decided to enter the business 
world as a principal instead of an employe, and be- 



940 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



gan to look about for a good opening, and going to 
Kdmore he was emploj-ed by his fatlier, who kept 
a hotel there a twelvemonth. He then returned to 
Ovid and in January, 1890, opened up a harness 
shop. He is doing well financially in this enter- 
prise, and is gaining the reputation of an honest 
and reliable dealer. The goods sent out from his 
shop are well made, of good material and excel- 
lent workmanship, and the demand is increasing. 
May 28, 1885, Mr. Potter was married to Miss 
Cora H. Brokaw, of Ovid, daughter of Charles P. 
Brokaw. Two daughters have come to brighten 
the happy home — Beulah, born November 28, 1886; 
and Kate Clice, July 7, 1889. After due consid- 
eration of the political question Mr. Potter decided 
to throw his influence with the Republican party, 
and thus his vote is cast. In April, 1891, he was 
elected Town Clerk, and he is carefully' and intelli- 
discharging the duties of his office. He and his 
wife are held in respect by their associates, and are 
looked upon as additions to social circles where the 
educated and well-l)red gather. 

-^ ' ^ " <^ * — 



JOHN REED. No State in the forty-four 
gives greater encouragement to a man who 
desires to devote himself to .agricultural 
life than does Michigan. Its resources are 
large and its climate is adapted to the cultivation 
of many crops. As a fruit-growing country it is 
unexcelled, although in this respect it is not given 
the credit it should have, because it is superficially 
considered loo fur north for the perfect develop- 
ment of fiiie fruit. Our subject is one of the 
thousands of fanners who have proved that the 
resources of their State arc almost without limit, 
he having most successfully carried on a large farm 
for a number of years. 

Mr. Reed's farm is on section 7, A'ernon Town- 
ship. Our subject was born in Tompkins Count3-, 
N. v., in Ithica Township, January 11, 1820. His 
father was William K. Reed, a native of Bucks 
Count}-, Pa. He was born in 179G and his son is 
proud of tlie fact that his father was a soldier in 
the War of 1812, from which he carried a most 



honorable wound. When but a boy lie went to 
Tompkins County where he remained until 1823, 
thence coming to Michigan in 1836, where he set- 
tled in what is now Vernon Township. The town 
was not then org.anized. He located on section 
17, on whijh tiiere were no improvements whatever, 
Mr. Reed being compelled to cut the road through 
for himself for the greater part of four miles. 

Mr. Reed took up the land from the Govern- 
ment and at the time he entered upon his claim not 
a stick of timber had been cut on his place. He 
cut the logs and built a shanty that served for their 
habitation for a number of j'ears. His time was 
necessarily spent in clearing up the place and it 
w.as necessary that tiic family sliould ever be vigi- 
lant for there were wild animals in abundance 
prowling around their very door. Here he re- 
mained until the age of seventj-four, when death 
overtook him. In early daj's he was a Whig in 
politics and held the office of Highway Commis- 
sioner, probabl}' not because of his party iiicliii.a- 
tion, for there were only seventeen voters at the 
time the town was organized. The first town 
meeting was held at Mr. Reed's shanty and all the 
voters of the town were at that meeting. The 
gentleman was Poormaster at one lime and also 
Patlimasler, in wliicli cajjacit}' he attended to the 
opening up of the roads. He was a member of the 
AVesleyan Methodist Church and vcr}' active in 
the work. 

Our subject's grandfather on the paternal side, 
Abijali Reed, w.as a native of Ireland and a wheel- 
wright by trade; he came to America when a young 
man and lived to be seventy years old. Our sub- 
ject's motlicr, Minerva (Wolcott) Reed, was a na- 
tive of Bradford County, Pa., and w.as born in 
1794. She reached the good old age of seventy- 
eight }-ears and was a co-worker with her husband 
ill tlie primitive settlement and the organization of a 
church. They were married at Ithica, Tompkins 
County. N. Y., and were tlic parents of nine chil- 
dren, six sons and tliree daughters, four of whom 
are now living. Our subject was the eldest, then 
followed William J., George W.. Hamet A., the 
wife of John Tunison and who resides in Vernon 
Township. Our subject's school days were spent 
in Dryden, N. Y. After he finished his school 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



941 



work be came to IMicliigan witli his father at tlic 
age of sixteen. He helped to clear the farm in 
Vernon Township and remained with liis father 
until twent3'-one years of age when he bought the 
farm where lie now resides. He cut the logs and 
built a shanty in preparation for the home to which 
he was so soon to bring a young bride. He was 
married July 3, 1S44, to Mary A. McCollum, a na- 
tive of Tompkins County, N. Y. She was born 
February 2, 1823, and is the oldest child of the 
family. Her father and mother were Abram and 
Jane (Gilmore) McCollum. 

After Mr. Recil's marriage he took up his resi- 
dence in a log house. He lived In the shanty for 
one and a half }'ears, after which he built a good 
log house in which he lived for nine years, when 
he replaced it by a frame dwelling to which he has 
added until he now has a fine large home. One 
hundred and fifty-nine acres stretch away from the 
house and one hundred and fifty acres of this dur- 
ing the summer months are verdant with waving 
grain. All these improvements have been made 
by our subject. Mr. Reed and his estimable wife 
have had six cliildren. The two eldest, Louisa and 
Dexter, are deceased. Ellen is the wife of William 
H. Howd, and resides in the village of Vernon ; 
Marion is deceased; Charles E. is a mechanic re 
siding in Georgia. The youngest son is also de- 
ceased. 

Mr. Reed is at present not engaged in iin}' busi- 
ness. He rents his farm on shares and enjoys in 
his old age the fruits of his long years of hard 
labor. He is very i)roud of some fine stock which 
he has. The Republican party is the one of Mr. 
Reed's choice. He has been School Director for 
twelve years and Highway Commissioner for four 
years. 

^^EORGE W. EMMONS, a retired farmer, is 
111 ^w7 ^'"'' oldest settler in St. John's, Clinton 
^^Jjl County. He owns one hundred and twenty 
acres inside the corporation of this city, and is the 
gentleman who laid out and platted the Emmons 
Addition. His father, Philanous, was born in 
Calskill, N. Y. He w.as a cooper and mason by 



trade. He carried on his trade in Romulus, Sen- 
eca County, N. Y., where he resided until his death 
at the age of fifty years. His wife, Susan Wilkes, 
was born there and came to Michigan and passed 
away from earth in Bingham Township, this 
county, when ninety-tive j-ears old. In her later 
years she was tenderly cared for and cherished b3' 
her son, our subject, who was her main support. 
She had lived a godl^' life and was connected with 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Of the eight children in the parental home our 
subject was the fourth in order of birth. His 
birthplace was Romulus, N. Y., p.nci his natal day 
September 12, 1823. He attended the district 
school until he w.as twelve j'ears of age and then 
was bound out to George Rogers, and came to 
Michigan, making his home in Novi Townsliip, 
Oakland County. His coming to the West was in 
1836. He remained with Mr. Rogers until twenty- 
one years of age, and for a few years after reach- 
ing his majority. He worked for a tract of eighty 
acres of land which Mr. Rogers valued at $100. 
This is the land upon which he now resides. 

In the fall of 1844 the young man came to St. 
John's, making the journey from Howell on foot, 
through the unbroken wilderness for fifty miles. 
He has always been fond of hunting, and even in 
those early daj's was a good shot. He now be- 
longs to the Si. John's Hunting Club and goes to 
the Lake Sujicrior region on the Northern Penin- 
sula every fall for sport, spending about two or 
three months there. In Oakland County in the 
early days he was in at the death of three bears and 
a fourth one he killer! all alone, attacking him 
with dogs and rifle, and shooting him down. He 
killed scores of deer and has some fine stags' 
heads mounted as ornaments of his beautiful home. 
The same 3'ear that he came to this county he re- 
turned to his former home and engaged in work 
for some of the farmers, but tliree years later he 
returned and l)egan to cut the timber. He blazed 
a road, which afterward became Lansing Street, in 
St. John's, and felled the first trees in this locality, 
being here tiirec years before another settler came. 
But it was too lonely to establish a home and he 
returned to his old neighborhood. 

It was in IS.').') that Mr. Kmmons (inally made 



942 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



his i)ermaiient boine on tlie land which is now .St. 
John's. Here he built a log shanty with basswood 
boughs for roof and began to improve the land. 
After clearing twenty acres he i)Ianted it in wheat 
which yielded him enough to eat and to sell for 
his greatest necessities as well as seed for next 
year. Afler he had raised his first crop his period 
of greatest povcrity was over, for he has always 
had enough to supply his needs from that day to 
this. 

About three years after this young man built 
his shanty other settlers came to St. John's and 
established a settlement. He has since added to 
his farm and has now one hundred and sixt}' acres 
in a fine condition. He laid out one hundred 
acres, which he platted as Emmons' Addition to 
St. Jolin's. This he sold as village lots and has 
done considerable business in botli real estate and 
negoti.ating loans. He has some of tiie best lots 
in tlie city. His first shanty was liis home for four 
years. He then built a frame house, which yet 
stands. He built a larger liomo somewhat later 
wliich he moved away in 1884, and erected one 
of the finest brick residences in the city. The 
grounds occupy a whole block and the build- 
ing cost some * 10,000. Here our subject and 
his wife dispense a cordial and graceful hospi- 
tality. The home is a beautiful one and is ar- 
ranged and adorned in exquisite taste. His first 
marriage took place in DeWitt, Clinton County, 
in November, 1855. The lady's name before 
marriage was Mary J. Morton. 

The second marriage of Mr. Emmons took place 
in Nankin, Wayne County, this State, in Febru- 
ary, 18f)5, and he w.as then united with Mrs. Cor- 
nelia Pate. His third marriage took place at De- 
troit in February, 1872. Mrs. Emmons bore the 
maiden name of Mary J. Chase. Her father and 
grandfather, both of whom bore the name of Ben- 
jamin, were residents of Portsmouth, N. H. The 
great-grandfather was one of the Revolutionary 
heroes and both father and grandfather followed 
the trade of a cooper. The father came to Ohio 
many years ago and served his country for five 
years in the Florida War. After coming to Mich- 
igan he was married at Detroit, and then went 
to Maine for si.x years. Later he returned to De- 



troit, where he now resides at the age of seventy- 
two years. He is a Democrat in politics and a 
member of the Christian Churcli. His wife was 
a native of Wurtcraburg, Germany, and bore tlic 
name of Christina Bessenger. She is a daugh- 
ter of Micliael Bessenger, who came to America 
when his daugliter was only two years of age, and 
w.as a gardener in Detroit. This worthy and intel- 
ligent couple were tiie parents of ten children, of 
whom this daughter was the fourth. She was 
liorn in Portland, Me., December 8, 1848, and was 
two years old when the family removed to Detroit. 
Siie is a lady of superior capabilities, true culture 
and great loveliness of disposition, and is an orna- 
ment in the social life of the city. 

Five beautiful children make glad the hearts of 
these parents: Mamie, George W., Grace C. Fred 
C. and Clarence H. Their mother is an earnest 
and consistent member of tiie Cluistadcl|>liian 
Church. Mr. Emmons has been a Trustee of the 
village for seven years and village Assessor for 
one year, and was one of the most active citizens 
in establishing a capable fire department. He has 
a large interest in the Lansing Building & Loan 
Association and also that of Detroit. He is a 
straightforward Democrat and a man who is imlc- 
pendent in his views. 



-©^<^^-»^~ 



VfjOHN J. P. GERARD Y, who li\ 
17, \'enice Township, Shiawa 



ivcs on section 
lawassee County, 
is one of our foreign-born citizens who is 
truly welcome to our land, for he has proved 
himself worthy of a home in the "land of the free." 
His father, J. J. (ierardy, was a native of the de- 
partment of LaMoisellc, France, and was a mer- 
chant and farmer. The great-grandfather was of 
Italian blood. The mother of our subject, Susan 
(Johannes) Gcrardy, was a native of France, in 
which country the parents spent their lives and 
where they lie at rest. Our subject is the only one 
now living of their household of five .sons and two 
daughters. Three of their sons served in the French 
Army. A brother born in 1811 entered the army 
in 1829 and served ti\o and one-half years. 



PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



943 



Tlie subject of this sketch was horn May 11, 
1826, ill Fiance, and was thoroughly educated bolli 
ill elementary and college courses. After complet- 
ing his college education he was engaged for a 
lime in mercantile business at Metz and in 1814 
entered tiie army. During iiis militaiy career he 
W.1S at Strausburg in the First Battalion of siiarp- 
siiooters. lie w.is sent to a shooting scliool at St. 
f)mer, France, near Calais, wliere for nine months 
lie tooli rille practice and he was for three months 
at Briancon upon the Switzerland frontier. He 
went to Africa in a new l)attalion, llie Kigiitli. and 
landed in Algiers in IK 17 and lielpcd all throiigii 
tlie war. In 1849 he returned to the First Battal- 
ion and was engaged in the conquest of the city of 
Rome against Garibaldi. After driving out that 
brave Italian they returned in 1850 to Africa and 
engaged in war there. On August 11, 18y2, he 
received his discbarge and returned to France, 
having been i)romoted from private to Sergeant of 
the lirst class. lie had lost his parents during his 
absence and he proceeded to settle up his affairs the 
same j'ear and embarked at Havre November 1. 

Mr. Gerardy passed seventy-two ilays upon the 
ocean and landed at New Orleans, La., and was 
engaged for some time in the Lu.\eml)erg Hos|)ital 
in tliat city. In June, 1854, lie married Mary A. 
Luchcnbubl, a native of Bavaria, who was born 
aliout the year 182G and came to America two years 
before her marriage. They continued to live at 
New Orleans until April 1 of the following year, 
when tliey sailed for New York City, being twenty- 
tvvo days on the voyage. They spent the season 
in Medina, N. Y. and in October came West, spend- 
ing two weeks in Flint, and in November, 1855, 
came to .Shiawassee County and settled on the farm 
which they now own. Eighteen of its eighty-two 
acres had been already cleared but there was no 
building except a log house u|)on it. 

Mr. Gerardy was not used uo roughing it "•in the 
bu.-ih" and scarcely knew how to endure the hard- 
ships of pioneer life, but bravely went to work and 
cleared the land as he could from time to time. He 
now liiis one hundred and twenty-two acres, seven- 
ty-five of which are improved. In 18G8 he built 
his residence at a cost of 1^800 and the barn was 
built in l.S5'J. The orchards lie set out some twen- 



ty-eight years ago. Two disastrous forest fires vis- 
ited him, the first being the more severe, and dur- 
ing it he and his wife liarl a trying experience. 
They were lost in the dense smoke and wandered 
for several hours with a lantern, trying to find 
their home, although they were not more than fif- 
teen rods from it during all that time. Indians, 
deer, wolves, foxes, bears and panthers ahdundcd in 
those days. 

In 1883 the devoted wife and mother passed from 
the busy scenes of earth, mourned bj' all who had 
the pleasure of her acquaintance. To her and her 
husband nine children li.ad lieen liorn of whom six 
are now living, namely: John 1'.. who is married 
and lives at Durand; Maiy, the wife of Nelson La- 
May, a farmer, who lives west of Byron and has one 
child; Helen, wife of Charles 'I'aplujuse, foreman 
in a lumber yard, has two childrcm and lives in 
Owosso; Alfred, who married Mary Mann, and has 
two children, they making their home in Flushing, 
Genesee County; Theodore, a fainter, who married 
MaryE. Wlieelock, and lives nearliis father; Kittie, 
the youngest daughter, is at home and keeps house 
for her father. To all the children the parents 
extended every possible ojiportunity for a good 
education. 

Several social orders claim Mr. Gerardy as an 
active member; he belongs to the Blue Lodge, 
Cliaiiter, Council, and Comniandery of the Masonic 
Order at Corunna, and has held the ollice of Scribe 
in the Chapter, and Standard Bearer in the Com- 
mandeiy. He has long been a member of the lo- 
cal School Board, and filled the Moderator's Chair 
for nineteen years. He has always taken an inter- 
est in political movements and votes the Demo- 
cratic ticket. For eighteen years he has been Town- 
ship Clerk, for sixteen j'cars he served as Notary 
Public, and has also been Overseer of the High- 
ways. In looking back over his life lie realizes 
that he has had some great blessings, although he 
has seen some hard times. It is a matter of regret 
to liiin that he was notable to attend the last sad 
obsequies or perform the last services over the 
remains of his parents, his four brothers and two 
sisters, but he was absent from them at the time of 
their death. In 1854 while in New Orleans he had 
yellow fever, and after coining to this Stale suf- 



944 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



fererl from the Michigan fever and typhus fever 
in 1857. 

In the fall of 1853, Mr. Gerardy enlisted in IS'ew 
Orleans, La., in the Tnited States Army for war 
vfith Mexico, but the difficulties being adjusted 
between the two governments he was discharged 
shortl}' after enlisting. He also made the pilgrim- 
age to the old city of Treves in Prussia at the ex- 
bition of the Holy Coat in 1844, at which time he 
saw the crutches used by the young countess of 
Droste-Vischcring in the cathedral of that citj'. It 
will be remembered that this young countess was 
claimed to have been healed by miracle. 



^ 



¥^;ARNER BUNDAY, the popular Mayor of 
St. John's, and a prominent grocer, comes 
of English ancestry. His father, who bore 
the same name as himself, was born in Pennsylva- 
nia, but was reared in the State of New York. For 
a time he was eng.iged as a teacher in Ontario 
County, but later operated as a farmer. In 1837 
he came to Michigan, entered and improved land 
in Hillsdale County, where he owned one thousand 
acres. He was a member of the Congregational 
Church. The mother of our subject, Betsey Gard- 
ner, was born in Ontario County, and died in Hills- 
dale County. 

Five children were born to the parents of our 
subject, namely: John A., Cornelia G., AVarner. 
Pluube A. and George F. He of whom we write 
was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., in 1835, on Janu- 
ary 5. His first recollections are of Hillsdale 
Count3\ whither he was brought by his parents at 
the age of two years. He received his education 
in the pioneer log schoolhouse which prevailed at 
that time, but his opportunities were limited, 
as he was early set to work. He remained 
under the parental roof until he was twenty- 
one j-ears old, when he engaged in farming for 
himself. 

Purchasing a farm of one hundred and fift^' 
acres, Mr. Sunday devoted his time to its improve- 
ment until 1863, when on account of ill health 
he sold out. Later lie engaged in the general mer- 



cantile business in Somerset until 1868. when he 
sold out and came to St. John's. He is the olilesl 
merchant in this thriving place and has operated 
continuously hero since his first arrival. For a time 
he was doing business in the dry -goods line, but now 
carries a full line of groceries and does some whole- 
sale business. 

Mr. Buiida^' was (Irst married in Woodstock, 
Lenawee Count}-, in 1863 to Miss Annie E. Flint, 
a native of Woodstock, and the daughter of .loscpli 
Flint. Two children came to them — Wallis M. 
and Madge G. The second marriage of our sub 
ject united him with Miss Annie M. Campbell, and 
was Solemnized in Madison Count}', N. Y., in 
1877. In 1891 Mr. Bunday was elected Mayor, 
and has efficiently filled this the highest office 
within the gift of the people. He has also served 
as School Director, and as Count}' Superintendent 
of the Poor three terms. Socially he belongs to 
the Free and Accepted Masons and is a Knight 
Templar. He votes the Republican ticket and has 
served .as delegate to county and State inventions, 
also on grand and petit juries. 




f^ ANIEL A. SUTFIN. Among those who 
have long been identified with the interests 
of Ovid Township, Clinton County, is the 
gentleman above named, who landed here 
April 29, 1853, and located on section 31. He 
had not money enough to pay the teamster for 
transporting him from Detroit, but in lieu of 
mor:ey he had a determined spirit, physical 
strength and the encouragement and womanly aid 
of an estimable wife. The first year he cleared 
enough land to make a potato patch and a building 
spot, and little by little he added to the tract until 
he had eighty acres ready for cultivation. When 
he came hither wild deer and turkeys would run as 
close to his house as ten feet, and a daughter was 
once attacked by a coon within fifty feet of the 
door and dragged the animal nearly to the house 
before she could get loose. After living on the 
farm a quarter of a century, Mr. Sutfin sold it and 
removed to suction 11. There he partly improved 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



945 



tbe place on which he lived six ye;irs, then ijecame 
a resident of Ovid, and now owns and occupies 
three acres of Patterson's Addition. 

As will be seen, Mr. Sutfin has been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits — a line of work to which he 
was reared, as his father was a farmer, and he early 
learned how to till the soil and manage a farm. 
He was born in Yates County, N. Y., March 22, 
1825, and his parents were James and Maria (Ellis) 
Sutfin. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and 
when eleven years old began his residence in Y'ates 
County, N. Y., where the lady who became 
his v/ife was born and reared. Our subject re- 
mained with his parents until he was of age, 
spending much of his time in farm work, and hav- 
ing only common-school advantages. Much of 
the knowledge he now possesses has been gained bj' 
him since his marriage. During seven successive 
summers he w.as a boatman on tbe Erie Canal, and 
thus got his stait in life. AVhen he came to this 
State, Jackson was the nearest railroad point to the 
locality he had chosen, and he set up his home in 
the forest and endured the usual hardships while 
improving his land. The years have been spent in 
stead}- industr}', and even now when he is growing 
old, he is by no means idle. lie has been able to 
give his children good educations and has lived to 
see them happily married and settled in comfort- 
able homes. Bereft of the companion who made 
his home happj' for many years, he is now living 
alone, but surrounded by children and friends. 

April 24, 1842, Mr. Sutfin was married to E. M. 
Wilcox, who was born in Orange County, N. Y'., 
June 29, 1823, but at the time of her marriage was 
living in Y'ates County. After sharing his for- 
tunes nearly half a century, she breathed her last, 
October 11, 1889. The record of the children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Sutfin is as follows: Perry W., born 
February 25, 1843; Jane, February 4, 1845; Mary, 
February 25, 1847; Emily, November 8, 1849, 
Augusta, December 15, 1851; Eliza, May 19, 1854; 
Lewis, October 30, 1857; George. October 29, 
1859; Emmet, May 24, 1864; D., December 25, 
1866; Charles, December 25, 1871. 

Mr. Sutfin has held but few oflices, except that 
of School Trustee, but was Drainage Commissioner 
two years. In exercising the right of suffrage he 



uses a Republican ticket, as he has long been con- 
vinced that that party embodies the truest prin- 
ciples of political polic}-. He has secured the 
respect of his acquaintances by a quiet, industrious 
life and by the care which he has taken to do for 
his children that which would enable them to do 
well for themselves and society-. 




MBROSE G. COWLES, M. D. Prominent 
not only in professional circles but also in 
( i social matters and church work is the well- 
known physician whose name stands at the 
head of this paragraph. He makes his home in 
Durand, Shiawassee Count}', and from that point 
extenils a wide practice which calls him in various 
directions. He was born in Wood County, Ohio, 
in the wilds of the Black Swamp, on the banks of 
the Maumee River, his natal day being June 
2, 1846. His father, David R. Cowles, was born 
in 1805 in McGrawville, Cortland County, N. Y., 
was there educated and carried on his trade as a 
wagon maker. 

In 1845 David R. Cowles removed from New 
Y'ork to AVood County, Ohio, and theie cari-ied on 
his trade, but he was not satisfied with that wild, 
swampy country, and about a year later removed 
to Michigan, reaching New Hudson, Oakland 
County, in 1847. Here he again made himself 
useful in wagon-making, for which there was a 
great demand and but a small su|)ply. He made 
his home in that country until the fall of 18G.>, 
when he removed to Shiawassee County and lo- 
cated on an unimproved farm on section 28, 
Vernon Township. Here he built a frame house 
and cleared away the forest and made his home 
until his death, which tof)k place in 1880. He was 
a strong Abolitionist before the war and became 
an ardent I{ei)ublican afterward. He was a faith- 
ful Christian man antl an active worker in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church to the time he was 
eighteen years old. 

The faithful mother of our subject is still living, 
and resides in Vernon Township. She bore the 
moiden name of Lydia A. Swartz, and was liorn In 



946 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



New York in 1814. She had but two sons, the 
Doctor and liis brotlier William. Tlie latter re- 
sides on the farm with his mother. He being the 
older of the two boys, entered the army at the age 
of eighteen, serving three years, taking [tart in the 
battles of C'hickamauga, Missionary Hidge, and 
other like bloody battles. 

The parents of our subject brought him with 
them to the Wolverine State when he was an infant 
of but one year, and his flrst schooling was taken 
in New Hudson, his first teacher being that wor- 
thy pioneer instructor, Haniet Barrj'. He con- 
tinued his studies at the Union School at Corunna, 
taking a special course in the Normal room. Being 
now qualified to teach he began that work, teacliing 
in the winters, heli)ing his father through tlie 
summer and attending Normal School through the 
fall, carrying on work in this \\a.y for ten years. 
At the same time he undertook the study of medi- 
cine. Later he attended the Universit3' of Ann 
Arbor for one term and took a full course in the 
Bennett Medical College, of Chicago, whence he 
graduated in 1878, locating the same year where 
he now resides. Here he has built up a practice of 
which any physician may be proud. 

Dr. Cowles entered the stale of matrimony in 
January, 1880, his bride being Harriet Mclntyre. 
She was born in New Hudson, Mich., March 17, 
1850, and had ma<le her home lieie until marriage. 
A great calamitj- befell the young couple during 
the first year of their marriage, as the Doctor brought 
home infection from a diphtheria patient and his 
wife took the desease in its most malignant form 
and thereby lost her hearing and in consequence 
her speech has also departed. This trouble came 
to them onl}' eight weeks after their marriage, and 
it has been borne with remarkable Christian forti- 
tude and submission. No children have blessed 
this home. 

The Doctor has a beautiful farm of eight acres 
which was his father's old homestead. He is a 
Democrat in his political views and is identified 
with the Masonic order, belonging to Durand 
Lodge, No. 161. He was Superintendent of the 
schools in Vernon Township for seven j'ears, and 
is an active worker in the Epworth League, which 
is the Christian Endeavor Society of the Methodist 



Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the 
Independent Order of Good Templars, and is Secre- 
tary- of the Masonic lodge. Dr. Cowles has been 
tiie medical officer for the Chicago & Grand Trunk 
Railroad and also for tiie Detroit & Milwaukee 
road for seven years, and for the Cincinnati, Sagi- 
naw it Mackinaw Railroad since it was built. 



tM-'^-M-: 



'^EORGE E. KING, the subject of this sketch, 
has one of the most beautiful forty acres 
^^^ij) farms in Watertown Township, Clinton 
Count}-. It is situated on section 15, and is im- 
proved with line buildings. This gentleman is the 
son of David and Electa (McKey) King, natives 
of New York State. He was born in Niagara 
Count}-, that State, and lived there until he was 
fourteen years of age when he started out to work 
for himself. He was earlj- orphaned as his mother 
was snatched from him when he was only six 
months old, and he lost his father's protecting 
care at the age of eight years. 

George King was born April 18, 1837, and 
came to Michigan in 1852. After spending some 
time in Clinton Count}', he went to Lansing and 
clerked in a store of J. I. Mead, who was one of 
the leading merchants of Lansing at that time. 
He remained there only one year and in 1854 wont 
to Wisconsin. After a year he returned to Clin- 
ton County, and bought the fort}' acres upon 
which he now resides. It was then an unbroken 
forest and lie has brought it from that condition 
to its present highly cultivated state. He was 
now considering the subject of matrimony and 
felt it necessary to provide a home. He built a 
small log house on his clearing and prepared fur 
housekeeping. 

On the 17th of December, 1857, George 
E. King and Susan Smith were united in 
marriage. The bride was a daughter of Jonas and 
Lucinda Smith, pioneers in this section of Michi- 
gan. An opportunity to do well in Wisconsin 
now induced the young coui)le to go there instead 
of settling in tlic home they hud i)ro|)aied, but af- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



947 



tcr two j'ears upon a farm tliere they came back to 
Clinton County to their home. Here they have 
resided from that day to this. One son only has 
come to enliven and cheer their home, Frank Smith 
King, who was born December 23, 1859. 

On September 27, 1882, this son took to wife 
Miss Susan Easton, a daughter of Orvill Easton, of 
Clinton Count}'. They reside on section 33, Wat- 
ertown Township, and have one daughter, Josie 
M3'rl, born November 11, 1886. a beautiful little 
girl in whom her grandparents delight. The son 
has a fine farm of sixty-five acres which he is car- 
rying on prosperously and it is near enough to the 
parents' home to enable them to liave frequent 
social intercourse and family reunions. 

The political views of our suljject are embodied 
in the declarations of the Republican party and he 
is a stalwart defender of the policy of that organi- 
zation. His intelligence and character are such as 
to make him a leader among the party men of his 
locality, and he is a delegate to most of the Slate 
and county conventions. He has been Township 
Clerk for seven years and Highw.ay Commissioner 
for one year, and in this capacity did some excel- 
lent work which redounds greallj' to his credit. 
Among other enterprises he built two iron bridges 
.across the Looking Glass River. 



<jf; AMES H. CALKINS. Many of the prom- 
inent men in the business centers in Southern 
Michigan are now found among those who 
were born in this State and Owosso is no ex- 
ception to this rule. Tiie gentleman whose name 
heads this sketch was born in Genesee County, Mich., 
So|)tcmber 15, 1848, and is a son of Caleb Calkins, 
a native of Xew Hampshire whose natal da}' was 
November 20, 1804. He pursued farming all his 
life and died in August, 18G0. The grandfather 
of our subject was also Caleb Calkins and was of 
Welsh descent, the family belonging to the early 
settlers in New England. 

Caroline Piper is the maiden name of the mother 
of our subject, and she was born in Connecticut, 
,hinc 12, 1804. Her father, Samuel Piper, was of 



German descent. Soon after her marriage with Caleb 
Calkins, February 22, 1825, they removed from 
Vermont to Genesee County, N. Y., and afterward 
made their home in Jlonrfie County, this State. 

In 1840 they moved farther West, going to 
Michigan and settled on a farm in Genesee County, 
where they lived until the death of the father in 
1 860, and the mother passed away a few years 
later. They were the parents of thirteen children, 
nine boys and four girls and ten of this large cir- 
cle grew to maturity and six are still living. Our 
subject being the youngest of the family. 

The school days of .lames H. Calkins were passed 
in Genesee Count}', Mich., in the district school 
and in manual training upon the farm. He was 
but a lad of twelve years, when he was bereaved 
of his father. He began work in the lumber 
regions of Northern Michigan, entering the saw- 
mill and lumber camp when only fifteen j'ears old, 
doing a man's work much of the time. He remained 
liierc till his twenty-first year. On leaving the Sag- 
inaw Valley he returned to Genesee County and 
began work at the carpenter's trade which he con 
tinned to follow until 1871, when he came to 
Owosso and continued in the same line of work for 
two years. 

At that time Mr. Calkins turned his attention to 
setting up machinery in flouring mills and contin- 
ued in this and as Superintendent for Dewe}' ife 
Stewart, of Owosso, until 1891. In the fall of 
1890 he formed a partnership with D. M. Estey 
under the firm name of P^stey & Calkins, engj.aging 
in the manufacture of lumber in the north part of 
the State in Bay and Gladwin Counties. The firm 
owns a tract of land of about eight thousand acres 
and Mr. Calkin spends most of his time in looking 
after their lumber interests. The company' has two 
large sawmills, one on the tract of timbered land, 
and one at Pinconning, Bay County. The marriage 
in 1871 of James H. Calkins and Addic Brown was 
celebrated at Clayton, IMich., at the home of the 
bride's father, James E. Brown. This young bride 
died three years later leaving one daughter, Maud. 
In 1878 Mr. Calkins married his present wife, 
Charlotte E. Imlioff, of Owosso, a daughter of 
Henry and Eliza R. ImliofF. Mr. Calkins hiis served 
as Supervisor of the Second District of Owosso and 



948 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 



was elected Mayor of Owosso"in tlie spring of 1887. 
He is a metuber of Lodge No. 81. F. & A. M., 
Cliapter No. 89 R. A. M. and Corunna Comniand- 
eryNo. 21. He is one of the directors of the 
Owosso (Savings Bank and his political views are 
in accordance with those of the Republican party. 



-^^ 



v^sDWlN EWER WHITE was born at Men- 
m don, Monroe County, N. Y., February 12, 
/pl — ^ 1 858. He is descended from Scotch Presby- 
terian stoflv on his father's side, wliile Ills mother is 
of (^>uaker ancestry of English descent. From tliese 
two sources come that indomitable v/ill and energy 
coupled with high conscientiousness of character 
and purpose for which the subject of this sketch is 
noted. 

Tiie (irst fifteen years of Edwin E. White's life 
were spent on his fatiier's farm in New York State, 
attendance at the neighborhood scliool alternating 
witli tlie arduous duties of farm life. In 1873, lie 
began study at tlie East Hloomfield Academy, N. 
Y., remaining there, liowever, but two j'ears, when 
be removed to Ann Aibor, Mich. There, in the 
fail of 1875, lie began his preparation for entering 
the University of Miciiigan. The line of study he 
selected was the classical course, in wiiich, in 1878, 
he was duly graduated from the Ann Arbor High 
School and his name was one of the first to be en- 
rolle<l on tlie books of the University in tlie fall of 
that year. The class with wliicli het^itered college 
was the largest tliat had yet come up to the Uni- 
versity', being something over ^wo hundred and 
twenty-five strong. He entered ui)on his studies with 
earnestness and enthusiasm and early in his course 
manifested a predeliction for historicil researches 
and examination in the field of Political iScience. 
The opportunities for pursuing these two branches 
of study were perhaps unequalled at any American 
College or Unive'siiy at the time he was at college 
and to say that he improved the opportunities to 
their fullest extent would be relating only what 
actually occurred. 

While Mr. White was so earnest and conscien- 
tious as a student, he was equally so in his atten- 



tion to athlet'c matters and to whatever concerned 
the general welfare of his class or of the Univer- 
sity. He was honored with the highest gift in the 
power of the students, being elected in 1881, to 
the Presidency of the Student's Lecture Associa- 
ciation. In his social relations he was always the 
whole-souled, companionable boy, and was an en- 
thusiastic member of the Sigma Phi Society, one 
of the leading Greek letter secret fraternities at 
Ann Arbor. Instead of taking the Bachelor's de- 
gree in 1882 with his class, he decided to continue 
his studies for aholher ^ear with especial attention 
to Constitutional Law and history. Accordingly 
in 1883 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred 
on him. During the last two years of his course 
betook lectures in the Law Department of the Uni- 
versity. 

In the year of his graduation, Mr. White was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and took up his residence in St. 
Paul, Minn., where he at once obtained a position 
in the legal department of the Northern Pacific 
Railroad. His stay at St. Paul, however, was but 
a b) icf one, and at the end of five months he re- 
moved to St. John's, where he entered into part- 
nership relations with the Hon. Samuel S. Walker, 
under the firm name of Walker tt White, and en- 
gaged in the business of loaning funds on real-es- 
tate security. 

On April 22, 1885, Mr. White was married to 
Miss Mary R. Morey, at her mother's home at Lima, 
N. Y. The lady with whom his fortunes were 
thus happily joined has more than proven herself 
the valuable liel|imate of her husband, and has 
gained the love and admiration of all the people 
of St. John's during her six years' residence therein. 

Since the removal of Edwin E. White to St. 
John's, he has rapidly accumulated wealth, and is 
already ranked among the substantial business 
men of the town, being at present a Director in 
the State Bank, of St.. John's, the Durand Land 
Company, the State Bank, of Carson Cit}', and 
various other banking and business enterprises. 
He is actively engaged as Secretar}' and Treasurer 
of the INIichigan Mortgage Comi)any, Limited, 
and on him devolves, to a very large extent, the 
management of the important affairs of this concern. 
i He has been a member of the Common Council of 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 



949 



St. John's, and at present holds the responsible of- 
fice of President of the vSchool Board. His wide 
acquaintance with and deep interest in educational 
matters are already being felt and appreciated by 
his townspeople, and the improved condition of 
the Public .Schools is a matter of universal com- 
ment. 

Mr. White still retains his studious habits, and 
his greatest delight is with his books. His library 
is conceded by all to be the finest in Clinton 
County, and in matters of historical interest is 
really one of the most valuable in the State. 

PC. HOLLEY, M.I)., of Vernon, w.is born in 
Seneca County, N. Y., August 9, 1821), and 
is the son of Ransom AV. and Sarah (Clark) 
Holiey. The father, who was born in February, 
17U7, in Delaware County, N. Y., was reared in 
Seneca County, the same State, whilher lie wont at 
the age of six years. By trade he was a carpenter 
and joiner, and was a large contractor while in 
Ovid, N. Y. He erecteil several tine churches in 
the State of New York, a Methodist Episcopal in 
Ovid, a Presbyterian in Aurora and a Dutch Re- 
formed in Palmer. He also built many handsome 
residences, and a Masonic hall in Ovid. 

In 1831 the father came to Detroit, Mich., 
and after several removals settled in Novi Town- 
ship, Oakland County, on a farm. This was his 
home until he came to Shiawassee Count}' in 1836, 
taking up land from the Oovernment where 
Vernon now stands, and building the second 
log house In the place. Here he remained until 
called hence by death. He attended the first town- 
ship meeiing in Vernon Township and wis the first 
Supervisor and one of the first Justices of the 
Peace in the township. He was first a Whig but 
afterward became a Republican. In 18.56, he was 
elected County Treasurer, holding the olHce two 
years. His death occurred in September, 1860. 

Socially, Ransom W. Holiey was a Ro3al Arch 
Mason and attcndoil tlie convention held at Albany 
during the time of the Morgan trouble. He was 
one of five men who organized the First Presbyter- 



ian Church in the county, and he was appointed 
as a committee of one to build the Court-house In 
Corunna, for which he drew plans and superin- 
tended the work. He continued a member of the 
Presbyterian Church as long as it was in existence, 
and when the Congregational Church was organized 
he joined with It. There he served as Elder and 
De.acon and remained a faithful member until his 
death. The grandfather of our subject, Gideon 
Holiey, was a native of New York, born in 
Dutchess County. 

The mother of our subject was known in maiden- 
hood as Sarah Clark and was born in Providence, 
R. I., October 4, 1789. D. C, the subject of this 
sketch, was the fourth child born to his parents 
and obtained his schooling partially in Northville, 
Oakland County. He attended the common schools 
until he commenced to teach at the age of eighteen 
years. After teaching one year, he commenced 
the stud}' of medicine and after reading two jears, 
went to the Michigan I'niversity in March, 1853. 
He has been a student in the New York College of 
Surgery, and Jefifcson Medical College of Phila- 
delphia, Pa. He has established a good practice in 
Vernon and is well known as a faithful and reliable 
physician. 

In 1853, Dr. Holiey was united In marriage with 
Rachel Y., the fourth child in the family of Stephen 
and Merc3' (Madon) Rodgers, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. Sirs. Dr. Holiey was born in Farmington 
Township, Oakland Count}', Mich., September 1, 
1832, and was theie reared to womanhood. Her 
father and mother, who are earl}' settlers in that 
section of country, have passed away. Dr. Holiey 
and his good wife are the parents of several child- 
ren, Milton R., married Margaret Young and lliey 
have six children. Their residence Is in Mecosta 
County, ihis State. Florence Irene is the wife of 
George I>. Clarke and the mother of four living 
children. They make their home in N'ernon. 
Lillian May married John Y. Martin and they live 
in Caledonia Township, Shiawassee County; Clar- 
ence M. is at home. 

The Doctor Is a Mason, belonging to the Blue 
Lodge at Vernon. He was engaged in the practice 
of his profession in DcWltt about two years, and 
in tirand Rapids, Mich., about four years. He and 



950 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALUUM. 



Mrs. Holley are members of the Congregational 
Cliiircli, and lin has been Trustee and is now Deacon 
in Uh' snnic. lie also served as Deacon of the 
ciuiii'li in Grand Rapids. In 1886 he was Presi- 
dent of the Grand Rapids Academy of Medicine, 
and also served as President of the Owosso Acad- 
emy of Medicine two years. He was at different 
times a member of the Union Medical Society of 
AVayne, ()al<land and Washtenaw Counties. He is 
held in liigh esteem and having always been con- 
spieious for fair dealings vvith u\\ men, has justly 
won the conQdence not only of his |)alients, but 
also of the entire community. 



'^^ 



\if?UDGE SHERMAN H. DABOI.L. In trac- 
ing the history of men of mark, we find as a 
rule that tliey were early thrown on their 
own resources, and that their first expe- 
riences were iu the face of adversity. The secret 
of their success lies in the fact that tlieir combat- 
iveness and will [lOwer were directed against the 
untoward circumstances, .'uid thus the sterling- 
virtues gi'cw to full strength in their characters. In 
the history of no resident of St. John's, Clinton 
County, is this more plainly demonstrated than in 
that of Judge Daholl, who is now Circuit Judge of 
tiie Twenty- iiinlli Circuit, having received his ap- 
pointment at the hands of Gov. Luce in the sum- 
mer of 1889. His duties have taken him into nine 
counties outside his own, and everywhere attorueys 
and papers speak in the highest terms of his ability 
and justness and the rapidity witli which he dis 
patches business. He makes no display, and mani- 
fests no pride in his oflice, except in so far as it is 
shown by perfect courtesy and the bearing of a 
true gentleman. The young .attorney is treated 
with as much respect as the old, and the law is ad- 
ministered in a dignified and iuipartial manner. 
• George DaboU, grandfather of llie .ludge, was 
born in Connei ticut, and was the representative of 
French and English ancestors. He was an early 
settler in Rensselaer County, N. Y., wlieie his son, 
George W., was l>orn and reared on a farm. The 
sou became a school teacher when quite young, then 



drifted into mechanical work in iron, and for some 
time made agricultural tools. He went from his 
native county to Brookfield, Madison County, 
worked at his trade for awhile and then engaged in 
the manufacture of Hour and feed. This work he 
continued until his demise, March 1, 1878, when 
sixty-two j-ears old. He married Lydia James, a 
native of Nassau, N. Y., whose father, Amos 
James was a native of the Empire State, and a 
farmer by occupation. He wps a son of a Revo- 
lutionary soldier, and his wife, whose maiden name 
was Cidver, was the daughter of a patriot of '76. 
Mr. James removed to Minnesota and died at Point 
Douglas. Jlrs. Daholl reared three children, the 
youngest of whom is the subject of this biograph- 
ical notice. The eldest was Amos J., who enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York 
Infantry in 1862, was in active service until he was 
t.aken ill at Petersburg and died May 30, 1865, 
while still connected with the army. The second 
child is Latitia, now Mrs. Huey, whose home is at 
Leonardsville, N. Y. The mother died in 1864, at 
Point Douglas, Minn. 

The natal daj' of Judge Dal)oll was M.ay IH, 
1844, and his birthplace Nassau, N. Y. In that 
i)lace and in West Stephentown he spent the j'ears 
until he entered his teens and then iiis home was 
on a farm in Madison County. He worked like 
other farmer boys, attending school during the 
winter niontiis, and having laborious occupations 
during the summer. When fifteen years old he 
entered the Brookfield Academy and made his w:iy 
by spending the summers in farm work, as he had 
his own expenses to pay. He was seventeen years 
old when the war began, but like many another 
Norliiern youth was not only intensely loyal, but 
eager to battle for the Union, if not on Soulliern 
fields, then with his arguments at home. In 1862 
he was working for one of the class who became 
knovvn as "copperheads" near Utica, and he and his 
employer had frequent (lis|>utes over the all-absorli- 
ing topic. He was in the field on a lo.ad of hay 
when he heard the news of the second call, for 
three hundred thousand volunteers. His employer 
had often said that young Daboll did not dare to 
go to the war, and now jokingly remarked that 
here was a chance for him. The young man took 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



951 



it in earnest, left his load, and in spite of the ef- 
forts of his employer to detain liiiii, and threats 
that he would receive no pay for his past services, 
went to his home, obtaiiieu his faliier's consent to 
his enlistment and became a member of Company 
G, One Hundred and Seventeenth New York In- 
fantry. 
V <s»Vn '^'^^ enrollment of yonng Daboll occurred July 
jt*^ " 22, 1862. and he was mustered in at Rome, then 
^^ sent to Washinijton and for eight months his work 
1, was aiding in building forliticalions near the Cap- 
''>i;>,>v ital. He then went to Norfolk by train, and under 
*' the command of Gen. Gcd(^y, did duty on the 
Nansemond River during tiie period of Longstreel's 
attempt to capture Suffolk. The command then 
returned to Norfolk and took trans|)iirts to Ciiarles- 
ton Harbor, where he aided in building the battery 
on Long Island that shelled the city. He also 
helped to build the fort on Morris Island that bat- 
tered down Fts. Sumter and Wagner. He was 
present throughout the siege and witnessed the 
(iring on Ft. Sumter. Various points on the East- 
ern coast were visiU d in the course of tiie next 
few months, one of the acts in vvliicii Mr. Daboll 
participated being a raid to Hanover .lunction to 
cut the railroads in order to prevent ieinforcemi;nts 
from reaching Gen. Lee. He also took part in the 
movement at Drury's Bluff, in the attempt of Gen. 
Butler to cai)ture Richmond, and the battle of 
Cold Harbor. 

The division with a i)art of the Kiglitecn Army 
Cor[)S took part in liie capture of the lleigiits of 
Petersburg and then, being lelieved by tiie Army 
of the Potomac, returned to Butler's division at 
Bermuda Hundred, and soon afterward the reg- 
iment was in line before Petersburg. Mr. Da- 
boll was wounded in the early morning of July 4, 
186t. He had been on duty during liie early part 
of the night and was lying asleep when a shell 
burst about one hundred yards from him, and a 
fragment struck his right forearm. He was taken 
to the field liospital, transferred to Hampton, tiien 
to the steamer "Western Metropolis" and sent to 
the general hospital at P't. Schuyler, N. Y. He re- 
mained there about six weeks, during which time 
gangrene set in, and the advi.sability of amputation 
w.as seriously debated. However, by the cutting 



away of flesh and the application of strong caus- 
tics this extreme measure was avoided. Mr. Daboll 
was sent to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, and 
remained there until October, when he was able to 
rejoin his regiment, then stationed at New Market 
Road. Va.. on the north l>ank of the James. 

In December Gen. Butler's expedition to Ft. 
Fisher occurred and Mr. Daboll i)arlicipated, but 
after the reconnaissance w.as in the camp on the old 
ground until early in January, when the command 
was again sent to the fort, and this time attacked 
that stronghold. The regiment to which he be- 
longed led the advance in what was as hotly con- 
tested a fight as history recounts. The com|)any 
in which Mr. Daboll belonged was reduced from 
twenty four to twelve men. The next experience 
of Mr. Daboll was ;.l Wilmington, N. C, and he 
then joined Sherman at Raleigh and after the sur- 
render of Johnston received a furlough and re- 
turned home to visit his dying brother. He started 
to rejoin his regiment and met the boys in Albany 
and was mustered out at Syr.icuse June 8, LSCj. 
He returned to his lioine, and for about eighteen 
miinlli was employed at liie harnessmaker's traile, 
when his work was interrupted by the loss of two 
fingers on the left hand. The misfortune was oc- 
casioned by the premature explosion of a charge 
of powder while celebrating the election of Gov. 
Fenton. 

Mr. Daboll then resumed his studies in the acad- 
emy where he had formerly been, and also took up 
the study of law under II. A. Bennett and II. M. 
Aylesworth of New Berlin. He worked on a farm 
tfiree days each week ami studied the balance of 
llie time, and so became educated in English 
branches and in legal lore. In November, 1868, 
he was admitted to the bar and began practice in 
New Berlin. A year later he opened his odice in 
Brookfield, Madison County, where he labored un- 
til 1878. In July of tliat year he came to .St. 
John's and began practice, entering into partner- 
ship with tlie late Anthony Cook, in April. 1879 
— a connection that continued until 1HH2. Almost 
immediately after his arrival here he took rank 
with the best of the bar and maintained it as long 
as he carried on private practice. He had charge 
of some of the most important cases tried in the 



952 



rORTKAlT AJSD BIOGRArUlCAL ALBUM. 



Clinton circuit, and was engaged on tbe defense in 
tbree of liie four rauider trials liad in the count}' 
since he became a resident. 

The official life of Judge Daboll began in 1874, 
when he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of 5Iad- 
ison County, N. Y., for a term of three years. In 
1880 he became a Circuit Court Commissioner in 
this State, and served two years, refusing to run 
a second time. When the Twent3--nintii Circuit of 
Clinton and Gratiot Counties was formed he was 
selected for tiie Judgeship by Gov. Luce, and since 
thao time he has been one of the busiest men in the 
.State. He is quick to see a point, and does not 
permit long and useless discussions, although he 
never refuses to hear all sides on important matters. 
He has rendered some decisions which are of special 
moment to wageworkers aad old soldiers, and is cer- 
tainly entitled to their respect and consideration. 
January 1, 1887, he was ai)poiiitcd (Juartermaster- 
Geueral of the State with the rank of Brigadier, 
with the rank of Brigadier and was re-appointed 
two years later. He resigned to acceiit the appoint- 
ment of Circuit Judge which he received August 
6, 1889. 

In New Berlin, N. Y., August 19, 1869, Judge 
Daboll was married to Miss Elizabeth Campbell, a 
lady of illustrious descent as will be seen by the 
perusal of the following paragraphs. She was born 
in Cooperstown, N. Y., September 1, 1843, educa- 
ted at the New Berlin Academy, and taught in 
private and public schools there and in Columbus, 
Ohio. Her rare intelligence, excellent judgment 
and charming manners make her an important and 
useful member of society. For years past she has 
been Secretary of the Woman's Relief Corps, in St. 
John's, and she is likewise an official member of 
the Ladies' Library Association. She is a member 
of the Jipiscopal Churc'o, in which the Judge has 
been Vestryman and Warden. They have one 
child, Winnifred C. In the paternal line Rlrs. Da- 
boll traces her ancestry to the Fourth Clan Camp- 
bell of Argyie, Scotland, and on her mother's side 
she is in the eighth generation of the direct de- 
scendants of Gov. Bradford, of the Plymouth 
Colon}', the connection being through his eldest 
son by his second marriage, with Mrs. Alice South- 
worth, who came over in the "Anne." 



David Campbell, grandfather of Mrs. Daboll, 
was born in Princeton, Conn., and was a man of 
liberal education who did some literary work in 
connection with farming. For some years his home 
was at Florida, Herkimer County, N. Y.. where 
David Campbell, father of Mrs. Daboll was born. 
When but a lad David Cami)bell, Ji-., with a chum 
named Gilbert, ran away to New York City. 
Campbell became a pianomakcr and Gilbert an ap- 
prentice at the printer's trade, and to the support 
of the latter his friend contributed, as he made the 
most money. Gilbert was destined to become a 
prominent man. He went to California in the early 
days, founded the Alta Odijornia. and was the 
first member of Congress from tiie Golden State to 
Washington, at the time when John C. Fremont 
w.as Senator. He never forgot his friend Camp- 
bell, to whom he had owed so much in their youth. 
Mr. Campbell was for fourteen years foreman and 
overseer in Boardman tfe Gray's piano manufactory 
in Albany, and llieu for more than a decade had a 
similar place with Ilaj'es & Co., of Norwich. His 
eyesight then failed him and he wns obliged to 

I abandon mechanical work, and in the spring of 
1869 he came to Clinton County, this Slate, and 
is now carrying on a farm in Grccnbush Town- 
ship. 

The wife of David Campbell, and mother of 
Mrs. Daboll, bore the maiden name of Mary Brad- 
ford and was born in New Berlin, Chenango 
County, N.Y. Her grandfather. Perez Bradford, was 
born in Woodstock, Conn., and served in the Rev- 
olutionary ami}- between the ages of sixteen and 
seventeen years. He took the place of his brother 
George who had been wouu'ied — the family being 
so patriotic that they wished to be represented. He 
became a manufacturer of woolen cards, went lo 
Otsego, then to Tompkins and later to Onondaga 

1 County, N. Y., and finally engaged in agricultural 
as well as mechanical pursuits. He died in Caze- 
novia. His son, Fahius M., father of Mrs. Da- 
boll, was born in Ilartwig, Otsego County, and 
was a goldsmith and engraver. He was a very fine 
workman. He continued his trade until he became 
blind. He died in Binghamton. 

Judge Daboll is a Mason, identified with the 

I Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commander}' in St. 



POKTRAIT AND IJIOGRAI'HICAL ALBUM. 



'J53 



.lolm's. He is also a memlter of the Kniglils of 
Honor and the Ancient Order of I'nited Workmen. 
In Grand Army circles be is prominent, doing 
much work for the order, among other \va3's in 
which he manifests his zeal being that of a speaker 
for the order in many places. He has been Com- 
mander of Charles E. Grisson Post three years, 
and was Judge Advocate of the Miciiigan Depart- 
ment for one year. Politically he is a Republican, 
and he has been Chairman of the Count}' Central 
Committee. He is an honest man, a learned and 
upright judge, and has a pleasant smile and a 
hearty- greeting to all, because having labored he 
appreciates the toil of others and honors industry 
and good citizenship. 



-^= 
•"^^s 



'jfJOSHlAC. CURTIS. Prominent not only 
in social and agricultural circles but also in 
temperance and church work is the gentle- 
man whose name appeal's at the head of 
this sketch. He has been for many 3'ears identified 
with the .agricultural interests of Vernon Town- 
ship, Shiawassee Count}', where his farm is situated 
on section 4, and he was born in this same town- 
ship, September 12, 1843. His father, Caleb Cur- 
tis, was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1806 
and he chose for his wife Sarah Brown, a native of 
the same county, born the year after himself. 
They were married in Tompkins County, in 1825, 
and made their first home in their native count}'. 
Mr. and JMrs. Caleb Curtis in their early mar- 
ried life removed to Pennsylvania, but afterward 
returned to New York and from there started West, 
spending some time in Ohio, but ultimately mak- 
ing their permanent home in Vernon Township, 
Shiawassee County, where they located on section 
4, in 1836. There were then no improvements on 
the place which consisted of one hundred and sixty 
acres of Government land. Mr. Curtis [)roceeded 
to cut down logs and build a homo. It was con- 
structed on the prevailing style of architecture in 
that section an(i at that lime, with log walls, b,irk 
roof, bark floor, stick cliimney, and with the ample 
dimensions of 18x20 feet on the ground. This was 



the first house put up by the neighbors who came 
together from the East and for the first three 
weeks it sheltered eighteen souls. 

Mr. Curtis built the first barn that was erected 
in that part of the township, and made his home on 
ihis place as long as he lived. He died in 1863, 
and his faitliful wife followed him to the grave in 
1889. Their remains lie side by side in the ceme- 
tery of Vernon Township, and their memory is 
cherished by all who knew and loved them. 

Tlie father was a member of the Piesbyterian 
Church in his younger days and was active in or- 
ganizing the Congregational Church here. He 
afterward joined the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and S])ent his last days in its communion. He was 
active in church work and a liberal contriijutor 
with his means. He had preaching in his little log 
house and in his barn, where they held their first 
quarterly meetings, and his house was always a 
home for all the Methodists who came that w.ny. 
His wife was a life-long member of the Methodist 
Church and active and earnest in her attachment 
to its faith and worship. 

Three sons and four daughters constitute the 
children who gathered in this old log bouse and all 
but one lived to manhood and womanhood. The 
eldest, Benjamin B., lived to be fifty-two years old 
and is now deceased. Julia T., the wife of William 
Palmer, resides in Linden, Genesee County, this 
State; Margaret L. died August 4, 1885, at the age 
of fifty-one; Caroline J. died at the age of twenty- 
two; Eliza M. is tiie widow of J. B. Smith; John 
died when only two years old and our subject is 
the youngest of the household. 

The early schooling of J. C. Curtis was taken In 
the log schoolhouse on section o, this townshii), 
and be finished his school d.ays on section 4. He 
started out for himself at the age of twenty and 
had then accumulated about 8150. After the 
death of his father he bought out the interest of 
the other heirs in the old homestead and m.ade it 
bis home. 

The marriage of Mr. Curtis and Miss Mary M., 
daughter of Truxton and Charlotte (Packard) 
(ioodrich, took place February 7, 1809. Mr. (iood- 
rich was a native ofllutland County. Vt., and his 
wife was born in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., where 



954 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



tlieir daughter Mary was also born, April 6, 1844. 
She grew to womanhood in her native county, and 
came to Michigan in 1865. She hfid received ex- 
cellent educational advantages and completed her 
school days at a young ladies' seminary in Madrid, 
St. Lawrence County, N. Y. Shetauglit school in 
her native county for three years in the graded 
schools and after coming to Michigan taught in the 
district schools of Shiawassee and Ingham Coun- 
ties. She returned to her home in New York and 
was married at the Congregational Church of Nor- 
wood, the Rev. George Hardy otflciating. 

The father of Mrs. Curtis was a soldier in the 
Civil War, serving in the Commissary Department 
in the Ninety-sixth New York Infantry. He served 
but one year and died before he could reacli home. 
Her mother always remained in her native State 
and lived to be fifty-three years old. After mar- 
riage Mr. Curtis brought his bride at once to the 
place wiiich is still his home. Thej' became the 
parents of two bright rnd promising sons, Caleb 
A., who w.as born December 5, 1869, resides at 
home and is his father's mainstay, and Fred G. 
was born August 1875 and is now growing up to a 
strong and noble manhood. 

Mr. Curtis has one hundred acres of well-im- 
proved land which was his fatiier's old homestead, 
and his present attractive resi<lence was built in 
1882, at a cost of $1,500, and his barn at about 
the same time at tiie cost of 81,000. He has ac- 
cumulated a handsome projierty, which is all the 
result of his earnest and persistent labors. He car- 
ries on general farming and keeps good stock. His 
Hock of sheep nural)ers from seventy-five to one 
hundred head and he keeps from four to six 
horses and from twelve to fourteen head of cattle. 
His views of political economy accord with the 
doctrines of the Republican party but he has of 
late felt impelled to voice his temperance senti- 
ments by voting for prohibition. He is a member 
of the Royal Templars of Tcni|)erance at Vernon, 
and both he and his good wife are earnest temper- 
ance workers. He holds oflicc in the order and is 
Counselor, the highest ofhce in the lodge. Mrs. 
Curtis is a writer for the temperance paper which 
is known as the Royal Tcmjjlar and they are both 
earnest and efficient iuend)ers of the Methodist 



Episcopal Church. Mrs. Curtis was formerly a 
member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Cur- 
tis is a trustee of the church and has been ever 
since it was built. He takes part in the Sunday- 
school and was Superintendent in it for nine j-ears. 
Mrs. Curtis teaches the primary' dci)artment. 




F. WASHBURN. The St. -lohn's Mercan- 
tile Company is widely known and tiie 
gentlemen who have the most responsil)le 
positions therein are prominent in business 
circles. The gentleman above named is foreman 
of the shoe department and is carrying on his part 
of the work of the house in a thorough and sys- 
tematic manner. His manners are courteous and 
obliging and he is well liked by all who make iiis 
acquaintance. The established rei)Utalion of tiie 
Mcrcanlile Company gives assurance of the integ- 
rit}' of its employes and a responsilile position 
there is a letter of credit in the liest society of the 
county scat. Had Mr. Washburn no other hold 
upon the people of St. John's this would be sufli- 
cient to insure him tlieir respect, but before he en- 
tered the service of the INIercantile Company he 
had become somewhat known here and already had 
a good name. 

Mr. W.ashburn w.as born in Madison County, N. 
Y., of which his father, Marcus Washburn, was a 
lifelong resident. His grandfather, Noah Wash- 
burn, made an earl}' settlement there, removing 
from his native place, Stafford, Coiui. He was a 
soldier in the War of 1812. Marcus Washburn 
married Sophia Parker, a native of Madison County 
and daughter of Leonard Parker, formerly of 
Stafford, Conn. Mr. Parker was a farmer and 
speculator and owned a large amount of land. 
Like (irandfathor Washburn, he fought in the War 
of 1812. The mother of our subject ilied in 1877 
and her husband in 188;?. The}' had five chihlrcn 
and he of whom we write was the firstborn. His 
natal day was August 21,1842, and he remained 
on the farm until he wss seventeen years old, in 
the meantime attending school and gaining a prac- 
tical knowledge of the English branches. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



955 



At the age mentioned youug Washburn became 
clerk in a general store and spent two years there, 
then about the same length of time in Salisville. 
He nest took up work at the carpenters' trade and 
after a few years became a contractor and builder 
of private and public edifices. He carried on his 
work in the East until 1878, then came to St. John's 
and for two j'cars worked at his trade. In 1884 
he was made Jlarshal and filled the olHce a j-ear 
after which he opened a boot and shoe store, which 
in 1889 he sold in order to accept, his present po- 
sition. 

At the bride's home in Auburn, N. Y., 1869, 
Mr. Washburn was united in marriage with Miss 
May Simons. This estimable lady was born in 
Madison County, has a good education and is de- 
voted to her famil}'. She has five children, named 
respectively, Ray, Henry, Edith, Lewis and Minnie. 
The first born lias a position with the Manufactur- 
ing Company of St. John's. Mr. Washburn is a 
Mason and a Knight of the Maccabees and in the 
latter lodge is Record-keeper and Treasurer. Po- 
litically he is a Democrat and he has been a dele- 
gate to county conventions. For a year he was 
Village Clerk, but his attention has generally been 
given to business atTairs and the pleasures of social 
anil domestic life, for which he is well fitted. 



AVID H. SOULE. This well-known resi- 
dent of Ovid is now carrying on the ice 
trade, having control of the sale of that 
commodity in the village and supplying it from a 
l)on(l located on his own farm which furjiishes him 
about one thousand tons per annum. In addition 
to this business he carries on a farm of one hun- 
dred acres, althougli his residence is in the corpor- 
ation. Here as elsewhere he has taken great pride 
in setting out shade trees to beautify his own home 
and adorn the country. Mr. Soule has lived in 
this countr}' long enough to be able to recall the 
time when there were only trails through the 
Woods; settlements were remote from each other 
and oxen were in almost universal use, there be- 



ing but few horses in the county. Identified in 
various ways with the prosperity of the localit3-, 
he has gained an excellent reputation and made 
many friends. 

Mr. Soule was born in Monroe County, N. Y., 
May 29, 1829, being a son of J. H. and Elizabeth 
(Gage) Soule, both of whom wore born and reared 
in the Empire State. The father was a carpenter 
and joiner, but in his later days became a farmer 
and the son spent his youth in a rural home. His 
educational advantages were limited to the district 
school of his day and his attendance confined to 
the winter months. He resided under the parental 
roof until he attained his majorit}-, then took up 
farm life for himself in his native county. After 
a time he opened a livery stable, which he carried 
on for a couple of years, after which he sold it and 
went to California. This was in 1852 and he re- 
mained on the coast two years, driving a stage and 
keeping a hotel, and for a time being ou the police 
force. 

In 1855, Mr. Soule came to Michigan and took 
up pioneer labor in earnest, locating ou unimproved 
land in Ovid Township, Clinton Count}'. His 
home was on section 13, where he first cleared and 
and improved a farm of eighty acres and after- 
ward added to it another tract of equal size. The 
father came to the State the same year as the son 
and he too located in Ovid Townshii). In 1861, 
iNIr. Soule built a saw mill which he ran six or 
seven years, doing a business that was satisfactory 
to himgelf and to his neighbors. He then began to 
handle wild laud to a limited extent. After six- 
teen years' residence in the country he removed to 
the village of Ovid, where he carried on the Clin- 
ton House a few years, during which time he also 
ran a livery stable and sample room. Some nine 
years ago he sold '.he hotel and removed to his 
present resideiice, whicii is on Main Street south of 
the river. While in the hotel business he built 
more than half of the block commonly known aa 
the Hotel Block. 

Mr. Soule was fiist married to Mary E. Ilaight, 
of Montgomery County, N. Y., who was removed 
from him by death after twenty-three years of 
wedded life. They had two children, Byron B., 
who w.is born in 18.')8, and Carrie Belle, born 



956 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 




in 1862. The son is now an attorney anti Jus- 
tice of the Peace in the village of Ovid. After 
living as a widower a decade, Mr. Soule was again 
married in the fall of 1873, his bride being Miss 
Emma Terrell of (Jvid, who died here in 1889. 

For six years Mr. Soule has held the office of 
Highway Commissioner and he has also been School 
Supervisor, School Trustee and School Director, and 
was Trustee in the village two years. He has always 
been identified with public spirited enterprises and 
advocates all the schemes which would benefit the 
public, voting public bonds to support and up- 
build them. His business enterprises are carried 
on with energy and the success that he attains is 
merited by his earnestness and zeal. 



^l^ ON. J. B. F. CURTIS, M. D. is conducting 
*^ public affairs as Mayor of Cornnna, Shia- 
wassee County, and is an able physician 
and surgeon, whose fame is not limited to 
the communit}' where he now resides. He was 
born in Wyoming County, N. Y., in the city of 
Warsaw, November 17, 1839. His grandfather, 
John C. Curtis, was born in Connecticut, and his 
father, Edmond, was in the Revolutionary War 
and the AVar of 1812. He was killed in the bat- 
tle of Lundy's Lane. The grandfather was an 
early settler on the Holland Purchase and later 
removed to Erie County, where he died. 

The father, who was a farmer b}- occupation, re- 
moved to Erie County, N. Y., in 1846, and located 
in Aiden. In 1859 he came to Michigan and set- 
tled in Commerce Township, Oakland Count}', and 
from there went to Flint, Genesee County, about 
1862. In the latter city he was in ihe employ of 
the City Commissioner of streets and public works, 
a position which he held until 1881. He then re- 
tired from life's active duties and at the age 
of seventy-one years died at the home of our sub- 
ject in 1888. He was first a Whig but ujion the 
organization of the Republican party became a 
firm follower of its principles. 

Lydia (Ingersoll) Curtis, the mother of our sub- 
ject, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., and was 



the daughter of Samuel Ingersoll, a brave soldier 
in the War of 1812, where he was taken prisoner. 
He was a native of W.ashington County, N. Y., and 
removed after the War of 1812 to Genesee County. 
The mother resides in the home of Mr. Curtis. 
The great-grandfather of our subject was Francis 
Ingersoll, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. At 
the age of seven years our subject accompanied 
his parents to Erie County, locating in Alden Town- 
ship and gaining a common-school education, 
which was afterward supplemented by academic 
instruction. At the age of nineteen he was grad- 
uated from the academy and then helped his father 
on the farm. 

In 18.59 Dr. Curtis came to Michigan, locating 
in Corunna, and the following year entered the 
University- of Michigan. Wiien twentj' jears old 
he began the study of medicine with Dr. Chase, of 
Geneseo, N. Y., and was graduated from the Med- 
ical Department of the Universit}- of Michigan in 
the spring of 1862. He then returned to the Em- 
pire State and enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Fourth New York Infantry, of which he was as- 
sistant Surgeon for six months; he was then ap- 
pointed Hospital Steward for the One Hundred and 
Second United States Cavalry. Until the fall of 
18G5 he remained in the South taking charge of 
the sick and wounded and barely escaped capture. 
He was mustered out at Charleston, S. C, and dis- 
charged in Detroit November 1, 1865. 

Dr. Curtis came at once to Flint and opened an 
office for the pr.actice of his profession. During 
the time he resided in that city, until 1881, he 
served in various public capacities. For six years 
he was Alderman of the Second Ward, for three 
years City Clerk, and one year Health Officer. 
In 1881 he came to Shiawassee County, and prac 
ticed in Lathrop for seven 3cars, since which time 
he has been successfully following his profession 
in Corunna. The Doctor was married in Lapeer 
Countj' in 1863 to Miss Amelia Burbank, a na- 
tive of Grand Blanc, Genesee County. Two chil- 
dren comprise their famil}', Edmond T., a tcle- 
gr.nph operator, and Francis A., both of whom 
are are home. 

In the fall of 1 888 the Doctor was nominated 
to the .State Legislature on the Republican ticket 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



957 



and was elected to represent the first district of 
Sliiawassee County. He served acceptably on 
various important committees, among them the 
Committee on Municipal Corporations, Seliools for 
tlie Blind, and was Chairman of the Committee 
on Public Health. Ho belongs to the Grand 
Army of the Rci)ublic, is a Mason, a Knight Tem- 
jiiar, and belongs to the Royal Arcanum. He is 
an influential Republican and has served as chair- 
man of the Republican County Committee and 
as a delegate to count}' and State conventions. 



f~S\.\RXKY PEARCE, one of the most success- 
y ful agriculturists of Clinton County, lives 
in Olive Township, on a farm of two hun- 
dred and twenty acres and has also one liundred 
and sevent}' acres in Rilcj' Township. Like many 
another nciw prosperous and well-to-do, he began 
his career without capital other than his mental 
and physical strength. It is eas}- to see what quali- 
ties he has exhibited and what habits pursued, 
espociallv if one visits his home and notes the 
orderly arrangements and full supi)ly of impli- 
ments here. The dwelling that shelters the happy 
family is a large brick house, furnislied in good 
taste and abounding with creature comforts. 

The birth of Mr. Pearce occurred in Huron 
County, Ohio, February 10, 1832, and the lad was 
reared on a farm. He pursued his studies in the 
district schools, wliicli he attended mostly during 
the winter months, and when sixteen j-cars old be- 
gan working on a farm at §'.) a month. His wages 
increased as be grew older. He spent a year in 
working on the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati 
Railroad, and then resumed farm work and in addi- 
tion to meeting his own expenses cared for his 
mother whose second husband had died and left 
her poor. In the spring of 1864 he came to this 
State and made his first home in DeWitt Township, 
Clinton County. He subsequently bought a saw- 
mill in partnership with William Dills, and operated 
it about five 3'ears, then purchased land on section 
31, Olive Township, where he has since lived. He 
has added to his land as success crowned his efforts 



and now stands upon a substantial basis as a land- 
owner and money loaner. 

The parents of Mr. Pearce were Varney and 
Mary (Rusco) Pearce. The former died in 1833, 
when but forty five years old; the latter lived to 
the age of fifty-six years. She was a member of 
the Universalist Church. Her children by her first 
marri.age were four in number and to her second 
husband she bore five sons and daughters. The 
wife to whom our subject owes the comforts of his 
home and financial aid through lier judicious man- 
agement of domestic affairs, bore the maiden name 
of Clnrity L. Van Dyke. She is a native of Riley 
Towushi|), is well educated and has a thorough 
knowledge of domestic arts. Her marriage to our 
subject occurred at her home in 1872 and the}' have 
three living children and lost one in its infanc}'; 
tlie names of the survivors are: Alta, Josie and 
Varney. 

As would naturall}' be supiiosed, Mr. Pearce is 
interested in the advancement of the farmers in 
knowledge and social standing, and he therefore 
identified himself with the Grange some time ago. 
Politically he is a Democrat and he has done wli.at 
he could to promote the interests of the part}- as a 
delegate to various conventions. His life has been 
marked by no unusual incidents, but has been a 
continuation of years of honest and industrious 
living such as affords an excellent example to 
others. 

The parents of IMrs. Pearce, William and Sarah 
J. Van Dyke, were residents of Seneca County, 
N. Y. In 1844, they came to Rile}', Clinton County, 
Mich., accompanierl by their five children Lewis, 
Mary Jane, James !M., Martha, and George II. 
They lived with the family of Atwell Simmons 
until they could clear up a s|)0t large enough for a 
house, and then they erected a home. They were 
two and one-half miles from neighbors for a long 
time after moving to their new home. Charity, Mrs. 
Pearce, was born in 1848. In 1851, another 
daughter whom they named Sarah was added to the 
household. 

Mr. and Mrs. \'an Dyke saw very hard, discour- 
aging times, as was generally the case with the 
first pioneers. Her health w.as very poor for 
several years after coming to Michigan. Although 



958 



POR'JRAIT AND BIOGUAPIIJCAL ALBUM. 



stai-vation seemed almost to stare lliem in the face 
they (lid not give up in despair or faint by the way- 
side. With the united help of the older children 
the dense forest gave way to broad I'lelds of wav- 
ing grain. Many a time have the cliildren heard 
their parents tell about being kept awake at night 
by the howling of the wolves, and it was not much 
more uncommon to see bears roving through the 
woods than it is to see squirrels now. 

In the fall of 1861, Lewis, uhe eldest son, enlisted 
in the Third Michigan Calvary and in January, 
1802, .James M,. enlisted in the Fourteenth Michigan- 
Infantry. In the spring of 1862, Lewis was dis- 
charged for disability, but in the fall of the same 
year he again enlisted in the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
and staid until the close of the war. During the sum- 
mer of 1862, .James was tiansferred to Company 
L, First United States Cavalry. He had served 
three years lacking three months when he w.as seen 
to fall from his horse in battle and was never heard 
from again. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke died in the 
fall of 1878. there being only a few weeks' differ- 
ence between the dates of their death. They left 
six children to mourn their loss: Lewis, Geoi-ge H. 
and Martha (Mrs. William H. If. Knapp), live in 
Riley near the old home. Mary Jane, ( Mrs. Lewis 
Smith), Sarah (Mrs. J. T. Oberry) and Mrs. 
Pearce live in Olive. 



^^ 



ERWIN EVELETII, a retired merchant and 
prominent agriculturist and speculator in 
,- - ^ pine lands, has made his home in Corunna 
for a score of years and has become widely known. 
He bears a share in the municipal and educational 
work of the county seat, as well as in her business 
affairs, and while advancing his own interests is 
helping to make this section more prosperous and 
desirable than ever before. It is by the exercise 
of unusually good judgment in making investments 
Mr. Evcleth has become so successful as a land 
operator, and bis holding of real-estate reaches up 
into the thousands of acres. He owns pine land in 
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, and in Cale- 
donia Townshi[), Shiawassee County, has three im- 



proved farms with all necessary buildings. One of 
these is included in the cori)orate limits of Corunna, 
and is operated by Mr. Eveleth himself and he also 
has an interest in farm lands in the North. 

Charles Eveleth, father of our subject, was born 
and reared in Massachusetts and went to New York 
in his early manhood. He was married in Genesee 
County to Mar}' Jones, who died in 1817 leaving 
two sons and one daughter. After his marriage he 
located on a farm, whence he came to this State in 
1853, traveling l)y boat to Detroit, thence by rail 
to Pontiac and by team to Grand Blanc. He rent- 
ed a farm there and operated it five 3ears, then re- 
moved to the vicinity of Flushing and after a time 
retired from farm life and took up his residence 
with his son, our subject, with whom he still lives. 
He has now reached the advanced age of eighty- 
four years. He is a member of the Baptist Church. 

The gentleman of whom we write was born in 
Genesee County^ N. Y., November 6, 1842, and 
came to this State when about eleven years old. 
He had attended the common school in his native 
State and after the removal continued his studies, 
but in the intervals of school work aided his father 
on the home farm. In 1861 he went to East 
Saginaw, then a small place, and found employ- 
ment on the docks, checking for the warehouses. 
He remained there five years, and then began specu- 
lating in pine lands, buying for $1.25 per acre in 
the northern part of the State, as well .as in Wis- 
consin and Minnesota. He located at Flint, from 
which place he carried on his enterprise, traveling 
to different points, including the Southern States 
and the entire Mississippi Valley east of the Father 
of Waters. In 1871 he brought his family to 
Corunna and established his home here. In 1886 
he bought out D. Lowe and engaged in the sale of 
general merchandise, carrying on the store until 
April, 1891, when he sold to William Cole. He is 
a partner of Robison Flinn, of Detroit in his land 
business. 

In Saginaw in the year 1866 the marriage of Mr. 
Eveleth and Miss Jenny Block, an English lady 
took place. To them have been born ten children, 
seven of whom arc at home and unengaged except 
in efforts for their own improvement and in the 
lighter duties which belong to youth. Their names 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHLM. 



959 



are William S., Grace, Nettie, Bui'r, Ralph, Nina 
and Erwin, Jr. The older cbiklren are Lizzie, wife 
of Fred North waj- and teacher in the Corunna High 
School ; Florence, who married Jolin Drake, a farmer 
in Caledonia Township; and Charles, who is clerk- 
ing for Mr. Cole. 

Mr. Eveleth is now serving for the second year 
as one of tiie Board of Aldermen. He is President 
of the Board of Education, on which he has had a 
place five )'ears. He belongs to Blue Lodge No. 
23, F. & A. M. in Flint, and the Corunna Tent of 
the Knights of the Maccabees. After giving due 
consideration to the political situation he became 
identified with the Republican part^- and he has 
seen no reason to transfer his allegiance, but on ihe 
contrary he is a stancher member, if possible, than 
in earlier years. He is not identified with any 
religious body but attends services in the various 
churches and contributes to the support of each 
and all. 



'[_^ .1. PATTERSON, Prosecuting Attorney 
J, for Clinton Count}', and a veteran of the 
^ late war, is prominent in legal circles, and 
is well known in other counties as the at- 
torney for the comi)lainant in the now famous 
bount}' case of Smith vs. Alpine. He was born 
near Frr.nklinville, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., 
December 19, 1839. His paternal grandfather, 
Hon. .John Patterson, was born in one of tlie East- 
ern States, of Scotch descent. The father of our 
subject. Col. John Patterson, was a native of New 
York, where he was reared. He followed his trade 
as a tailor at Franklinville, and later at Rushvillc, 
where he died. 

Our subject's molher.Sall}' CVVinslow) Patterson, 
was born in New Berlin, Chenango Count}', N. Y., 
and belonged to a substantial old Eastern family. 
The death of the father left our subject's mother 
with six small children dependent upon her. She 
resided in Franklinville a few years, then returned 
to New Berlin, and finally came to Michigan and 
made her home with her children. The following 
is a record of the six children included in the 
family circle: Charles; Henry J., of this sketch; 



William, who died in Salt Lake; Emma Love, 
who resides in Pennsylvania; Hannah, who died 
when only sixteen; and ftLiiy, who died in in- 
fancy. 

Our subjtct with his brother was early compelled 
to make his own living and aid his mother with the 
younger children. He w.as put out on a farm, 
where he remained until he was sixteen, thoi'oughly 
acquainting himself with every detail of farm life, 
and taking advantage of every opportunity for 
acquiring knowledge. In IS'iG he came to Michi- 
gan with his benefactor, William Str'ong, with 
whom he remained two years in this State., in the 
meantime attending school during the winter sea- 
son. He then returned to the East and attended 
school in Pennsylvania. In May, 18CI, he en- 
listed in Company G, old Third Michigan Inf-xn- 
try, which was mustered in at (ii-and Rapids for 
three years. 

Many of the most iniportani, and decisive battles 
of the war were participated in by our subject, 
among them the following: Bull Run, first and 
second engagements; Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, 
Richmond and many others. At the close of the 
war iie took part in the Grand Review at Washing- 
ton, and was mustered out in IHG;'). He escaped 
uninjured, although several times bullets had 
pierced every garment he wore. The vcter'an regi- 
ment was consolidated with the Fifth Regiment, 
and the new Thii'd was formed. After the war, 
Mr. Patterson returneil to Watertown and |)ur- 
chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, 
which he commenced to improve. That undertak- 
ing he was compelletl to give ui) on account of his 
health, and selling the place, he began the study of 
law in 1870. After fully preparing himself for 
the practice of his profession under his preceptor, 
the Hon. Randoli)h Strickland, he was admitted to 
the bar at St. John's in 1878. Four years hiter he 
was admitted to practice in the United States 
Courts. He has (ir.Tcticed in this and .adjoining 
counties, and has the widest range of practice 
of any lawyer in the county. He h;is been 
largely engaged as a pension attorney, and in 
the fall of 1890 was elected I'roseeuting Attor- 
ney. 

Mr. Pattei'ion was married :it Wacousta, in 



960 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



January, 1861, to Miss Margaret Shadduck, the 
(laughter of an early pioneer of Wacousta. Four 
chil'lren have been granted to our subject and 
his estimable wife — Minnie Streeter, Blanche 
Streeter, Ambra and Iva. Mr. Patterson is a Demo- 
crat, and has served .as delegate to county and State 
conventions. 

With reference to the bounty case mentioned 
above, we quote the following from Mr. Patter- 
son: 

''In 1864 our .State Legislature said, by an act 
passed on tlie 4lh day of February, that every sol- 
dier who would enlist and was mustered into the 
United Slates service, and properly credited where 
he was enrolled, should receive $100 as a State 
bounty. In the month of July following. Gov. 
Blair said, by his proclamation, that no more 
bounties could be paid, as the money raised for 
that purpose had been exliaused. Consequently 
hundreds of our boys in l)lue, who lef! their fami- 
lies, homes and comforts to save the Union, with 
the sacred promise of the people of the Slate that, 
besides caring for their families, they should re 
ceive the bounty if thej' would enlist and save 
others from draft, have been carrying for twenty- 
six long years these promises, in tiie form of cer- 
tificates, and while our State has done many 
generous acts toward the care of the unfortunate, 
she never to this da\' has honored the sacred obli- 
gations, a law passed by a Republican Legislature, 
and who have, as a party, posed for twenty -six 
long years as the friend of the soldier, and who for 
all this long time failed to give the subject a passing 
notice. 

"A. J. Smitli, a crippled soldier, and for whom 
I had contended for over twenty years that he 
should be paid his bounty, made his petition to tiie 
Supreme Court, calling upon that court to compel 
the Auditor-General to credit and allow his claim. 
This proposition was met, opposed and sneered at 
by every State official, excepting Judge S. H. 
Daboll, then acting quartermaster-general, and I 
met the grand spectacle of a Republican law 
unwilling to paj- bounties to Michigan soldiers, 
resisted by Republican officials, and Republican 
lawyers setting up among other things tlie uncon- 
scionable pier, of ''statute of limitation." April 



18, 1890, I presented the case to the court, and 
Judge Chaplin, with his master mind, permeated 
with its love of justice and its high regard for the 
honor, dignity and equity of the law, wrote the 
opinion, elaborately .and profoundly", deciding that 
the State must pay." 

•^ »: ;|3"C|» •, — 



HARLES A. BIGELOW, editor of the Mor- 

erice Tribune, was born in O.ikland County', 
Mich., November 10, 1863. His father, 
.Spencer Biglow, was born in the State of New 
York in 1818 and is s farmer by occupation. For 
a while he worked in the cotton mills at Watertown. 
Coming to Micliigan he settled in Oakland County 
three miles east of Holly and resided there 
about forty years. He w.asan carl}' settler there and 
improved eighty acres of land. In 1878 he came to 
Shiawassee County and purch.ased eighty acres in 
Bennington Township, where he now makes his 
home. He is a Republican in politics. 

The mother of our subject was Mary Paj'ne and 
was born in New York. Iler family- com|)riscs 
three daughters and two sons, namely : Ella House, 
Fllizabeth M3'ers, Sarah Kinney, Charles A. and 
Walter. She is a member of the Congregational 
Church and a consistent Christian woman. Our 
subject w.as reared in Oakland County, and received 
his education in the district schools of the commu- 
nity. He began for himself at the age of eighteen 
years and going to the vicinity of .Stanton, worked 
in the lumber mills. In 188'2 he began to learn 
the printers trade in the Clipper office at Stanton, 
where he was employed about three 3'ears. After- 
ward he sohl fruit trees during one season. 

In 1886 Mr. liigelow came to Morrice and es- 
tablished his present paper as the Morrice Sentinel. 
but after running it \inder that name until October, 
18'J0, it was changed to the Morrice Tribune. It 
is a six-column folio, a bright, newsy sheet, and 
cnjoj's a good circulation. The office is well 
equipped with news and job type, and lirst-class 
work is being sent out from its composing rooms. 
Mr. Bigelow was married October 22. 1883, to Miss 
Mary House, who w.as born in Bennington Town- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



961 



ship, this county, m 18(52. One child has blest 
their union — Stanley, now four years oM. 

Mr. Bigelow is a Republican in politics although 
his paper is independent. Socially he is a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the 
Maccabees, No. 327, the Alliance and of the Good 
Templar's lodge. Although still quite young in 
life, his prospects are flattering and undoubtedly the 
future contains many successes for him. 




UGH W. MORRIS. The fine furniture es- 
tablishment owned by Mr. Morris is among 
the most attractive business houses of St. 
John's. A practical mechanic and splendid 
workman, he is truly a self-made man and in the 
department of labor which he has chosen success 
has crowned his efforts. He is a manufacturer of 
furniture and picture frames, a dealer in plain and 
upholstered furniture, and special goods made to 
order. Mr. Morris was born in Charleston, Can- 
ada, Februarj' 10, 1854. His father, Edward, was 
born in Devonshire, England, while his grandfather, 
also named Edward, was a native of Wales and 
was a civil engineer by trade. 

When the father of our subject was quite young 
he was brought to Canada and was there appren- 
ticed to a carriage and wagon manufacturer. He 
became well-to-do and owned about one-half of the 
town of Charleston, Canada. In 1860 lie came to 
Michigan and located in Lexington, Sanilac County, 
where he engaged in the manufacture of carriages 
and wagons. He was a fine mechanic and was suc- 
cessful in his business enterprises. He died in 
1866, mourned by a large circle of acquaintances 
who had learned to highly esteem his nobility of 
mind and heart. The paternal great-grandfather 
of our subject was a native of Scotland who 
brought his family from the highlands of that 
country to AVales. 

Eliza Weston, as the mother of our subject was 
known in maidenhood, was born in Lincolnshire, 
England, and came to Canada when she was seven 
years old. She has successfully engaged in the 
millinery business and owns a farm of one hundred 



and sixty acres in Sanilac County and considci'able 
real estate. Religiously she is a devoted member 
of the Methodist ?]piscopal Church. Her chil- 
dren numbered eleven, of whom eight are 
living. Hugh W., of this sk<;tcli, was reared in 
Canada until the age of six years when he came to 
Lexington. He received his education in the 
graded schools of tlie town and afterward attended 
the High School. In 1882 he began to serve an 
apprenticeship of three years at the cabinetmaker's 
trade, and later look instruction in drawing at 
Lexington. 

The valuable instruction which Mr. Morris re- 
ceived during his apprenticeship he utilized as a 
journeyman traveling through different portions 
of this State. In 1875 he came to St. John's and 
entered the employ of the St. John's Manufacturing 
Compau3-, where his unusual abilities were soon 
noticed. He began at the bottom of the ladder, 
his stock in trade consisting of a small kit of tools, 
ami his present unviable position is due to his pa- 
tient efforts. He has always received the active 
co-operation of his wife with whom he was united 
in marriage in St. John's, in 1880. She was born 
in this cit}' and bore the maiden name of Mattie L. 
Broraard. After receiving an excellent education 
at All)ion College she was engaged as a music 
teacher with great success. They have two chil- 
dren — Robert B. and Opal H. 

Mr. Morris was for two years Trustee of St. John's 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to 
the Knights of the M.acoabccs. He was Treasurer 
of St. .John's Gun Club and is a fine shot and a 
lover of hunting. Politically he is a Republican 
and with his estimable wife enjoys the esteem of 
the community. 



-S3F?&i' 



a LARK SMITH. We are pleased to present 
, to the readers of this Ai.mi.M, a brief l)i<i- 
> graphical sketch of a gentleman who has 
made his mark in Bancroft in the line of news- 
pai)er work. Mr. Smith is editor and projjrictor of 
both the Bancroft Commercial and Periy Sun. He 
was born in Elgin Couiitv. Ontario, Canada, Jan- 



062 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



uarj- 15, 1866, and his parents, J. J. Smith and 
Abigail (Courser) Smith, were also natives of that 
province and are now living in Williamston. 

The joutli was reared upon the farm and while 
still 3'oung took a position in a printing office and 
learned the trade of a compositor. He went to 
Groton, Dak., in 1881 and to<'k a position on the 
Groton Leader. He came to Michigan in 1878 
and in 1883 went to Valparaiso, Ind.,and attended 
the Normal .School. He continued there for two 
or three ^-ears and afterward returned to Groton, 
where he remained until 1889, when he came to 
Williamston, Ingham County, Mich. 

Tiie Bancroft Commercial was established in 
October, 1890. It is a five-column sheet, well ed- 
ited and attractive and independent in poIiLics. Jt 
is a weekly paper published every Friday. Mr. 
Smith assumed control of the paper Februar}' 4, 
1891, and is pushing its interests with vigor. 



>RLANDO B. SWAIN. The publisiiers of 
the Album would fail in their purpose of 
recording lives that have been useful and 
are worthy of note, were they to omit mention of 
the successful career of Mr. Swain. He owns one 
of the best farms near St. John's, and for some 
3'ears past has been carrying on the agricultural 
implement business in the county seat. [le handles 
all kinds of implements and during the nine years 
in which he has been thus engaged he has but 
added to the reputation he already had, that of an 
honorable man, trustworthy in all business relations. 
His home has been on section 21, Bingham Town- 
ship, since 1857. and few living in this locality 
have so thorough a knowledge of tiie progress of 
St. John's as he. The town was just starting into 
life and the railroad had just been built through 
here, when he opened a blacksmithing shop on four 
acres of land now included in his farm. 

Orlando Swain, father of our subject, was born 
in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., August 16, 1791. He 
served in the War of 1812. He was a blacksmith 
and followed his trade, with the exception of three 
years whicli he passed on a whaling expedition 



when a young man. He came to this .Slate with 
his son and died here late in the '70s. His wife 
was Gracie Wesgate, a native of New Hampshire, 
who died in 1873. They had but two children — • 
Orlando B. and a daughter who died at Port 
Henry, N. Y. The son was born in that place 
January 31, 1821, and attended the district school, 
which was a large one, there bciug ninety-six 
pupils under the care of a single teacher. His 
fatlier was in limited circumstances and as soon as 
he was old enough to work, he was compelled to 
do so. He learned the trade at which his father 
was employed and began his work at the anvil and 
forge when he was quite young. From tlie lime 
he was eighteen years old he took care of his 
parents. 

Wh'in Mr. Swain came to Clinton County he had 
no money with which to buy land and he went up 
to a point twenty miles above Green Bay and spent 
two j-ears working at liis trade in a lumber camp. 
He thus earned the wherewithal to pay for forty 
acres, and returning, entered upon work at his 
trade, while hiring his land cleared. But few 
roads had yet been laid out in this locality-, and 
wild game abounded, while Indians sometimes 
camped near and hunted during the winter. Not- 
withstanding the wildne^s of the country the lirst 
forty acres l)Ought by Mr. Swain cost him $1,000. 
He bargained for the property- and made his pa}'- 
luents as fast as possible and then from time to 
time added to it as his means would permit. He 
now has three hundred and sixty acres on which 
first class improvements have been made. For 
twenty years after coming here he worked at his 
trade and he then turned his attention to farming, 
in which he had been interested, but not to any- 
great extent personally. 

In Port Henry, Essex Count}', N. Y., July 9, 
1855, Mr. Swain was united in marriage with Miss 
Harriet K. Conn. This lady was born December 5, 
1834, and died February 21, 1889, after more than 
thirt}- jears of happj' wediled life. The children 
born to her were four in number, named respec- 
tively: Frank C, Fred F]., John A. and Flora J., 
John is deceased. The living sons, with their 
father, make hunting trips to the upper and lower 
peninsulas and in one season have killed .is high as 



VORTRAIT AND BIOttRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



963 



forty-nine deer, three bears and a beaver. Mr. 
Swain and his wife gave their children the best 
])(>ssible school advantages and in every way en- 
deavored to Qt them for tiie dnties of life. 

Mr. Swain was initiated into the M.asonic order 
in 18,54 and has kept up an active connection with 
that society. In politics he is a Republican and lie 
is .assured that his p.nrty is the best calculated to 
promote national welfare. He has served as Town- 
ship Treasurer and Commissioner, in a manner 
creditable to himself and his constituents, and has 
many warm friends in the commonwealth which he 
honors by his residence. 

C=^E()RGK WKLLER. A man who engages 
— , in mining is a producer who has no rival, 
JJ for the metal that he digs from the earth is 
the agent that procures for us most of tiie neces- 
sities and all of the luxuries of life. Why the 
work and the worker should be looked down upon 
so frequently is a question that involve many 
things, but certainly they are outside of the pro- 
ducer himself. Our subject, who at present re- 
sides on his farm on section 27, Venice Township, 
Shiawassee County, was for several years a miner 
in California, where he successfully brought much 
of the precious ore to earth. 

Our subject's father was Nathaniel Wellcr, a 
native of New York, born in 1801 and a farmer in 
calling. His mother was Nancy (Fleming) Wei- 
ler, a native of Maryland born in 1S03. They 
were married in Chemung County, N. Y., after- 
ward resided in Cayuga County .same State. Nathan- 
iel Weller died in 188G and his wife followed 
him one year later. They were the [laronts of 
seven children. Three of these are now living. 

George Weller. the gentleman who is the orig- 
inal of our sketch was born August 27, 1839, in 
Cayuga County-, N. Y , where he received a dis- 
trict school education. At the age of seventeen 
years he emancipated himself from home rule and 
went to California by way of the Isthmus of Pan- 
ama. In 1H,5G he arrived at San Francisco. From 
there he went to a place near Oregon. There he 



began operating in the gold mines, remaining for 
four j'ears. He was among a very rough class of 
people and saw some very hard times. He then 
returned to San Francisco and w.as a |)ilot upon a 
schooner belonging to his brother for a few months. 
Montgomery County, C'll., was the next scene of 
his eflforls. There he purcli.ased one hundred and 
sixty acres of unimproved land and held it against 
a law-suit brought to oust the settlers. He after- 
ward sold out his claim and went back to New 
York State, after a sta^' of seven yea-s in the 
Golden State. He staid at home in New York 
State for one and one-half years, while there en- 
gaging in farming. 

During Mr. Weller's st.ay in California he under- 
took to run a sloop from San Francisco to Henica. 
While in the bay a stiff gale arose and for three 
days the struggle between the elements kept iiim so 
occupied that he had not time to partake of food 
before getting into harbor. While there he was 
an eye witness to the hanging of Corey and Casey 
who were convicted for the murder of Richardson 
and editor James King, respectively. 

In February, 1868, the original of our sketch w.as 
united in marriage to Achsah White, daughter of 
Washington and Nannj' White, natives of New 
York State. They resided in Auburn, N. Y., and 
enjoyed a retired life as farmers. They were the 
parents of eight children, six of whom are now liv- 
ing. Mrs. Weller was educated at Auburn, N. Y., 
and received the best of musical instruction. After 
marriage our subject remained in New York 
for nearly a year, then in the latter part of 18G8, 
came to this State. 

The family of Mr. Wellcr proceeded directly to 
Shiasvassee County where they purcliased forty 
acres of land on the section above quoted. There 
they bull' a house, 12xlG feet in dimeesions and 
seven feet high. Two years later they hauled that 
house by oxen to the farm where they now re- 
side and here located upon eight}' acres of raw 
land which had no improvements whatever. The 
neighbors were few, only Indians occasionally com- 
ing here to make sugar. There w.as plenty of game 
and the larder need never be era[)ty of meat. A 
bear was killed in the clearing near the house. 
Mr. Weller <letermiiu'(l (o make a permanent home 



964 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



here and set about clearing ofif his place. His wife 
died Ju]y 7, 1879. By her lie is the father of five 
children — Frances, Fred, Charles, Helen and 
CrBorge N. The eldest child was born December 
18, 1868, and is now the wife of William Voight, 
living at Lennon; she is the mother of three child- 
ren. Fred's natal daj' was October 23, 1869; 
Charles O., March 4, 1872; Helen first saw the light 
of day January' 24, 1874, and the youngest of the 
family w.ns welcomed July 2, 1876. 

Mr. Weller was again married June 22, 1881, this 
time to Mary Sutton, a daughter of Benjamin and 
Penelope (Gipson) Sutton, both of Englisii nativity. 
They c.Tme to America in 1851, proceeding imme- 
diately to this .State and settling in Oakland Coun- 
ty, For twenty years they made their home in that 
county and then came to Sliiawassee County, later 
rc.iioving to Genesee County, where they now 
reside, the father having attained the age of sixty- 
four years; the mother fifty-nine years. They are 
the parents of eleven cliildren, of whom nine are 
now living. 

Mrs. Weller was born November 25, 1859, in 
Oaiiland County, where she received the advan- 
tages of a district-school education. Mr. Weller 
and liis present wife are tlie parents of twin boys 

Ambert and Albert — born January 30, 1885. 

Mr. Weller now has two hundred acres of land of 
which one hundred and eighty acres are under 
cultivation. Of this he cleared all himself with 
the exception of fifty acres. When he began he 
struggled against the disadvantages of poverty and 
debt and he had to work nights as woU as d.iys 
in order to free himself. He built his present res- 
idence about fourteen years ago anil all of the 
other improvements have been placed here by him- 
self. Each year he raises a fine crop of strawber- 
ries and has an orchard whicli covers two acres. 
He carries on general farming and has some fine 
stock. His sheep are registered Shropshires. 

(_)ur subject is still llie head of the farm. He is 
a Master Mason, belonging to the lodge at Auburn, 
N. Y. He is also a Knight of the Maccabees of 
Lennon, of which he is Sergeant. He has given 
his children the advantages that were possible and 
they have all taken the full course in the district 
schools. The political issues of the day all have 



a great interest for him. He affiliates with the Re- 
publican part}'. He has been a hard-working man 
and in this way has made a success of farming. 
His children are all natural musicians. The relig- 
ious inclinations of the family on both sides of the 
bouse are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



^ OB R. KNIGHT. The success that crowned 
the efforts of the gentleman whose name 
he^ds our sketch is due to the fact that since 
settling in this State in a very early da3' he 
has strengthened his position as a careful farmer 
by the best principles of the conscientious and 
Christian man. His farm, which is located on sec- 
tion 11, New Haven Township, Shiawassee County, 
is a verj' fine one, being cultivated to the highesi 
degree. Job Knight was born in Chautauqua 
County, N. Y., March 24, 1822. His father was 
Jeremiah Knight, a farmer who was a native of 
Rhode Island. His natal daj- was March 28, 1795. 

After receiving the advantage of a common- 
school education the father of our subject went 
to Oneida County, N. Y., in 1803 and in 1813 set- 
tled on what is known as the Holland Purchase in 
Chautauqua County, wjjere he remained for twenty- 
three years. He then went Lake County, Ohio. 
He remained there seveial years when he decided 
to come to Oakland County, Mich., which he did 
about 1852. In 1855 he came to New Haven 
where he purchased twenty acres; here his death 
took place about 1858. He was originally a Meth- 
odist in belief, then became a Mormon and finally 
a Spiritualist. He was a preacher successively of 
all these creeds. In politics he was a Whig and 
on the organization of the Republican parly joined 
its ranks. Mr. Knight was strongly attached to his 
party but never an office-holder. 

In 1816 the father of our subject was united in 
marriage to Roba Fisk, a daughter of Hezekiah 
and Roba (Walker) Fisk, who were natives of 
Rhode Island. Roba was the eldest of fourteen 
children, her natal year being 1796. Her father 
died in 1828, his daughter following him in 1859. 
Our subject had very good school advantages and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



965 



at ihc n<ie of eighteen began life for liiuiself by 
renting farms in Cayuga County in wliieli Ijiisiness 
lie continued for several years. His advent into 
liiis State was made in 1815 and was liecause of tlie 
severe drouth which jxevailed in tlie East. He came 
hither by way of Fairport to Detroit, where lie 
worked for four montiis. tiience he went back to his 
home, and getting his f:iniily came to .Soulhlield 
Township, Oakland County, where he remained for 
one and one-half years. He tlien removed to Rose 
Township, same county, where lie remained for six 
years. He there owned fifty acres of land which he 
traded for eiglit}- acres here in New ILaven, coming 
to this place January 1, 1859. 

JMr. Knight was obliged to construct a dwelling 
for his family on short time, for at that period 
there were neither hotels nor dwelling houses near 
at hand. He built a shanty 14x20 feet iu dimension 
and there setting up his household gods and goods 
began the work of clearing his farm. The little 
home where they Hrst lived had a roof slanting in 
one direction; the weather was very cold and the 
warmth from within caused the snow to melt and 
when the water reached the eaves it formed an icy 
sheet both inside and without the south wall of the 
cabin. In 1887 Mr. Knight added fifteen acres to 
his farm and in 1889 five acres more. 

When our subject first came to this State his 
nearest neighbor lived at a distance of six miles 
from him. He found his way to the farm by blazed 
trees. Since settling in this place Mr. Knight has 
seen raanj- changes, not only in the improvement 
of the country but in the contour of the land itself. 
The shanty that he at first built was on a ridge, 
but the south part of his farm which now is a 
fertile field in which wave the richest crops was at 
that time a pond where he has seen the water two 
feet deep and containing plenty of fish. He has 
cleared about ninety acres of the farm. 

In 1840 the gentleman of whom we write was 
married to Maiy Morrison, daughter of .John and 
Nancy (Kent) Morrison. They were natives of 
New York and Nancy was the eldest of three chil- 
dren, the other two being sons. Mr. and Mrs. 
Knight are the parents of five children: Polly M., 
Orpha Eudora, Daniel F^dson, Emma Lulettc and 
(Mary Ellen. Our subject an<l his wife are members 



of the Christian Church, of which he is an Elder 
and Trustee. He is also Treasurer of the Sunday- 
school, of which he has been Superintendent for a 
number of years, at the same time presiding over 
the Bible class. 

Our subject is a Patron of Industry, of which be 
is Treasurer. Formerly he w.as a Republican in 
I)olitical preference and under that party was 
High Commissioner for two terms. Township Clerk 
and Justice of the Peace. Since 1885 he has been 
a Prohibitionist, taking an active part is the work 
and progress of tlie part3'. Mr. Knight in one of 
the most |)rogressive and successful farmers in the 
township or county'. He has a fine residence and 
good barns and his neighbors assert that he makes 
more from his farm than any other man in the 
county with the same number of acres. 

In the early history of New Haven Township the 
town meetings and elections were held on the same 
day. When the first independent or circuit caucus 
took place it was held in Jlr. Knight's sugar- 
house, onl}- eight persons being present. 




=^^ TEPHEN W. DOWNER. Among the older 
citizens of North Lansing, Clinton County 
who have retired from active life, we have 
the pleasure of noting the gentleman whose 
name stands at the head of this sketch. He is a 
man of broad influence, both on account of his 
character and as an old pioneer who has achieved 
a decided and deserved success. Although con- 
siderably past the allotted span of man's life he 
is still active in his habits and faculties. His na- 
tivity occurred August 19, 1815, in Sharon Town- 
ship, Windsor County, Vt. His father, Erastus, v<' 
was born in Connecticut in 1793, and his grand- 
father, J.ason, was also a native of that State. The 
great-grandfather, Arnold Downer, was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary' War and lived to complete 
his ninety-third year, dying in Vermont. His son, 
the grandfather of our subject, although a boy of 
sixteen at the time of the Revolutiouaiy War, en- 
tered the service and was a jK-rsonal attendant 
uiion (Jen. W.ashington. He died in Vermont at; 



966 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



seveniy-nine years of age, having reared a family 
of four eUildren and being a man of considerable 
property. The family is of Scotch English descent. 

The father of our subject earl}^ became inter- 
ested in the lumber bi-siness at Lebanon, N. H. 
After moving to Niagara County, N. Y., in 1833, 
he bouglit and improved a farm, owning at one 
lime two iiundred and three acres near Lewistown, 
N. Y., in that county. His death occurred upon 
the farm when he had reached the age of seventy- 
nine vears. In religious belief lie was a Universa- 
list. and in |)olilics he was a Democrat up to the 
time of the war, after which he became a Repub- 
lican. His marriage to ISIargaret Evans, a native 
of Vermont, l)orn in 1793, brought liim six chil- 
dren, three of whom grew to maturity, namely: 
Esllier, Mrs. Woodbury; Stephen W. and Ziba A. 
The sister, Esther, has passed away and the mother 
died when eighty-six ye.ars and one month old. 
Even to her later years she showed a deep inter- 
est in religious matters and church affairs, being 
a member of tlie Presbyterian Church. Her father, 
Laban Evans, was a n:'.tive of Vermont, of English 
descent. 

When nineteen years old, Stei)hen Downer en- 
tered into tlic lumbering business in New York 
State, in which he continued for seven winters, and 
during one summer ran a canal boat on the Erie 
Canal between Buffalo and Albany. He also did 
some luinbering in Canada. lie came to Michigan 
in the fall of 1841, walking from Detroit to Clin- 
ton County, after having reached that point by 
boat. There he took up one hundied and sixty 
acres of land on section 20, Bingham Township, 
and built the first frame house ever erected in that 
townshii). He bought a team of oxen anii ped- 
dled tea, coffee, groceries and dry goods through 
the country. He built a log shanty without using 
a single nail. At that time deer were more plen- 
tiful than domestic animals and Indians more nu- 
merous than whites. One day our subject killed 
with a club a bear which was trying to steal his 
sheep. 

After living upon this farm .seven years and 
clearing some one hundred acres of it, Mr. Downer 
removed to Farraington, in Oakland County, and 
staid there one year, after which he retuined to 



Clinton County and settled in DeAVitt Township, 
where he resided until April 1, 1891, when he re- 
moved, as has been before said, to North Lansing. 
AVhen he took this farm it had no improvements 
upon it and he had to build a frame shanty before 
clearing it up. 

The marriage of Ste|)hen W. Downer and Anna 
Morton took place May 20, 1842, and was the be- 
ginning of a life of more than usual domestic hap- 
piness. Mrs. Downer was born in Oswego County, 
N. Y., June 11, 1825, and is a daughter of Bishop 
and EInora (Elderkin) Morton, natives respectively 
of Rutland, Vt., and Connecticut. Mr. Morton 
was born June 3, 1803, and his wife December 14, 
1808, and were married in New York State. Up 
to the age of forty- five he followed carpentry and 
after that engaged in farming, coming to Michigan 
in December, 1836, and locating in Tecumseh, 
Lenawee County. They came to Clinton County 
in 1845, and he developed there a small farm and 
died at the age of sixty-three years. His wife fol- 
lowed him to the grave after she had reached the 
age of seventy-two. They were both earnest and 
consistent members of the Baptist Church and were 
the parents of eight children. 

Mrs. Downer obtainc(T her education in the log 
schoolhouses of Lenawee County. She became 
the mother of three children, besides one adopted 
daughter. The eldest, ISIargaret E., married John 
C. Waller, a contractor and builder in Lansing. 
They have one child, Margaret M., and have lost 
two — Anna 1). and Florence G. Bishop E. has 
been twice married, his first wife being a Miss 
Clements, who was the mother of three sons — 
Erastus C, Stephen W. and John II. Ills present 
wife bore the maiden name of Slay Smith and has 
two children — Earl Bishop and Leo Morton. This 
son carried on a farm in DeWitt Township. Ei'as- 
tus Morton died April 3, 1868, at the age of 
twelve years. The adopted daughter, Katie B., 
married William Morgan and is now a vvidow with 
four children — Anna M., Ora E., Florence E. and 
Willie I. 

]\Ir. Downer has thirteen hundred acres of land 
in Clinton Count}' and ten houses in Lansing, 
with which ten acres of land are connected. He 
loans money quite largely, and when we consider 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



967 



that he had less than ?200 when he came to Mich- 
igan iiis business success is rcmaikal)!e. lie at- 
tributes his "good luck" to hard work, good man- 
agement and close attention to l)usincss. He and 
his noble wife were the first cOuple married in 
Bingham Townsliip, Clinton C'ount}^ He was a 
Democrat in polit'cs previous to the Civil War, 
since which he has been independent. He served 
for seven years as Supervisor of his township when 
living in Bingliam and was elected to tiie same 
office in DeWitt. but resigned after qualifj'ing. 
He also resigned the office of Justice of the Peace. 
His wife, who is a lad}' of fine intelligence, was a 
teacher for some time previous to her marriage. 



WILLIAM W. WATSON, M. D., a prom- 
inent young pliysician of Morrice, was 
born in Delhi Township, Ingliara County, 
this .State, July 12, 1862. His father, William B. 
AVatson, was born in the State of New York, in 
1827. of English descent, and was a farmer and 
storekeeper. Coming to Michigan in 1844, he lo- 
cated in Delhi Township, Ingham Count}', and pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he 
made all the improvements. His possessions when 
be reached this State consisted of about seven t3'-five 
cents in money and an old horse. Until 1870 he 
operated as a farmer, then opened a store in Holt. 
Delhi Township. After he continued thus engaged 
for a short time he resumed his farming pursul-ls 
and now lives on a farm which be rents out. I'o- 
liticall}' he is a Democrat and is a Universalist in 
religion. 

For twelve years the father served as Clerk of 
the township and for eleven years he was Super- 
visor. He was at one time candidate for the ollice 
of County Treasurer and came within fifteen votes 
of being elected. His wife bore the name of Pattie 
Welch in maidenhood and was born in New York 
State. They reared fourchildren: ICllen F.Green, 
Emma Keller, Charles M.,a physician, and William 
W., of tliis sketch. The hitter attended the dis- 
trict school and supplemented the good common- 
school education which he there obtained by 



instruction in various institutions of learning, 
among them the University of Valparaiso. He util- 
ized the thorough education which he had received 
in the profession of a teacher, which he followed 
three terms in White Oak and Stockbridge. 

On Miiy 20, 1883, Dr. Walson was married to Miss 
Tillio M. West, who was born in the Em))irc Slate, 
November 30, 186G. Two bright children have 
blessed this congenial union. After residing on a 
farm two years our subject began the study of med- 
icine with his brother, C. M., at Lansing. With 
him he read one year, next entered the State Uni- 
versity and after a year spent there, became a stu- 
dent i'l Hahnemann College, Chicago, where he 
was graduated in 1889. Immediately afterward he 
located here and h.as already become known as 
an intelligent, skillful physician, fully alive to the 
latest developments in the science. 

In his political affiliations Dr. Watson is a Dem- 
ocrat and has served with efficiency as Health Of- 
ficer here. He is a member of the Masonic order 
at Perry, in his practice he is an advocate of the 
school of homeopath}' and is a memljcr of the State 
Medical Society. 



-•^-W 



ylLLIAM H. ROBSON, an enferi)rising far- 
mer who resides on section 8, Sciota Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, was born in 



Ontario County, N. Y., September 23, 1863, and is 
the son of John H. and Mary E. Robson. The 
parents, who were natives of the State of New 
York, came to Michigan about 1871 and settled in 
the village of Ovid, Clinton County. Later he 
bought and located upon the farm where our sub- 
ject now lives. This was the home of the f.ather 
until tlie spring of 1891, when he retuined to the 
Empire State and now makes his home there. In 
that State he was a farmer and saw manufacturer. 
For a time, after coming to Ovid, he operated as 
a merchant and also bought grain at that point. 
Although he began life with small means he has 
.accumulated a large property through the exercise 
of perseverance and good judgment. 

In politics the father is a Democrat and with his 



968 



rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



wife finds a religious homo in the Prcsbj'terian 
Church. Five eliildren were born to them, namely : 
Adda G., William H., Charles K., Jennie A. and 
John H., Jr. Until he was eight years old our sub- 
ject remained in the Empire State, then came West 
with bis father and spent liis youth in Ovid. In 
1884 he located upon his present farm and has 
since given iiis attention to agriculture. He had 
received bis education in the Ovid High School. 
He now has two hundred and forty-four acres, of 
which one hundred and ninety are cleared and un- 
der cultivation. The buildings are good and the 
entire estate forms one of the best farms in the 
township. It is located on tlie Clinton and Shia- 
wassee Count}' line, five miles south of Ovid. Mr. 
Robson is raising thoroughbred Cotswold sheep 
and Durham cattle with considerable success. Po- 
litically he is a Democrat. He is not married, but 
his pleasant homestead is rendered brighter b}' the 
presence of his sister Jennie and brotlier John H. 



-€-*-^- 



AY D. ROYCE. The gentleman who has 
been ap|iointed by Uncle Sam to hold the 
responsible position in Byron of guardian 
/ of the mails, was born in Deerfield, Livings- 
ton County, Mich., September 1, 1857, and is a 
son of John and Hannah E. (Bentley) Royce, 
natives of New York, of Scott, Cortland County. 
They were married in Mundy, Genesee County, 
this State, and later took up their residence in 
Deerfield, Livingston County, where tliey lived 
until 1868 when they moved to Argentine, Genesee 
County, where the father died. His wife still sur- 
vives him. Our subject's father was all liis life a 
farmer and was in comfortable financial circum- 
stances. In ids youth he was a Whig and later 
became a Republican. Tlie high esteem in which 
he was held in the community was evinced by his 
election to numerous township offices. Both he 
and his wife were members of tlie Presbyterian 
Church, of which they were active and generous 
supporters. For years he lield tlie position of 
Deacon in the church. 

Our subject's parents had eight children, namely; 



Elsie, Eva, Llewellyn P., J. D., Orvili, Sarah C, 
Eniii}' E. and Howard W. Jaj- D., who is the 
gentleman whose name is at I lie head of our sketch 
was raised in Deerfield, Livingston County, where 
he remained until eleven years of age, then went 
with his parents to Argentine, Genesee County, this 
State. His early life was pnsscd on a farm until 
lie had readied the age of eigliteen 3ears. During 
this time lie had enjoyed tiie advantages of a com- 
mon-school education at Byron. When eigliteen 
years old he taught school for one term and then 
took a position as clerk in a store and later tlie same 
position at Bancroft and Milford. He was engaged 
in the hardware business in Byron for two years, 
lirst in partnership witli Austin Alcolt and later 
witli M. D. Comstock. He went out of business 
for a while, resting and recui)erating until April, 
1881), when he received the commission of Post- 
master of Byron, whicli position he still liolds. He 
is a strong adherent of the Republican party under 
wliich lie has held several town offices. He has 
reached the third degree in the Masonic order and 
is at present Master of the lodge at Byron. He is 
also a Knight of the Maccabees. 

Cliarmcd bj- the sweet face anil aniialjle manners 
of Miss ^'ira Webster, one of the most attractive 
young ladies of Byron and a daughter of Doctor 
and Adelia Webster, lie wooed and won iier for liis 
own in October 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Ro^ce have 
been made happ}' Ijy the advent into their family 
of one child, \'ernon W. Tliis amiable couple are 
the center of a social life at Byron. 



^^EORGE W. DEVEREAUX. This promin- 
lll g— ent business man and farmer of Owosso is 
^^M well known throughout this part of the 
county as he has now been in business here for 
many 3'ears, and his livery and sale stable is one 
of the most popular institutions of the city. He 
was b(nn at Rose Valley. Wayne County, X. Y., 
July 4, 1843. He is the youngest of a large family 
of eleven children. His father, Stephen Devereaux, 
was a native of New York and wns born in 1804. 
He lived till the year 1.871 when he passed away at 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



969 



North Newbiirg, Shiawassee County-, Mich. The 
motlier, who was a daughter of William AValcr- 
bury, of Englisii descent, was horn iu 1813 anci 
died in 1885 at Pontiac, Oakland County, Mich. 
The J)evereauxs are of French descent, the grand • 
father being a native of France. 

Stephen Devereaus removed with his parents to 
Michigan in 1847, and located on a farm in West 
Bloom field Township, Oakland Conntj-, and there 
remained up to the year 18C8, when he and his wife 
removed to Shiawassee C'liunl}- and made their home 
in Shiawassee Township where they spent most of 
their d.ays. The}- had ten children, four sons and 
six daughters, all of whom lived to maturity. 
Our subject and his twin brother spent their school 
days in Oakland Countj', alternating the district 
school in winters with working on a farm in the 
summers, and removed with his parents to Shia- 
wassee County when they made that change. He 
remained with his paients until the death of his 
father and being the youngest son he staid by his 
motiier after that sad event. 

In 1872 Mr. Devcreaux oi)ent,-d a livery and sale 
stable which he carried on for three years, after 
which he disposed of it by sale and began acting 
as traveling salesman on the road. Subsequent to 
this he clerked for awhile in a dry-goods store and 
then began a livery business on Park Street, where 
he keeps a good sup|)ly of horses, carriages and 
buggies and every convenience wliich should be 
found in a flrst-class stable, using some twelve to 
fifteen horses in his business all the time. 

The happy married life of Mr. Devereaux began 
in 1872 and he was then united with Miss Antoin- 
ette Brewer, daughter of Abram and Sarah Brewer, 
who came to Michigan many years ago from New 
York and became pioneers in Shiawassee County. 
Mrs. Devereaux had her nativity in New York, but 
most of her education and training was received in 
Michigan. One son only has come to bless this 
union — Floyd Lee. 

Besides his business property our subject has a 
fine little farm of forty acres near the city limits 
and a ple.asant and delightful home. He is not 
actively concerned in political movements but is 
intelligently interested in them and feels it the 
duty of every patriotic citizen to study to vote 



intelligently and to be conscientious in exercising 
his privileges of suffrage. The Republican party 
represents the principles whidi he considers most 
judicious and best adapted to the prospeiity of the 
country'. 

-fSR^- 



y^^ HARLES D. HARMON, M. D., a successful 
(|( medical practitioner of Laingsburg, was 

^^^J born in Canastota, Madison County, N. Y., 
December 21 , 1830, and is of (rermau and Irish de- 
scent. His father, Daniel B. Harmon, was a native 
of Germany and at the age of twelve crossed the 
Atlantic to America. He landed in this country 
without a dollar in his pocket and with no friends 
to aid him, but he possessed untiring energy and 
perseverance and In the course of years became 
wealihj'. 

While residing in Vermont, Daniel B. Harmon 
married Miss Electa Lillie, a native of Ireland, who 
had come to this country when a maiden of six- 
teen summers. Soon after their marriage the young 
couple removed to Ontario County, N. Y., where 
they resided until 1838, when they came to Miclii- 
gan and settled at Whitmore Lake, Livingston 
County. At that place Mr. Harmon built a ii^ill 
and opened up a farm, but after a short time he sold 
out and went to Howell, INIich., where he built the 
Howell Mills. After operating them a short time 
we next find him a resident of Shiaw.assee County. 
At Antrim he erected what Is known as Wright's 
Mills, which after carrying on for several years, 
he sold to Walter and I. S. A. Wright, the pres- 
ent proprietors. 

Mr. Harmon's next place of residence was In 
Argentine, Genesee County, Mich., where he bou<T|it 
a large farm, devoting his attention to agricultural 
jnirsults until his death, which occurred ij few 
years after he located there. His wife survived him 
some twelve years and died on the old homestead 
at the age of fifty-four. Mr. Harmon had reacheii 
his fort3'-eighth year when he was called to his final 
rest. We have before mentioned that he became 
quite wealthy, but before his death he lost lieavily 
by going security for others. He was a carpenter, 
millwright and gunsmith anil in fact a natural inc- 



970 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRArUICAL ALBUM. 



clianic, being able to turn his hand to almost any- 
thing. He proved a valued and useful citizen of 
every communitj' in wliicii lie resided and in poli- 
tics was a Whig and Republican. In his church 
relations he was a Methodist and his wife belonged 
to the Baptist Church. In their family were eight 
chililren: Cornelia E., Ciiarles D., Charlotte E., 
Clarissa, Ann., Lewis L., C'lark N. and Nancy M. 

Dr. Harmon was a lad of only eight summers 
when he accompanied his parents to Michigan. 
His bo3iiood days were spent at work upon the 
farm or in his father's mill until nineteen years of 
age, when, having determined to make of himself a 
physician, he began reading medicine with Drs. 
Mixora and Webster, of Argentine, Genesee Count}-. 
He also studied in Bi'ron, Mich., and in 1860 was 
graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of 
Cincinnati, Ohio. It w.as in April, 1861, that he 
opened an office in Laingslnirg, anil from that time 
u|) to the present he has continued practice at this 
place, with the exception of about ten years, from 
September, 1878, until 1888, when he was engaged 
in the prosecution of his profession at Ft. Worth, 
Tex. 

At present Dr. Harmon has only office practice 
and gives his whole attention to the treatment of 
chronic diseases. He has been a constant student 
of the profession, having ke|)t abreast with all the 
discoveries and improvements connected with med- 
ical science and to further Bt himself for his chosen 
life work he pursued a course of study in the 
Homeopathic Medical College of Lansing, Mich., 
which is now a part of the State University of Ann 
Arbor. In the last-named institution he also occu- 
pied the position of Professor of Anatomy for some 
time. 

In 1850 Dr. Harmon wedded Miss Mary C. Mid- 
dlesworth, of Argentine, Mich., and unto them 
were born four children: Charlotte E., Sarah A., 
Charles D. and Isaac H. On the 14tli of Septem- 
ber, 1883, the Doctor was joined in wedlock with 
Miss Bertha Shaedel, of St. Louis, Mo This lady 
is a native of Baden Baden, Ciermany, and was ed- 
ucated in that country, in Paris, France, and in 
America, and speaks and writes the German, 
French and English languages. Her culture and 
refinement is manifested in her home and is shown 



by the circle of friends she has gathered around 
her, people of the highest worth and intelligence. 

The Doctor is a stanch Republican, having sup- 
ported that party since he went to Texas, prior 
to which time he was a Democrat. He has never 
taken any active part in political affairs, especially 
in tlie sense of ollicc seeking, but keeps himself well 
informed concerning the issues of the day. So- 
cially he is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows. His success in his professional ca- 
reer is equalled only by his success as a speculator 
in real estate. LTpon going to Ft. Worth, Tex., 
in 1878, he possessed a capital of about 89.000, 
which he invested judiciouslj' and wisely in lands 
in and near the rapidly growing city of Vt. 
Worth. This propcrt}- has so arisen in value that 
it is now worth *i75,000. 

Upright and honorable in all his dealings, his 
course has been marked with the strictest integ- 
rity and fairness and he has won not only a hand- 
some competency, but also the confidence an(i warm 
friendship of those with whom he has lieen brought 
in contact. He is an honored citizen of this com- 
munity and it is with pleasure that we present to 
the readers of the Album this brief sketch of his 
life. 

- OOP - 



ENRV W. WEB.STER, President of the 
fljij Clinton County Agricultural Society, is 
a well-known horseman, paying particular 
attention to the raising of standard-bred 
animals, but also buying and shipping stock in 
large numbers. His [irincipal shipping point is 
St. John's, not far from which place he has a well- 
improved farm. Indeed, he may be called a resi- 
dent of the city, as the propert}- that he o|)erates 
adjoins the corporation limits. He has other prop- 
erty- which is carried on by a renter. Mr. Webster 
feeds from four to live hundred head of sheep per 
season, but on his farm the most consiiicuous ani- 
mals are the equines. 

The father of our subject rejoiced in the name 
of Lyman and was a native of the old B.aj' State. 
He can.e to Michigan and entere<1 one hundred and 
sixty .acres of land which is now covered by Grand 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



971 



Riipids. He liad been there but a short liiue when 
the city starterl into life, and he liaded his (iiop- 
erty for a tract tiiat was part prairie, on whicii he 
located. This was ii7 Essex Township, Clinton 
County, and the locality is still known .as Webster 
Prairie, he having been one of the first settlers in 
tiie township. He improved his land and followed 
farming there until 1850, when he went to Califor- 
nia by the overland route. He was three months 
making the trii) and during that time slept under 
the open sky. He worked in the mines in Sacra- 
mento Valley for three j'ears and won a greater 
degree of success than many. He then went to 
Australia and for a year was in communication 
with his family, to whom he sent money, but after 
that time all communication ceased and his fate is 
unknown. He had been one of the prominent of- 
ficials of Essex Township and is well remembered 
b_V the old settlers who remain. His wife, Dinimis 
Stebbins, was born in Massachusetts and died at 
tlicir home in Essex Township. 

Mr. Webster, of this notice, is the youngest of 
ten children born to his parents, and opened his 
eyes to the light in Essex Township, March 22, 
18l.i. He was reared on the prairie farm and at- 
tended the district school whenever opportunities 
afforded, although his educational privileges were 
somewhat limited. When fifteen years old, having 
remained at home, he took charge of the farm. 
His mother bought a new eighty in the woods and 
he and a brother cleared it. Before he was of .age 
he bought the place and farmed it until 1884. 
During th.at time he paid considerable attention to 
stock-raising and when he sold the property he 
came to St. John's and became a buyer and ship- 
per. He subsequently bought t'ortj' acres in Bing- 
ham Township, just outside the city, and eighty 
acres in Dallas Townshi[), one and a half miles 
southwest of Fowler. In 1886 he opened a meat 
market in partnership with W. T. Church, to wliom 
he sold his interest three years later. He subse- 
quently bought into the firm again and later car- 
ried on the business alone until Februar}-, 181)1, 
when he sold out to give liis entire attention to his 
other affaira. 

Among the horses owned by Mr. Webster, are 
some especially deserving of mention. '"Sir Crabb" 



is a fine .animal, No. 11,218, and sired by "Sir- 
ossco" by ".lerome Eddy."' His recoril is 2:1G 1-2 
and his dam, "Belle Crabb," has a record of 2:34 
1-2. He is a seal brown, fifteen and a half hands high 
and four years old. A brown stallion four years 
old, whose dam was "Membrino Bashaw," is one of 
the fine steeds on the farm, and the gelding, "Henry 
Lewis Boy," is another. The later is five years old. 
Mr. Webster also owns a three-year-old gelding, 
"Fred II.," by "Manchester," dam "Nellie Smith," 
and other .animals of almost equal value. 

In February, 1870, Mr. Webster gained a faith- 
ful helpmate and companion in Miss Mary E. 
Wright, with whom he was united in Owosso. 
She is a daughter of Isaac Wright, an early settler 
in Antrim, .Shiawassee County. Mr. and Mrs. 
Webster arc. the parents of one child — Edna. 
They have a residence is St. John's, as well as good 
and adequate buildings on the farm. Mr. Webster 
is an Odd Fellow and Mason, and in the latter so- 
ciety has risen to the Royal Arch degree. His po- 
litical associations are with the Democratic parlv. 
In 1888 he was elected Presitlcnt of the Agricult- 
ural Society and h.as been retained in the i)osition 
from year to jear. The society owns a twenty- 
acre tract, with a half-mile track, and the county 
fairs are second only to those of the State in their 
exhibits and the valuation of premiums offered. 
During the fall Mr. Webster occiq)ies a large i)art 
of his time in work connected with the afifairs of 
the soeiet}'. 



■^^>i:^iki^tz-*-~ 



i 



<if)OHN D. HENDERSON. The firm of J. 
D. Henderson & Bro. is one of the best 
known in or near St. John's and is carrying 
on manufactures as great in extent as any 
in this locality. The gentlemen arc proprietors of 
the Bingham Roller Flouring Mill and the St. John's 
Sawmill and our subject is also owner and operator 
of a tract of farm land near the city. Their ttour- 
ing-mill is fitted up with a complete roller process 
and operated by steam, having a capacity of one 
hundre<l and twenty-live barrels per day. The 
product lias a first-class reputation and is shipped 



972 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



extensively. In tbe sawmill both hard and soft 
wood is cut and the establishment turns out more 
lumber than any other in the count}'. The capacity 
of this mill is ten tiiousand feet per day and the 
most of it is consumed by local trade, although 
some is shipped to a considerable distance. 

Walter Henderson, grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Scotland and was a fancy carver in 
marble. He worked at his triide until he enlisted 
in tiie English army and he then served as a soldier 
twenty-two years. He was at Waterloo and was 
wounded by a ball which crossed his nose and eyes, 
injuring his sight. He served two enlistments of 
eleven years each and during his connection with 
the array was regimental bugler. After his second 
term had exi)ircd he located at Leith, Scotland, and 
worked at his trade some until he retired from ac- 
tive life. He was a stanch member of the Presby- 
terian Church. His son, John D. Sr., was born 
near Leith in 1815 and when old enough to adopt a 
vocation became a mechanic. He ran an engine for 
Mr. Dawson twenty-two years and then was engin- 
eer in the insane asylum in Edinboro three 3'ears. 
He next filled the position of engineer in a flour- 
ing-mill in Leith and left that place in 1856 to 
come to America. For some time he was engaged 
as a locomotive engineer on the Michigan Central 
Railroad, making his home in Detroit and he then 
became head engineer on a lake steamer owned by 
Russell & Co., of that city. In the fall of 1858 
he became night v/atchm.Tii at the depot and round- 
house at St. John's and later for the manufacturing 
company here. He then operated a stationary en- 
gine, and after the burning of the roundhouse 
■went to Pontiac. Although seventy six years old 
he is still active and is employed in the roundhouse 
at Pontiac. He is a Republican in polities and a 
Baptist in religion. 

The first wife of John D. Henderson, Sr.. was 
Jane Motfitt, a Scotch lady, whose father was Robert 
Mollitt. She died in St. John's, March 1, 1862. 
She was the mother of twelve children, of whom 
our subject is the fourth in order of birth. The 
second union of Mr. Henderson was blest by the 
birth of two children. The birthplace of our sub- 
ject was Leith, Scotland, and his natal day January 
16, 1845. When he was ten years old he was ap- 



prenticed at rope and sail-making and served three 
3'ears and eight months. All his schooling was re- 
ceived at night scliools, but as his mother w.as well 
educated he was encouraged by her to glean knowl- 
edge from every possible source. Tiie family did 
not cross the Atlantic with the father, but made 
their voyage the next year. They left Leith, March 
1, 1857, and going to Liverpool embarked on the 
sailer "Martin Luther," Captain Gordon in charge. 
The vessel was wrecked and the passengers were 
picked up in the Bay of Bisca}' by the man-of-war 
'■Tagus" and taken to Pl3'mouth. The}' remained 
there eight weeks, until the disabled vessel was re- 
paired, and were then seven weeks and three days 
in crossing to Quebec. 

During the voyage young Henderson made him- 
self useful on board the vessel, his knowledge of 
ropes and sails standing him in good stead. He 
reached Detroit July 26, 1857, and for about eight- 
een months worked at rope-making for a Mr. 
Gallagher on the Grand River Road. He desired 
to have a better education and attended school one 
summer. In the fall of 1858 he came to St. John's 
and found employment in the sawmill of B. Wriglit 
& Son, beginning at the foundation of the business, 
at the work of tail sawyer. He worked in the mill 
two years, rising to the position of head sawyer 
and becoming as well able as anyone in the estab- 
lishment to lile and hang a saw and do other me- 
chanical work. He acted as head sawyer and 
manager until 1869, when he and his brother 
bought the establishment and continued the manu- 
facture of lumber there, and in 1875 they built 
their present gristmill. 

In St. Joiin's, October 11, 1865, the marriage 
rites between Mr. Henderson and Miss Betsey A. 
Talmage were solemnized. The bride was born in 
Oakland County, near Milford, where her father. 
Samuel Talmage, was an early settler. He carried 
on farm work there for years, then came to .St. 
John's, but is now living in Ovid. Mr. and Mrs. 
Henderson have sis children, named respectively, 
John E., Anna M., Carrie A., Bessie A., Agnes B. 
and Jenny M. The son is now engaged in the 
grocery and dry-goods trade in Pompeii, this State, 
and the eldest daughter, wlio is a graduate of the 
St. John's High ScOiool, is teaching in the Perrin 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



973 



School. The younger children are still pursuing 
tlieir studies, three of tliem being pupils in the High 
School. It is the desire of their parents to give 
them a thorough education and thej- are encour- 
aged and aided bj' tiieir father and mother on every 
possible occasion. 

The farm owned by Mr. Henderson consists of 
two hundred and fort^^ acres in Essex Township 
and is well supplied with necessar}' buildings, strong 
fences and good stock. It is devoted princfpally 
to the cultivation of grains and the raising of cat- 
tle and sheep. Mr. Henderson is a Mason of prom- 
inence and high degree. He belongs to the Blue 
Lodge, Chapter and Commandery in .St. Jolm's and 
has passed all the chairs. He is a true-blue Re- 
publican and has been a delegate to county con- 
ventions. For seven or eight years he was iMa3or 
of St. John's, iiolding his office during successive 
3'ears except one twelvemonth. He was also 
Trustee twelve years and is Chairman of the Water 
Commission and an honorary member of the fire 
department. The sj'stem of waterworks is an ex- 
cellent one and much credit is due Mr. Henderson 
for this fact, as he was President of tlie Commis- 
sion when it was put in and had charge of the 
work. In business and civic relations he has 
equall3- displayed liis strength of character, the in- 
tegrity and sturdy- enterprise of the true Scotch- 
man, and the thorough sympalliy with American 
progress, of one who has adopted lliis land with 
his whole lie.irt. He is liheral and open-liearted, 
always read} to take part in an enterprise which 
promises to be beneficial, and in his social life is 
good natured and popular. 

if^^IIOMAS 1). DEWEY. Conspicuous among 
the business men and principal citizens of 
Owosso, Shiawassee Count}-, is Mr. Dewey, 
of the firm of Dewey <fe Stewart, whicli carries on 
two enterprises and is well known far beyond the 
limits of the county. Tiie Owosso City Mills, of 
which these gentlemen arc proprietors, were estab- 
lished by them in 1850 (making them probably the 
oldest firm in the State) with two runs of stones, 




and as the county settled up and the city devel- 
oped, its capacity was increased from time to time. 
It is now fitted completely as a roller process mill 
with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels 
per day, and the products are sold throughout the 
State. All kinds of grain are ground and diflferent 
varieties of flour placed on the market. The name 
of the mill is probably more familiar to many 
whose use its products than those of its proprietors, 
and the gentlemen themselves are perhaps best 
known as the proprietors of the celebrated Owosso 
Breeding Stables and Slock Farm of which further 
mention will be made below. 

The Dewe}' family originated in England and 
three generations ago its principal members were 
living in Vermont. In Rutland, that State, Apollos, 
Jr., father of our subject, was born .September 20, 
1795. When quite young he emigrated to Monroe 
County, N. Y., with his parents, but removed 
thence in 1822 to Oakland County, Mich., which 
was then a wilderness. He chose as his wife Abigail 
Wctmore, who at the time of their marriage re- 
sided in Chili, Monroe County, N. Y., but was a 
native of Middleton, Conn., born July 3, 1790. 
She became the wife of Apollos Dewey, Jr., on 
February 24, 1817, and four children were born to 
them, as follows: John Wetmore, Thomas Dustin, 
of this sketch, Mar}' Esther, and Nancy Baldwin. 
The three \oungest children were born in Oakland 
County. 

The ancestors of our subject on the maternal 
side emigrated from Holland, two brothers coming 
from that country to America, the one taking the 
name of Wetmore and the other the name of Whit- 
more. John Wetmore served as a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War and for many years followed 
the se.as, gaining the title by which he was famil- 
iarl}' known, that of Captain. For a long time he 
resided in Connecticut, where he married Miss 
Mahitable Clark. Later the}' removed to Monroe 
County, N. Y., wliere they operated as farmers and 
reared a family of eleven children. The dates of 
the birth of John and Mahitable Wetmore were 
September 19, 17G0and October 15, 17G0, respect- 
ively. The paternal grandfather of our subject 
was Apollos Dewey of the (Ireen Mountain State. 

In 1822 the parents of our subject left Monroe 



974 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



County, N. Y., for the wilds of Michigan, and 
reaching OaI<lan(l Count}' established their home 
on a farm which the husband operated for several 
years. Thej removed to .Shiawassee County in 1839 
and there spent the remainder of tlieir days. Mrs. 
Dewey died in 1864, but the fatlier survived until 
1881, when he passed from earth at the age of 
eiglity-one years. He had long been a Deacon in 
the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch and was highly 
honored by his acquaintaiic(?s as a representative 
farmer and an excellent man. Their family com- 
prised two sons and two daughters, and Thomas D. 
was llie second in order of birth. The others are — 
John W., a resident of .Shiawassee County and 
represented elsewhere in this volume; Marj' Esther, 
wife of Mr. Trauger, living in Niles; and Nancy 
B. who married C. D. Nichols, and lives in Berrien 
Springs. 

Mrs. Trauger, sister of our subject, was born 
July 8, 1824 and on August 26, 1845, she became 
the wife of Horace Hall, a Methodist minister. For 
forty-two years the Rev. Mr. Hall preached the 
Gospel, and during twelve years was Presiding 
Elder, also serving twice as delegate to the General 
Conference. He died at Niles, Mich., March 14, 
1884. Two children were born of this union — 
Lora O., born April 10, 1848, a graduate from 
Albion College in the Class of '70 and a teacher in 
the Soldier's Orphan Home at Atcliison, Kan.; 
Olin D., born February 22, 1854, died at Lyons, 
December 19, 1861. On September 22, 1888, the 
widow married Henry Trauger, and they are at 
present residing in Niles. 

Tiie other sister of our subject, Nancy B., was 
born January 5, 1834, and became the wife of Mr. 
Nichols February 10, 1852. Their children are as 
follows: Fremont Dewey, born September 22, 1853; 
Charles A., December 1, 1858; Cora A., October 6, 
1864, and John Dustin, November 21, 1866. 
Thomas D., of this sketch, was born in Oakland 
County, February 22, 1823, and began his school- 
ing in a log building at BloomReld Center, where 
lie sat upon a [ilank bench while conning his lessons. 
When but seventeen years old he came to Shia- 
wassee Countj' in the spring of 1839 with his par- 
ents and entered upon a career of general farming 
in Owosso Township. November 9, 1840, but a 



short time aft-er coming to the county, the young 
man entered the dij-goods store of C. L. Good- 
hue, in the village of Owosso and remained there 
as clerk for five years. He then bought out his 
employer anrl carried on the business until 1852, 
when he closcl out to give his attention entirely to 
the milling business in which he had engaged with 
Mr. Stewart two years before. 

In 1870 Messrs. Dewey ct .Stewart opened their sta- 
bles and two years later bought '-Louis Napoleon," 
a six year old stallion, that is still in service. This 
animal is a Ilambletoniau in descent through 
"Volunteer," and two years before his purchase by 
his present owners li.ad made a mile in 2:36, a re- 
markable record for a four-year-old at that period. 
He was then owned by George B Alley, of New 
York, and a standing challenge of ^2,500 per side 
agai ist any four year-old in America was never 
accepted. He is the sire of Jerome Edd}-, an ani- 
mal that was sold to Henry C. Jewell & Co., of 
Buffalo, N. Y., for ^25,000 and now stands at the 
head of their stud. 

The dam of "Jerome Eddy" was ••Fann}- Mapes," 
by ''Alexander's Abdallah," a son of Hambletoiiiau 
No. 10. This mare was purchased by Messrs. 
Dewe3 A; Stewart the year after they bought "Louis 
Napoleon." The latter animal is also the sire of 
"Charlie Hilton," whose record is 2 :17i, with a trial 
mile of 2:14, and of the great two-year-old ''Uncle 
Sam," who obtained a record of 2:3H in 1890. This 
stallion is also grandsire of "Reno's Baby," which 
has been well called the "equine wonder of the age" 
and at the close of 1889 was the f.astesc average 
speed producer ever developed in America. In 
December of that year he made a record of 2:25^ 
as a two-year-old trotter, and six days later, of 
2:24^ as a pacer, a feat never before accoraplislipd 
b}' any colt of the same age. Messrs. Dewey it 
Stewart also own "Bonnie AVilkes," ''Col. Mapes" 
and ''George Milo,'' all line horses, of gooil pedigree. 

In 1849 Mr. Dewey married Miss Philena S. 
Gould, daughter of Amos Gould, of Cayuga 
County, N. Y. Both her parents died in New York 
when she was about five years old, after which she 
was taken into the family of her cousin, Amos 
Gould, of Owosso and reared to womanhood. She 
was born in Cayuga Countj', N. Y., and died in 



PORTRAIT AND HJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



975 



Owussu Marcli 15, 1885. In 1888 Mr. Dewey was 
niarried to his present wife, formerly Miss Eliza- 
beth Cramer, a native of this State and a popular 
nicmbor of Owosso society. In 1868 Mr. Dewey 
was elected ]Mayor .\nd for some time he filled the 
ollice of Justice of the Peace. Wliile in the town- 
ship of Owosso he was Town Clerk, Highway 
Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, Constable, 
Postmaster, and in the city both M.ayor and Alder- 
man. His political allegiance is given to the prin- 
ciples advocated by the Republican party. In busi- 
ness he is enterprising and judicious, and in social 
life he is genial and courteous. 




LBERT B. MASON. He whose name is 
.at the head of this sketch was for many 
t ) j-eais the loved and loving consort of the 
lady who is now the proprietor and owner 
of the farm located in Owosso Township, Shiawas- 
.see Count}'. He was born March 8, 1817, in Mon- 
roe Count}-, N. Y. His father was Ezra Mason, 
and his mother Esther (Boner) Mason. In 1839 
our subject came Wpst with his parents. His 
father had made a jjrospecting tour through the 
SIftte before bringing his family hither, and se- 
lected the Ip.nd which he at this time purchased 
from the Government, paying ^1.25 per acre for 
the same. 

Two of the Mason families made the journey to 
the wilds of Michigan together, which was a wise 
provision, inasmuch as the country was so deso- 
late, there being at tliat time only two families, the 
Griggs and Wilkinsons, any place near. The mill- 
ing was done at Pontiac, a long distance from 
their residence. On reaching manhood, our sub- 
ject was married to Miss Minerva Couitwright, who 
w.as born in Monroe County, N. Y., July 16, 1822. 
Her parents were Aaron and Mary (Van Sickle) 
Courtwright. She united her fate with that of her 
husband when little more than a child, not being 
more than sixteen years of age. Mr. Albert Mason's 
decease occurred June 3, 1887. He w.is greatly 
mourned as a good man by acquaintances .as well 
as the members of his immediate family. He and 



his wife were the parents of six children, whose 
names are as follows: Elisha. Frances, Mary, 
Phoebe, Jane and John. Phoebe was the wife of 
William .Stiff, of Benton, and died in 1875; Mary 
is Mrs. John Babcock, and at present makes her 
home with her mother; Jane is Mrs. Daniel Mil- 
land, and resiiles in Gratiot County. 

The father of the family was a Republican in 
his political pi'eference, and a member of the 
Protestant Methodist Church in religious predilec- 
tion. The family has occupied the present home 
since 1851. It is a handsome structure, erected a 
few rods from the site of the original home- 
stead. On coming into the country, his father's 
family lived for some time in the little house of the 
Simpsons until a shanty could be built that would 
accommodate them. All lived for one year where 
Shafer lives at the present time, the land having 
belonged to Ezra, who had a family of seven chil- 
dren. His widow is still living at Ovid, having 
married a Mr. Woodworth. 



^j»i»- 



"if/OHN PEACH. This short biographical 
sketch is given as a tribute to the memory 
of hiui who was a loving father, affectionate 
husband and prominent citizen in all these 
various relations, in behalf of his son and the old- 
est member of the children of this generation. 
John Peach was born in Somersetshire, England, 
March 13, 1829. His decease occurred April 13, 
1883. His father was Thomas Peach, and his 
mother Mar}- Ann (Buge; Peach. Both passed 
away in Michigan at the age of seventy years. 

Our subject came to the United States in 1851. 
He had learned the tailor's trade, and on locating 
in Pontiac, in 1853, was at once engaged in his 
own (larticular line of w(.rk. About 1855 he 
bought the farm which is still in the possession of 
his family. It was located in Antrim Township, 
Shiawassee County, and first only comprised forty 
acres. Thereon he erected a log house in which 
he lived until death. His landed property, how- 
ever, had increased before that sad event until it 



976 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



aggregated about tliree liuurlred acres, which bore 
very fine improvements. 

Mr. Peach was a Republican in his political lik- 
ing, anrl although he was a quiet and unassuming 
man, he was verj' successful in business. Several 
years before his decease he suffered greatly from 
ill health. His marriaue took place July 2!l, 1853, 
being united at Milford to Miss Susan Woodthorp, 
of Pontiac. She was a native of Lincolnshire, 
England, being there boin October 4, 1829. Her 
parents were Tliomas and Mary (Eliif) Woodthorp. 
Mrs. Peach came to America in November, 1851, 
and with friends proceeded to Pontiac, where she 
was emplo\'ed as seamstress. The j'oung people 
became acquainted in that village, and after mar 
riage came directl}- to Ncwburg. 

Quite a little family grew up about the parents 
in their primitive home. They are Henry, who is 
now the proprietor of the farm wiiicii iiis father 
left; Ida, deceased; Lilly, deceased; and George. 
The estate now comprises two hundred and forty- 
two acres in the place where the residence is, and 
one hundred and twenty acres more in the place 
near by, which is rented. • They have a fine home, 
which was erected at a cost of $4,000. 

<v»^ ARNET J. PUTNAM, a farmer and pioneer 
located on section 3, Sciota Township, was 

f«3J))|l; born in Amity, Alleghany County, N. Y., 
'' January 25, 1826. He is the son of Cor- 
nelius and Eliza A. (Johnson) I'utnam. The fam- 
ily on the paternal side are of composite ancestr}', 
being a mixture of French, English and German. 
Tiie grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and 
was present at the battle of Saratoga at the sur- 
render of Burgoyne. The |)arents on the maternal 
side were participants of the War of 1812, hence 
our subject's famil}' have given their full quota for 
the defence of their countr3\ 

The parents f>f our subject was married in Clien- 
ango County, N. Y., but later removcil to Alleghany 
Count}% same State, wiiere they lived until Sep- 
teinber, 1836, when tliey started out for the West 
by the overland route, conveying tiieir family and 




household goods on an ox-cart to Buffalo, where 
they took shi|) for Detroit, the voyage occupying 
eight days. They again started out with the ox- 
team on the Indian trail for what is now Shiawas- 
see County and settled on the farm which our sub- 
ject's father secured wliile on a previous prospect- 
ing tour. It comprised eighty acres of the west 
half of the southeast quarter of section 3, in what 
is now the townsliip of .Sciota. 

On their advent in the place above mentioned 
the land was a bit of nature's own making and 
heavily limbered. They put up as soon as possi- 
ble a log cabin which was 12x14 feet in dimen- 
sions and guileless of a tloor. It was covered with 
bark on the outside to make it warmer and in this 
they lived for two or three years, until they could 
afford a better residence. The whole family look 
a pride in their new purchase and all bent their ef- 
forts toward clearing up the place and making it 
nt for civiliz;ttion. Here the family of five chil- 
dren was reared and the parents of our subject 
si»ent the remainder of their lives. The father 
was a farmer all his life and a very hard-working 
man. On landing in the counlrj' they had but a 
small supply of provisions, co:nprising only one 
peck of potatoes and sixpence in money, while the 
nearest neighbor was six or seven miles distant 
with a dense vvjlderness between them and the 
nearest trading point was Pontiac, some sixty or 
seventy miles away. 

The original of this sketch is the eldest of five 
children, being only ten years of age when his pa- 
rents came to Michigan. He was denied the ad- 
VMUtoges of an education, as the country was too 
new to support schools and his parents were not 
able to provide tutt>rs. He being the eldest son 
much of the care fell on him, as his lather suffered 
from ill health many years before he died. Mr. 
Putnam remained at home until he was twenty- 
seven years of age, as which time he married and 
began life for himself. lie has lived in the vicin- 
ity where ho now resides since coming to Michi- 
gan and on his present farm since 1875. His farm 
now comprises only seventy-seven acres, as he has 
divided the greater portion among his children. 

The original of our sketch is a man of wide 
reading and well informed. He is politicall3- a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Democrat, and has received many official favors 
from his party. Soeiaily he is a Free and Ac- 
cepted Mason of the Third degree. In 1853 Mr. 
Putnam was married to Miss Meliuda M. Cone, of 
Sciota,Shiawassee County. She was born in Mohegan 
Wayne County, Ohio, April 5, 1831. Our subject 
and iiis lady are the proud parents of four children 
— Dell E., Edson B., Francis M., and George B. 
The history of the family is closely connected with 
tliat of the State. Mrs. Putnam's father was one 
of the men who helped survey IMirhigan for the 
Government. 

- — i^m—- 



LNATHAN BROWN. From the beginning 
agriculture has ranked among the most 

J honorable callings. Earth is the gracious 

mother that supitlies tiio needs of mankind and the 
farmer belongs to tlie priesthood that intervenes 
between giver of all and needy humanity. The 
name that heads our sketch is that of one who be- 
longs to the honored calling and wiio resides on 
section 31, Venice Township, Shiawassee County. 
lie has been very successful in every branch of 
agriculture to wiiich he has turned his attention. 

Ebenezer Brown, the father of our subject, was 
a native of Tompkins Count)-, N. Y., where he was 
born in 1790. He was a farmer by calling and in 
the War of 1812 did efficient service as a soldier. 
He was wounded at the battle of Ft. Firiu and his 
services were recognized bj' the United States as 
long as he lived b}' the award of a pension. He 
filled the office of Corporal in the army. The 
family on the paternal side are of Dutch descent. 
Our subject's mother was Elsie (Woodruff) Brown, 
a native of Connecticut and born in the year 1800. 
The Woodruffs arc an old New England family, 
their history being connected with that of the earli- 
est settlers of that portion of the countrj'. Tiiey 
were married in New York Stale, where they re- 
sided a number of years, starting West in 1833. 
They stopped in Ohio where they made a stay of 
three years in Summit County. In 1836 they 
came to this State and settled on section 4, Vernon 
Township. It was an entirely new farm and there 
was not a road laid out in the township. It was 



necessary tiiat the family should be sufficient unto 
itself for there were then no neighbors. In spite 
of these discouragements Mr. Brown made a per- 
manent home, his tirst dwelling being a log cabin. 
During tlie years that intervened between his com- 
ing to the State and his death he made great im- 
provements upon the farm, cutting out the timber 
and planting large crops. His death, which occur- 
red before the Civil War, was accidental. He wsis 
quite aged and sitting before the fire in an old 
fashioned fire-place he is supposed to have fainted. 
At any rate he fell face forward into the fire and 
w.is shockingly burned. The niotlier followed him 
in 1863. They were the parents of five boys and 
four girls, of these four are now living. 

Timothy Brown, one of the sons, served in the 
Mexican War and after his discharge w.is anticipat- 
ing great pleasure in his home coming. He was 
taken ill at Louisville, Ky. and there died. Two 
other sons, Archibald and Samuel, served in the 
Civil War. Archibald died at Burnside Point, 
Tenn. in the hospital and Samuel died in the hos- 
[)ital at New Albany, Ind. The husbands of two 
daughters also gave their lives for their country. 
Our subject was brought up in the Presbyterian 
Church of which his patents were members, the 
father being a Deacon in the same. Politically' our 
subject's father was broad in his views. He was 
recogni/.eiL however, as being a good man and one 
who would conscientiously discharge any duty re- 
posed in him. He was a Justice of the Pcice for a 
long time and also held the office of Postmaster, 
he being the first one in Vernon Township before 
the village of Vernon was established. 

Our subject was born October 13, 1818, in 
Tompkins County, N. Y. He remembers that in 
corning West his father took the old Erie Canal to 
Buffalo, thence went to Cleveland, Ohio, by steam- 
er. At the time of their advent into tiiis State he 
was eighteen years of age and he remainetl at home, 
helping with the farm work until he reached his 
majority wlien he started out for himself. 

Mr. Brown's first venture in financial life w.is the 
purchase of seventy-two acres of land, which he 
still owns. He wsa obliged to go in debt for the 
land, purchasing it on a contract to 'jhop and clear 
and put into crop five acres per year until he paid 



978 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



for it. He fufllled the coutract anri the land be- 
came bis owti. At tlic same time he worked for 
William Placevvay, the second settler in Venice 
Township. We learn from our subject that the 
agent told him that the owners were indebted for 
highway taxes on the land and he made Mr. Brown 
the offer that he should have the privilege to work 
out the tax and apply it upon the i)ayment of his 
land. He chopped out the clearing for the present 
roads at $6 ))er acre an<l thus earned one hundred 
and forty dollars which helped to pay for his land. 

Although Mr. Brown left Ohio at so early an 
age, the State evidently had attractions for liim, for 
he went back at the time of a severe drouth and 
brought back a wife. He was married January 1, 
1842, to Matilda Brewster, a daughter of Plato 
and Eunice (Osmond) Brewster, the former a native 
of New York. They were early settlers in Cleve- 
land, Ohio, and later moved to Northfleld, Portage 
County, Ohio, where they both died. 'lUay were 
the parents of ten children, only one now surviv- 
ing. Mrs. Brown's father was a soldier in the War 
of 1812. 

The lady who became the wife of our subject 
was born December 14, 1822, at Cleveland, Ohio. 
On returning with her husband to this State after 
their marriage she bent her efforts to making the 
little log-house sis cozy and homelike as possilile. 
Here they have lived ever since, with the exception 
of three years spent in Corunna. IMr. Brown now 
has one hundred and twenty acres of land upon 
which there are good buildings. All the clearing 
and improvements that are made upon the farm were 
so pisced by his own hands. He estimates that 
he has cleared one hundred acres of land for other 
people besides superintending the building of his 
own residence and outhouses. They arc the par- 
ents of eight children, four of whom arc now liv- 
ing. 

Our subject's eldest daughter and child is Lucy 
J., the wife of La Fayette Hall, who was born Jan- 
uary 24, 1844, and lives in this township; they 
have one child. Perry D. Brown, eldest son of 
our suliject, was born July 12, 184C. He was united 
in marriage to Klizabeth Fields and lives on sec- 
tion 30; they have three children. Eunice S., born 
November 4, 1848, is the wife of William Morris 



and lives in Vernon Township, on section 11; she is 
the mother of one child and also a child by a former 
marriage. Alice E., born June 29, 1867, is the 
wife of Fred Doan and lives at home with her par- 
ents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Cliurch in wliich body he was a Class- 
Leadev in Corunna for many years. He had been 
a member of the Sons of Temperance and has ever 
had an interest in politics, voting the Democratic 
ticket formerly, but is now a strong Prohibitionist. 
He was elected as the first School Inspector, has 
been Township Clerk and also Township Treasurer 
for seven years. He has filled the positions of Sup- 
ervisor, Justice of the Peace and Constable for 
man}' 3ears. 

The original of our sketch has always been a 
temperate man. What he has acquired has been 
by his own efforts and by the hardest labor. At 
an early day he suffered terribly from that dre.ad 
scourge of the pioneer settler — fever and ague. It 
is a pleasure to record the success of men who have 
been so diligent in working not only for themselves 
but for the good of others. 




IIARLES M. HOUSE. A prominent place 
among the business men of Ovid, Clinton 
Count}', is held by Mr. House, whose good 
judgment and enterprise are abundantly displayed 
in the discharge of his duties as a citizen and a 
business man. He is a native of New York, born 
October 20, 1846, in Springville, Erie County. His 
parents, Aliltou and Cassandra (Pierce) House, 
were likewise natives of the Empire State and the 
father followed the (jccupalion of farming. Until 
he became of age our subject resided under the 
parental roof, but at the age of seventeen accom- 
panied his parents to Iowa, locating with theui near 
Independence, Buchanan County. At the age of 
twenty-one Mr. House removed to Pontiac, Mich., 
and took the management of the lumber yard of 
E. M. Pierce, who later sold the yard to Henry 
W. Lord. In this place our subject worked sev- 
eral years. While in that city he met the lady 



POIiTRAIT AND BlOGRAl'lliCAL ALBUM. 



979 



who on December 22, 1871, became his wife, and 
who was Louisa Moore, the daughter of Canwell 
Moore, of Pontiac. The 3'onng couple resided in 
Pontine only a short time after their marriage, 
removing thence to Corunna, this State, where our 
subject, in company witii liis brotlier. (". W., opened 
a Uimber yard and planing mill. After operating 
it successfully about two years they lost it b}' fire. 
Onr suliject rebuilt alone and failed. 

Nextjwe find Mr. House engaged as a farmer 
in Iowa for two 3ears, but Michigan had greater 
attractions for him than that .State, and returning 
to Ovid in 1875. lie worked foi- others about three 
years. At that time he and Mr. Clark bought 
out liis employer's business and ran it under the 
firm name of N. J. Clark & Co. In 1887 Mr. 
Clark sold out his entire interest to George S. 
Huntington and the establishment has since been 
operated under the firm name of House & Hunt- 
ington, it being the only lumber yard in Ovid. 
The members of the firm are widely known for 
reliable transactions in business and enjoy an ex- 
tensive patronage. Although several times Mr. 
House has been absolutely insolvent he has over- 
come the difficulties which surrounded him each 
time and is now reaping the reward of persever- 
ance. Although he is not a partisan in politics, he 
is a firm Republican an<l has held various village 
offices. 



^^£ 



i^ 



W UCIUS E. GOULD. The gentleman of 
I (©I whom we write is one of the well-known 
iJ'— ^Y , citizens of Owosso, Shiawassee County, 
where he carries on a flourishing business in loans 
and real estate. He is one of the native sons of 
the Wolverine State, being born in Antrim Town- 
ship, Shiawassee County, September 8, 1817. When 
only a year old his parents moved into the city 
of Owosso, and this has been his home from that 
day to this. 

Col. E. (4ould, the father of our subject, w.as 
born in the State of New York and there grew to 
manhood. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania 
and died in Owosso in 1881. They were the par- 



ents of four children, three sons and one daughter, 
of whom our subject is the eldest. After attend- 
ing school at Owosso, he entered Olivet College, 
where ho studied for two j-ears, after whieh he en- 
tered the law department of the State I'niversity 
and took his diploma therefrom in 1871. Return- 
ing to Owosso, he commenced the practice of law, 
and in 1872 was elected Circuit Court Commis- 
sioner, a position which he has filled successfully 
and with satisfaction to the peoi)lc for nearly twenty 
years. 

For a short time Mr. Gould was editor of the 
Owosso Tiiufs, which he established in 1882, and 
which somewhat later he disposed of by sale. Be- 
sides attending to his legal business he now took 
u|) work in the line of effecting loans and handling 
real estate and insurance, and as this business 
grew in his hands he has given himself largely to 
it, although he has dropped from his attention the 
department of insurance. He is a shrewd and 
enterprising dealer, and besides attending to his 
own [)roiierty he effects many sales for others. He 
owns considerable property in the city in the shape 
of lots. 

Nothing in the history of Mr. Gould is more 
worthy of note than his happ3' marriage with Jliss 
Josephine M. White, of Owosso. This talented 
and highly educated lady has opened an institu- 
tion of learning which is known as the Oakside 
School. This was established in 1883, and had its 
first inception in the Col. Gould homestead, but 
was removed to its present location at the corner 
of Oliver and Pine Streets in 1885. Under the 
principalship of Mrs. Gould and with the superior 
instruction in music which is to be obtained from 
Miss Nora P. Collins, it is no wonder that it has 
attained to a degree of popularit3' exceeding the 
warmest expectation of its founder. 

This school offers liberal and S3Stematic train- 
ing in the elementary English branches and such 
instruction in history, literature, physics and higher 
mathematics as is ordinarily given in a prepara- 
tory school. Mrs. Gould, who is at the head of 
this institution, is a most efficient teacher and a 
most sympathetic friend to her pupils. Her pat- 
ronage is to be found not only in Owosso. but 
also in St. John's, Shiawassee, Adrian, Detroit, an<I 



9«0 



FOKTUAIT AND IJJOGRAFHJCAL ALBUM. 



many other towns of Michigan. This family in 
its various members has made its mark upon the 
eommunit3' and its influence is far-rcacliing and 
efifeclive in raising the standard of both social and 
intellectual life. 









y^lLLIAM G. HENDERSON is a member 
of tlie Qrm of J. D. Henderson & Bros., 
^^Z proprietors of the Bingham Roller Flour- 
ing Mills and the St. John's Sawmill and operators 
of two hundred and forty acres of farm lands in 
Essex Township. The reader is referred to the 
liiography of his brother, J. D. Henderson, for an 
account of their ancestry. He of whom we write 
is the sixth child in the parental family' and was 
born in Leith, Scotland, August 28, 1848. The 
first nine years of his existence were spent in his 
native land and he then accorai)anicd his parents to 
the New World, reaching Detroit Jul^' 26, 1857. 
Thence he came to St. John's, Clinton County, and 
here he attended school, being one of the pupils in 
the Union scliool during the first year that the old 
building was occupied. He then began working in 
a sawmill, first as a fireman, but soon as an engineer. 
He combined the two parts of the work while in the 
employ of S. J. Wright, for whom he worked 
nearly all tiie time until 1869. For one year he was 
fireman and engineer for a Mr. Lyons. 

In 1869 the present firm was organized and the 
manufacture of lumber has been carried on con- 
tinuously. In June, 1875, the brothers began the 
building of the flouring mill they now operate, 
completing it in November, and making the first 
run on the 12th of that month. They have an 
excellent location and a substantial building, three 
stories high with a basement. In 1885 the full 
George T. Smith roller jjrocess was put in and the 
present capacity of one luindred barrels per day is 
none too great to supply the demand. The Hen- 
dersons turned out a special family brand of flour 
and besides the manufacture of this staple grind 
feed in large quantities. 

Mr. Henderson was married in this city in 1870 
to Miss Mary A. Wells, daughter of Benjamin and 



Eliza (Munger) Wells. Her parents were born in 
Steuben County, N. Y., and her father was engaged 
in farming there until they came to Shiawassee 
County, Mich. He located in Venice Township, 
where he improved and operated a farm. He died 
there in 1802, aged fifty-two years. He was a 
prominent citizen and official in liis township. 
After his decease his widow made her home with 
her children, and after the marriage of her daugh- 
Mary, resided with her until near the close of her 
life. She was on a visit to another daughter in 
Shiawassee Count}' when she died January 22, 
1885. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wells belonged to the 
Free Will Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Henderson was born in Venice Township, 
Shiawassee Count} , received a good education and 
was carefully instructed in womanly acquirements 
and fine principles. Siie is the mother of seven 
children; three are deceased, Mary L., Freddie W., 
Effle B. ; Louie M., Ina M., Hallie G. and Robert 
G. Mr. Henderson is a strong Republican and an 
earnest and active member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, in which he is Trustee. He is a 
Knight Templar, enrolled in the Commandery in 
St. John's. He has an excellent standing in l)usi- 
ness circles and is a worthy coadjutor of the brother 
with whom he is associated in business. 




DDISON HULSE. This ex-Supervisor of 
Greenbush Township, Clinton County, re- 
siding on section 11, is a native of New 
<^ York, as he was born in Tompkins County, 

December 29, 1826. He is a son of Anthony and 
Saraii Hulse and was early bereaved of his parents 
losing his fatlier wlien scarcely five years old and 
being deprived of a mother's care at the age of six 
years. He then remove<l to Huron County. Ohio, 
and after a few years made his home in Knox 
County, the same State. 

Most of the boyhood days of our subject were 
passed in Ohio, and there he grew to manhood up- 
on a farm. His marriage with Maimla A. Carter, 
a native of A'irginia, brought to him five children, 
four of whom are still living, namely: Sarah E., 



PORTRAir AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



981 



wife of Dr. S. M. Posl; Charles A., Min.anl A., and 
Phoebe A., wife of W. W. Ilodgc. Tiie son who 
Las passed over the dark river was nanieil Wil- 
liam H. 

In 1849 Mr. Ihilse mie^ratcd from Ohio to Clin- 
ton County, INIieh., and made his home in (ireen- 
biisli Township, on the farm where he now resides. 
He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of as 
good land as is to be found in the county and iias 
it all under excellent cultivation, lie is a self- 
made man in the truest sense of tlie word, as his 
early orphanage threw him upon his own resource^i. 
lie has served as Township Treasurer for several 
j'ears, and in his political views endorses the dec- 
laration of the Repul)lican part}'. He is one of the 
successful and representative pioneers of Green- 
bush Township, and deserves and receives the uni- 
versal esteem of all with whom he comes in con- 
tact. 






^i^^ ON. AMOS GOULD. The life work of 
1) few men illustrates more graphically a 
series of struggles and triumphs than does 
that of Judge Amos Gould, of Owosso. An 
honored and successful counselor, a faithful and 
industrious practitioner, he has ever maintained 
that reputation for fidelity to duty which is the 
general characteristic of the American lawyer. His 
acquirements were not attained as light and i<Ile 
passtimes. Each advance step was taken after due 
deliberation, and was then laboriously maintained. 
Years added to his strength, and untiring industry 
greatly increased his stock of knowledge, until in 
the full and complete man we scarcely discern the 
feeble beginning. 

The knowledge of Mr. Gould's ancestry begins 
with his gran<lfather, Capt. Kbenezer Gould, of 
Killingly, Windhara County, Conn. He was a 
young married man of good repute, by occupation 
a farmer, who attained the rank of captain of the 
militia during the Revolutionary War, and later 
removed to Granville, Washington County, N. Y. 
He purchased a large farm which he improved an<) 
lived upon until bis death, which occurred about 



1H08. Mrs. Gould, his wife, w.as a Miss Robbins, 
of Connecticut, and became the mother of eighteen 
children, who were at one time all residing under 
the parental roof. The father of Amos Gould, 
after his marriage, about the year 1805, to Miss 
Polly Simmons, removed from Granville to the old 
town of Aurelius, soutii of Auburn, N. Y., where 
their son Amos was born, Dec. 3, 1808. The father 
there purchased a farm and began the work of 
clearing, to which he devoted himself with vigor 
until called again to the early home to particiiiate 
in the settlement of the estate of his parents. In 
1813 he returned to his purchase in Cayuga County, 
N. Y. 

Amos has a vivid recollection of tlK>se early 
days, and recalls distincily the War of 1812. On 
their return from the East, troops vpere seen en- 
camped along the Mohawk River. Farther west, 
in Onondaga Count}', the camp-tires were burning 
and a regiment of cavalry overtook the emigrants 
on the route to their home, and having divided 
rode swiftly p.ast and disappeared in the distance. 
The son remained on the farm with his father 
assisting in the labors of the husbandman, a .d de- 
voting the winter to such study as was afforded by 
the public school of the neighborhood. 

From the age of ten years Amos developed a 
fondness for reading, and c-'.gerly availed himself 
of such material as was afforded by the ladies' 
library established in the vicinity. One or two 
))rivate collections were also accessible to him. 
In 1824 an opportunity occurred of enjoying the 
superior advantages of a school in Auburn, where 
the languages were taught, and where he added 
greatly to the limited knowledge of Latin he had 
previously acquired. This continued with inter- 
ruptions for two years, after which the academy 
at Aurora, Cayuga County, opened its doors to 
him, and in 1827 he entered the sophomore class 
at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y. 

Mr. Gould pursued his studies until an unfor- 
tunate circumstance caused the temporary suspen- 
sion of that institution, when, lacking means to 
enter another seat of learning, he engaged in teach- 
ing in Auburn, N. Y. He also entered at this time 
the office of William II. Seward as a student of the 
law. Later he became associated with Theodore 



982 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALIUTIM. 



Spencer, son of Chief Justice S|)ei;cer, of New York, 
and received as clerk, a compensation wliich mate- 
rially aided him in his early struggles. His ad- 
mission to the bar of the Supreme Court and 
Court of Ciiancery of New York occurred in the 
fall of 1832. He soon after opened an office, and 
at once found himself in rivalry with the leading 
talent of Western New York, including Judge F. 
J. Jewett, of Skaneatcles, James R. Lawrence, 
Judge B. D. Noxon, of Syracuse, and other noted 
lawyers. He ultimately formed a co-partnership 
with George Rathbun and continued it several 
j'cars, the firm having enjoyed an extensive prac- 
tice throughout the State. 

The partnership was dissolved in 1840, and Mr. 
Gould, having become involved and rendered lia- 
ble for debts of his brother and brother-in-law, 
who were merchants in Owosso, Mich., and unsuc- 
cessful in business, concluded to go to that place, 
and if possible, close up the matter liy the pay- 
ment of the debts. He vvas also intluciicod by a 
desire to enjoy a change of climale, and thereby 
regain his health, which was much impaired by 
close application to professional duties. He there- 
fore made Owosso his residence in 1843. Two 
years later he resun)ed the practice of his profes- 
sion in Shiawassee and adjoining counties, and en- 
gaged actively in its duties until 18C5, when he 
surrendered its cares and profits to his brother and 
former partner. Col. E. Gould, for whom he had 
retained the business during his service in the 
army. 

While in practice in New York, Mr. Gould was 
appointed Master in Chancery, by his friend Wil- 
liam 11. Sewnrd, then Governor of tue State, and 
later was made by Chancellor Walworth, Injunction 
Master for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, the court 
having been held at Auburn, N. Y. These offices 
he held till his removal to Michigan. In the fall 
of 1844 he was elected Probate Judge for Shiawassee 
County, and in the year 18.52, to the Senate of the 
State of Michigan. He was also Prosecuting At- 
torney of the county, and w.as Su|)cr visor for toe 
Township of Owosso from 1844 to 1850. Mr. 
Gould has, since the Rebellion, affiliated with the 
Republican party, but has ever made principle a 
stronger motive than party in the casting of his 



ballot. He has even been induced to change 
his relations with one great party when its plat- 
form and measures did not accord with liis views 
of riglit. The State election of 1855 found him a 
candidate of the Democratic party for the office of 
Attorney General, but when circumstances arising 
from the late war witnessed the withdrawal of 
many of the strongest supporters of the party, Mr. 
Gould was among them. He organized, in 1865, 
the First National Bank of Owosso, and was from 
that time its president, owning a majority of the 
stock. He was also engaged in the supciintend- 
cnce of his large farm of twelve hundred acres, and 
the management of extensive land and lumber 
speculations, which, at the advanced age of seventy- 
two years, made hiui still an active man, and one 
immersed in business enterprise. He was an earn- 
est member of the First Congregational Church 
of Owosso, and was one of its early founders. Mr. 
Gould's spacious residence was filled with the 
genial members of a lia|)pj' family circle. His wife 
to whom he was united in 1841, was Miss Louisa 
Peek, of New York State. They are the well-be- 
loved parents of five grown so'is and daughters, 
whose delight it is to comfort their declining years. 




OL. E. GOULD, deceased, was born in Flem- 
ing, Cayuga County, N. Y., Ai)ril 10. 1SI7. 
He remained at home and worked with his 
father on the farm until 1830, receiving in the 
meantime such an education as the common schools 
of his native town afforded. He then left the farm 
and entered a store owned and mantiged by his 
brother Daniel, in Scipio, Cayuga County'. In the 
fall the stock was jiurt'liased liy his brother, Amos 
and Ebenezer continued in charge of the store un- 
til the spring of 1837, when he removed to Auluirn, 
Oakland County, Mich., bringing the sUjck of 
goods with him and opening a store in ihat place. 
He continued in !)usiness there until Se|)temher of 
the same _year, vvhen he brought the stock of goods 
to this place, arriving in Owosso just forty ^ears 
prior to the d.a}' of his death, it lias been ascer- 
tained from books and papers he iiad preserved. 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHJCAL ALBUM. 



983 



The store first occupied by liim in this i)lace was a 
siu:ill building slan<ling near where Mr. StrubL-r's 
I)oot and shoe store now is, at the corner of Ball 
and Exchange Streets. The building is now part of a 
dwelling house on Williams Street, east of L. D. 
Wj-ncoop's. 

In the fall of 1838 Ebenezor Gould formed a eo- 
partnershi|) with David Fish, the firm taking the 
name of Gould, Fish & Co., and during the same 
fall Amos Gould built a store for thein on the cor- 
ner of Exchange and Washington Streets, the same 
store being now occupied b^- Flinch it McBain. 
There the firm continued in business until the 
spring of 18-13, when Mr. Fish retired and the Col- 
onel continued !he business until the following 
spring. 184J, when he sold out and retired froQi 
the mercantile business. 

In the fall of 1840 the firm of Gould, Fish & Co. 
rented the old red grist-mill and the mill was run 
by the firm until the fall of 1843, when it 
was purchased by Amos Gould. The old red mill, 
subsequently desuoyed by fire, stood near where 
Dewey (ir Stewart's mill now is. Col. Gould was now 
employed until 1847 in settling up his old business, 
marrying in that interval, on Deceiiiber 2, 1845, 
Irene Beach, of Shiawassee, daughter of Lucius 
Beach. In the spring of 1847 he removed from 
Owosso to a farm in the town of Antrim, near Mr. 
M. B. Martin's, which is still in the family posses- 
son, and he cultivated and improved that farm, oc- 
cui)ying his leisure hours in the study of law, until 
in the early part of 1850, when he came back to 
Owosso and went systematically into the slud^- of 
law in the oflice of his brother, Amos Gould. He 
was admitted to practice at the bar in the fall of 
1853, was taken into partnership by his brother 
and did business for some j'ears under the name of 
A. ik E. Gould. In the summer of 1860 Benton 
Ilanchctt was taken into the firm and this partner- 
ship continued until .(anuary, 1804. 

In -luly, 1802, wlicn the Eighth Michigan Cav- 
alry was being organized by Col. Copeland, under 
authority from the War Department, the positif>n 
of First Major was offered to Ebenezer Gould and 
he at onoe accepted. He joined the regiment and 
was mustered into service with it the latter part of 
August, but the regiment did not leave the State 



until the 4th of December following, then being 
onl}' partly armed. It was then ordered to Wash- 
ington, where they remained about a month. In 
January, 1863. the regiment was doing (licket duty 
at Fairfax and in that vicinity, in Virginia. Li 
February' they were emplo3'ed on tiie Windham 
raid to the Blue Ridge, north of Fredericksburg, 
under command of Lieut. Col. Norvell. Col, 
Copeland being elsewhere employed, was never 
with the regiment after they entered Virginia. The 
raid proved rather disastrous and unprofitable, hav- 
ing only some trifling fights with guerrillas and 
though they went in one thousand strong they 
came out with but about three liun<1red; a large 
share of the missing subsequently straggled back 
to camp. About the 1st of March the regiment 
had a fight with Mosby, in Luray Valley at Aldie. 
At about this time Col. Norvell resigned and 
though many otlicers and men of the regiment de- 
sired and believed of right that Col. Gould should 
have had the vacant position yet the command was 
given to Col. Alger. Col. (iould had been previ- 
ousl}' promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel. The 
regiment was now formally attached to Gen. 
Hooker's Army of the Potomac, Gen. Kilpatrick's 
Division, Gen. Custer's brigade. Soon after, the 
regiment for the fir.st time met regular Confederate 
soldiers anil had a light at Plum th'eek, near Han- 
over. On this occasion as on all subsequent a ITa Irs 
of the kind Col. CJould had cliaige of the most im- 
portant movements of the regiment. At I'liim 
Creek he had command of the picket line and he 
did his part so well that ever after he had the i)er- 
fect confidence of (ien. Custer. 

Now came Lee's attempt on Pennsylvania and 
Geu. Kilpatrick's cavalry was sent thither to cut 
off this attempt to reach New York anil on this ex- 
pedition the^' ran, just at night, unexpectedly into 
a rebel column of overwhelming numbers, where 
they had to fight nearly all night to extricate them- 
selves, which they did without serious loss. This 
occurred on the last of .June. 'I'he cavalry hiid 
previously been into (iettysburg and held it two 
(lays. Then came the battle of (iettysburg, the de- 
feat of the rebel army and the subsequent opera- 
tions of the cavalry in pursuing and harassing 
Lee's retreating army. On the night of the Itli of 



984 



PUUTKAIT AiSU BlOGRAl'HICAL ALBUM. 



July the cavalry fought nearly all night under 

Kilpatrick, near Emmetsbuvg, and captured 2,700 
rebels with seven uiiles of wai^on train. On the 
5tii, the cavalry encountered the head of the rebel 
army and fought till 10 o'clock at night, when they 
wereagain nearly surrounded and Kil|)atrick's dash 
served to extricate thein. On the 6th, they had 
another fight at Funkstown, in Maryland, and Col. 
Alger was wounded in the thigh by a pistol shot 
and the sole command of the regiment devolved 
upon Col. Gould. Then followed a flght at Wil- 
liamstown on the Potomac and then the battle of 
Hagerstown, in which, while cliarging at the head of 
his regiment, Col. Gould was wounded by a bullet, 
that went through his leg just above his ankle, and 
so disabled him that he hr.d to be carried off the field. 
He was carried off by fS. J. Lockw^od. who, fiom 
the time the Colonel went into active service, was 
always near him, and we are indebted to Mr. Lock- 
wood for this sketch of the Colonel's military ca- 
reer. 

Col. Gould came home as soon as he was able to 
after he was wounded and he did not rejoin his 
regiment again until they were in winter quarters 
at Culpeper. He had not then recovered from the 
effects of his wound sufficiently to be really Ut for 
service, but he was better suited to be with his reg- 
iment than to be absent from duty, though an in- 
valid. In May, 1864, he was with his regiment 
during the battle of the Wilderness and actively in 
command, when, after crossing the Rapidan, the 
cavalry was ordered to raid in the rear of the en- 
emy. But little was accomplished \>y the raid, and 
after coming from that ride. Col. Gould's disability 
on account of his wound, to which had been added 
the camp diarrhoja, had increased so that fur his 
relief he was detached to take charge of dismounted 
men to the number of about si.x thousand, proceed 
to City Point and organize them. They went to 
City Point,having in charge more than seventy miles 
of wagon train and had to fight guerrillas nearly 
all the way. He got little relief from his maladies 
under such circumstances; nevertheless, when his 
men were recruited he was ordered to move up the 
north bank of the James, with the e.xpectalion of 
going into Richmond. Kighting as far as thej- 
went with rebel infantry, the movement was finally 



abandoned and soon after, on the 10th of Novem- 
ber, Col. Gould having about the same time been 
promoted to the rank of Colonel, was honorably 
discharged on account of disability. He never 
fully recovered from the effects of the wound near 
his ankle, the sore for a long time taking on an ul- 
cerous character, in consequence of detached bones, 
large slivers of which came from it j'ears after, and 
when it did finally heal, he was ever after quite 
lame. His camp malady, too, lingered with him, 
with various Intervals of relief, until the last. 

After the close of the war, in 1865, as soon as he 
was able to attend to business, Col. Gould resumed 
his practice as a lawyer and during the last ten or 
twelve years he was ranked with the best in the 
profession in this part of the .State. From 1867 
until about a year before his demise, he had Mr. G. 
R. Lyon as a partner, and on account of his health 
he was obliged to gradually withdraw from the fa- 
tiguing labor of the profession and limit his duties 
to giving advice and counsel. 



^^ 



\f^.YER PHELPS. The owner of a fine farm 
on section 20, of Shiawassee Township, Shia- 
wassee County, our subject is a native of 
New York State, being born in Chenango County 
October 9, 1811. Thus he is now (1891) an octo- 
genarian. His son, who dictates the outlines of 
this sketch, takes pleasure in chronicling his 
father's efforts and successes through life. The 
father of Dyer Phelps was James Pheli)s, a native 
of England. His mother, Elizabeth (Fuller) Phelps, 
was from M.assachusetts. His paternal progenitor 
came over to America with his brother and served 
in the Revolutionary War as Captain. He died 
after being an inhabitant for many years of Mas- 
sachusetts, at the age of ninety five years. Our 
subje(;t came with his brother Silas to Michigan 
in 1833, and located on section 20, Shiawassee 
Township. Silas Phelps remained here until about 
one year before his death, which occurred about 
the year 1845, at the age of sixty-six years. Two 
brothers. Mason and Milton, of whom Milton only 
is now living, settled in Sciota. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



985 



Our subject came to Micliigan as one of the 
f>arly settlers in 1837, and secured bis present 
farm, which he purciiased from Dr. ftliddlet, at 
which time he bouglit eighty acres. He was mar- 
ried in Erie Countj', Pa., when twenty years of 
age, to Aimira Soddaj' and drove hither witii two 
^ oke of oxen and one horse. Thej^ were seven 
days in coming, being delayed greatly in their pro- 
gress by the swampy condition of the land. They 
were twenty-eight days altogether on llie road, 
but fortunately were with two other parlies. Our 
subject has ever since lived on the i)resent farm. 

Losing his wife in 1854, a few months later he 
was united with Betsey M. Bunch, widow of Tru- 
man Bunch. She also died aliout 1874. He was 
a thiril time married, November .5, 187G, to Mis. 
Sarah Hearnden, widow of Robert Uearnden, who 
was a native of England, She was an English- 
woman by birth and paientage and came to the 
I'nited States in 1849, and went to Shiawassee 
County in the year 1866. B3' his Hrst marriage our 
subject is the father of two children — Eliza .lane 
and William IIenr_y. Mr. Phelps has never been 
a politician, having attended wholly to the devel- 
opment and improvement of his property. He 
now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land 
in first-class condition. Our subject has two sis- 
ters living in Califoinia, and in 1854 he si)eiit a 
delightful winter with them, and again in 1882, 
with his present wife, he visited them. For the 
past eight jears Mr. Phelps has been a gre.it suf- 
ferer from rheumatism. 



•^^ 



E^- 



y^ ON. II. M. PERRIN. This prominent cit- 
Ijl izen of St. John's, Clinton County, whose 
services to the county as Judge of the 
Probate Court have been of great value to 
the community, his been a resident of this city for 
many years. The firm of Perrin & Baldwin of 
which he is the senior member consists of H. M. 
and P. K. Perrin and A. J. Baldwin, and is doing 
an extensive business in both law and real estate. 

He of whom we write is a native of ilic Green 
Mountain State and was born in Washington 



County, June 23, 1829. His father. Porter Perrin, 
was born in the same county and w.as engaged in 
farming at Berlin, and his grandfather, Z. Perrin, 
who was one of the early settlers of that county 
and of French lineage, served in the Revolutionary 
War. 

Lucy Kinney was the maiden name of her who 
became the mother of our subject. Her birth was 
in Vermont, but her father, David Kinney, was a 
Connecticut man who became a pioneer in Berlin 
Township, Washington County, Vt. The mother 
died in her native State, leaving many to mourn 
her loss, as her amiable qualities and her character 
as a devoted and lovable Ciiristian woman had en- 
deared her to all with whom she came in contact. 
She was a member of the Congregational Church. 
Among her eleven children our subject was the 
sixth in order of age, and to him were given the 
best advantages for a liberal education. 

After completing his elementary education 
young Perrin studied at Theltford Academy, and at 
the age of twenty-one entered Dartmouth College, 
matriculating as a sophomore and graduating when 
twenty-four years old, completing a classical course. 
He took his law course at Albany at the University 
of Albany and was admitted to the bar in 1854. 
He then came West stopping with an uncle for one 
j'ear at Terre Haute, Ind., and made his way to 
Detroit in 1855, He remained there for two 3'ears 
and in 1857 established himself in St, John's and 
began the practice of law and he is thus fairly- en- 
titled to be ranked as the oldest attorney in this 
city. He h.as devoted himself largely also to real 
estate and mortgages and has platted several ad- 
ditions to the city. He also owns a farm in this 
township, besides considerable city property. 

The marriage of this gentleman in 18G2 brought 
to his home a briile in the jjerson of Miss Mary 
Ackley, who was born in Novi, Mich,, and is a 
daughter of Samuel Ackley, a pioneer in Michigan, 
To the Judge and his amiable and talented wife 
has been granted one child only, their daughter, 
Lu<'}', who is now Mrs. Palmer of this city. In 
1865 this Senatorial district honored itself by 
sending this capable and broad minded statesman 
to the Michigan State Senate, and he is thus the 
oldest Senator as well !is Judge in this region for it 



98G 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



was between tlie years 1861 aprl 1865 tliat he sat 
upon the bcncb of the Probate Court. The Con- 
gregational Church is llie religious body with 
wliich he lias connected himself and his counsel is 
ever sought in church matters and his judgmetit 
greatly relied upon. During the days of the war 
he was for some time the Supervisor of the lown- 
shi|) and he has also served one term as President 
of the village. His political views are founded upon 
Republican priuL'iplcs, but he is a man who relies 
ui)on his own judgment in the matter of casting 
his ballot and prefers lo be independent in that 
matter when it seems to him that the cause of the 
country would be better served therebj'. 



_:^=@_ 
"i^^- 



^1^ ^ 




LARK P. TABER. The gentleman who 
owns and resides on the farm located on 
section 26, Fairfield Township, Shiawassee 
County, was born in Alexander, Genesee County, 
N. Y., April 11, 1838. He is the son of Clark and 
Rebecca (Peck) Tabcr, natives of Providence, 
Saratoga County, N. V. The father was born 
June 12, 18O0. Our subject's mothev died when 
he was thirteen years of age. His boyhood days 
were spent on a farm and he received but a limited 
etiucalior. as his pari'nts were in straightened cir- 
cumstances and at the age of sixteen he was obliged 
to begin life for himself. 

The gentleman of whom vve write came to Mich- 
igan when he was nineteen years of age. The first 
place where he stopped was in Kalamazoo Counlj', 
where he worked on a farm until 1861. At that 
time calls were made for volunteers in the Federal 
Army ami our subject at once resjjonded, enlisting 
in the Company I, Second INlichigan Calvary'. The 
enlistment took place September 1.5, 18G1, and be- 
tween the ^earsof 1802 an<l 1864 our subject w.asa 
participant in ninety-eight engagements, some of 
which were perhaps the most desperate and bloody 
battles that the wt)rld has ever known. In many of 
the engagements the loss of men was frightful and 
the bloodshed on both sides was something to daunt 
the heart of tiie bravest man. IMr. Taber had two 
horses shot from under him. One was struck with 



a minie ball and one with a cannon ball. He re- 
enlisted on the 4th of March. 1864, in the same 
company and regiment with which he was at first. 
He was a participant in the battle of Chickamauga 
and after doing houoraole service was discharged 
September 1, 1865. 

On leaving the army our subject returned to 
Kalamazoo County, this Slate, where he worked for 
one season and then went to New York. There he 
staid two seasons, when he returned to Michigan, 
bringing with him his aged father who w.as depen- 
dent upon him for a living. This was in 186 7. In 
the spring of 1868 he purch.ased his present farm 
and in 1870 he assumed the responsibilities of mar- 
ried life, making Miss Ellen Lincoln his wife. Their 
marriage took place Febru.ary 28. 

For many years Mr. Taber voted with the 
Republican party, but of late tie Prohibition 
party is the one of his preference. Having lost 
his wife in 1881, Mr. Taber again married, Nov- 
ember 27, 1883, his bride's maiden name being 
Florence E. Smith, a daughter of Jones and Lois 
(Peck) Smith. By bis first marriage he is the father 
of two sons — Ray, born Aiiril 4, 1872, and Roy, 
February 24, 1877. His i)resent wife has presented 
him with a son — Ralph P., born August 19, 1885. 

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Taber. John 
Smith, was born in 1795 and came to Batavia N.Y. 
from Connecticut at a verj' early da}-. He was 
twice married and by his first wife had three child- 
ren: Simeon, Charles and Jerome. Simeon, who 
married Catherine Paine, removed with his family 
lo Michigan. Charles died at his father's home in 
the town of Batavia and was buried in East Pem- 
broke. Jerome, who married Maria Stamons and 
had four cbihlren: John, Sarah, Alice and Rose, 
died in the town of Alexander and was buried 
in East Pembroke. After the death of his wife, 
John Smith was again married, choosing as his bi"ide 
Sally Jones, and three children were born to them: 
Jones, Harriet and Sally. John .Smith died in Bat- 
avia in 1840 at the ago of fifty-six years. His wife 
died in August, 1865, when sixty-six j-ears old. 
Both were buried in Hast Pembroke. N. Y. 

Jones Smitli, the father of Mrs. Taber, was uni- 
ted in marriage with Lois Peck, of Alexander, M.ay 
24, 1855, and twoi-hildren came lo bless their home; 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



987 



Florence and Lettie. Florence, now Mrs. Taber, 
was born Julj' 14, 1856, and was married in 1883; 
Leltie was married on January 17, 1883, an(l lliree 
children have been given to her and her husband: 
Bertha. James and George. On August 19, 1880, 
Jones Smiti) fell from a ladder and suslaineil fatrd 
injuries from whicii he died the following da}'. He 
had attained the age of three-score and two years 
and his mortal remains were laid away in Alex- 
ander; thus enilcd a life of honor and usefulness- 
His sister, Sally, died at the age of twelve, while 
the remaining sister, Harriet, was married to Smith 
Day in 1872, and they removed to Durand, Mich., 
where she died of consumption in 1879. 

On the maternal side, Mrs. Taber is descended 
from Elipluilel Peck, a valiant soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary War. He was born in Connecticut, and 
in the early history of York State settled in Saratoga 
Count)', removing to Alexander in 1824 and set- 
tling on tlie well known Peck farm, where he died 
Ht the age of eighty-four years. By his wife Abi- 
gail he had the following children: Nathaniel, Eli- 
phalet, Samuel, Benjamin, Asa, Abigail, Rebecca, 
Ruth and Eli. The latter, a native of Saratoga 
County, came to Alexander in 1824, and located on 
his father's farm. He married Nancy, a daughter of 
John and Mary Smith, and their children were; 
Walter, Asa. Polly, Pr'scilla, Adelia, and Lois; 
the latter becoming in time the wife of Jones Smith 
and the mother of Mrs. Taber. 

\f7UDGEJ. H. CRANSON. This highly re- 
spected and representative citizen of St- 
John's, has long been known as an official in 
this county, and is now the oldest Judge of 
Probate in Alichigan. having sat on the bench since 
Januar)', 1873. His father, John Cranson, a nat- 
ive of Massachusetts, w.as in early life a carpenter 
and cabinet maker, but finally drifted into buying 
land and located upon a farm in Orleans County, 
N. Y. In 1832 he came to Detroit and later 
bought a farm in Penfield Township, Calhoun 
Count}-, but before his death removed to Battle 
Creek Township, that county, wher^ he had a fine 



farm of three hundred and twenty acres. His 
faithul and devoted wife, who was a native of 
Massachusetts and bore the maiden name of Clar- 
issa Bannister, died in Penfield Township. 

Judge Cranson had his nativity in Orleans Coun- 
ty, N. Y., April 16, 1832, and was reared in Cal- 
houn County from the time he was nine years old. 
His boyhood was passed iH)on the farm and at the 
age of nineteen he attended the Wesleyan Semin- 
ary at Albion, for a year and a half. After his 
father's death the young man went to the Lake 
Superior regions with an exploring party, and 
somewhat later engaged in the work of contracting 
and building, and put up a great many block 
houses. 

Returning to Battle Creek, young Cranson en- 
gaged alternately in work and stud}- until pre- 
pared for admission to the bar which was granted 
him in Kalamazoo in September, 1857. The fol- 
lowing sining he located in St. Jcjhn's r.nd began 
practice as an attorney, serving also as Justice of 
the Peace. In 1863 he enlisted in Company I, 
Twenty-third Michigan Infantry' and took part in 
the Georgia Campaign. He was mustered out of 
this service in June, 1865, and w.as transferred to 
the Twent^'-eighth Michigan Regiment with the 
rank of .Second Lieutenant. He was then stationed 
in North Carolina till June, 1866, when he re- 
ceived his honorable discharge. 

LTpon his return to St. John's.Mr. Cranson formed 
a partnership with (ien. O. .S. S[)auldiug, which 
existed a number of years. In 1872 he received 
his election as Judge of the Probate Court and is 
now serving his fifth term in that honorable of- 
fice. He was happily married in 1869 to Miss 
Elizabeth Swcgles, a native of Hillsdale County, 
this State, and daughter of John J. .Swcgles, a nat- 
ive of New York, who became a i)ioneer in Hills- 
dale County, and was the Auditor-General of 
Michigan from 1852 to 1853, after whicli he came 
to St. John's and was the founder of this city, 
platting and naming it. He built the mills here 
and also the first store and hotel and died in 1861. 

Mrs. Cranson received her higher education at 
Hillsdale College and after leaving school pursued 
f(jr some time the |)rofession of a teacher. To her 
has been born one son, Robert E., and to him his 



988 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



parents have given a liberal education. He at- 
tended tiie Orciiard Lake School for liiree years 
and is now pursuing iiis studies at the IScliool of 
Mines expectinor to graduate in 1892. Tlie Judge 
is a man of liberal views and broad judgment and 
finds his political home in the Democratic party. 
He has been for many years an official member of 
the Episcopal Church and is identified with the 
Knights Templar of St. Jolin's. His popularity 
with the people is great and the satisfaction which 
is generally felt throughout the county with his 
work as a Judge, is a true indication of his value 
in tills office. 




ON. JOHN WET.MORE DEWEY. Happy 
is the man who has lived a long life char- 
acterized by uprightness of purpose, integ- 
v^ rit3' of principle, and whose high mental 
and moral standing is gratefully recognized by his 
fellow-men. Such a man is Hon. John W. Dewey, 
who lives on section 32, Owosso Township, Shia- 
wassee County. He was born in Erie County. N. 
Y., near Buffalo, June 3, 1818, and is the eldest of 
four children, the otheis being: Thomas D., of 
Ofvosso; Mar}' Esther, now Mrs. Trauger, of Niles; 
and Nancy B., wife of C. D. Nichols, residing at 
Berrien Springs. The parents of the gentleman of 
whom we write, ApoUos and Abigail (Wetmore) 
Dewcj', removed soon after his birth to Monroe 
Couiity, N. Y., where they lived until 1822. They 
came thence to Michigan by way of the lakes, ex- 
pecting to take the first steamboat that sailed on 
the lake. Quite a little colony started out from 
New York together, it consisting of eleven persons, 
Lemuel Castle and wife, Abner Davis and wife, 
Mr. and Mrs. Niles, and Asa Castle, wife and daugh- 
ter, with Ezekiel Cook. The party came to Oak- 
land County, this State. 

The parents of our subject were among the first 
families to settle in Owosso. The nearest neigh- 
bors were Clement S. Johnson, Lemuel Castle, Reu- 
ben Griggs, A. B. Cliii)nian. Daniel Ball and B. O. 
"Williams, ftluch must be left to the imagination 



as to the early years of a young man in such a 
sparsely settled country. The days were taken up 
with hard work, such as hewing timber, building 
rail fences, clearing stumps from the land and car- 
ing for the stock, while the evenings were spent in 
such diversions as singing school, spelling matches, 
sleigh-riding in home-made vehicles, whose wolf 
skin rugs the driver was proud of having made 
with his own hands. 

Mr. Dewey went back to New York to find his 
wife, to whom he was married in 1844. She was 
Miss Fidelia S. Mather, and tliei: wedding was sol- 
emnized on May 30, in Ontario, N. Y. The young 
l^eople began life together on the farm where he 
still resides on section 29 and 32, Owosso Town- 
ship, his father having given him two lots, and he 
purchasing more until he aggregated two hundred 
and forty acres, having given ^4 per acre for his 
land, and paying for it by raising wheat which he 
sold at thirty cents a bushel. His wife died June 
27, 1845; she bad one child who died before the 
mother passed away. On November 18, 1847, Mr. 
Dewey married Mrs. Nancy Frink, a widow, whose 
maiden name was Curtis. She was born in Madi- 
son County, N. Y., October 12, 1818, and emi- 
grated to this State in 1836, settling in Livingston 
County. 

If o children have blessed the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Dewey, but they have adopted four children 
whom they reared with as great love and as con- 
scientiously as though they had been their own. 
The eldest of these children. Burr L. Curtis, was 
nephew of Mrs. Dewey, and lived at home until he 
was of age. He is now married and resides in Ben- 
nington Township; Ellen Rouse, an orphan, re- 
mained with them until she was twenty-four j-ears 
old, when she married Charles J. Wimple, in 
March, 1881; George P. Jenkins, who makes his 
home in Pontiac, and Ida Norris, who mai-ried Dr. 
A. M. Hume, lives in the city of Owosso. These 
children owed to the tender care of Mr. Dewey and 
his estimable wife real parental affection. 

At present Mr. Dewey h.as two hundred and forty 
acres of land which is under a high state of culti- 
vation. He has not farmed for himself for fifteen 
years, having rented his land to capable tenants, 
and now enjoying the sunset of his life in seeing 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



989 



the perfected frnit of his labors. He has a fine home 
six miles southwest of Owosso, immediately adjoin- 
ing the old homestead. The fertile fields are dotted 
with fine stock that has been brought hither at much 
cxi)ense, and selected with great care from the best 
breeds in the countrj'. 

In 1880 our subject was elected to the Legisla- 
ture where he served for two sessions. The honor 
was conferred upon him of appointment to the 
Cliair of Commissioner of Drainage. In his pub- 
lic work he always stood stanchly by the constitu- 
tion of the State on all points. He was strongly in 
favor of railroad grants for the development of 
the northern part of the State. lie is not a Pro- 
hibitionist, although he voted to sul)mit the ques- 
tion to the people. He helped organize a society, 
taking an active part in all matters that benefited 
the county. He was paramountly active in school 
matters, acting as Director for twentj'-five years, 
and was a firm fiieud of all progressive educa- 
tional effort. 

Mr. Dewey is not a recognized member of any 
cliurch, but has decided leanings toward the Metho- 
dist denomination of which he is a liberal supporter. 
He is a Rei)ulilican in politics, and bo.asts of hav- 
ing voted for William Henr}' Harrison in 1840. and 
for his grandson during the last cam|)aign. He is 
a strong citizen, of whom the community at large 
is justly proud. 



ELI MARTIN. One of the most beautiful 
homes in Shiawassee County is th.it of Mr. 
Eli Martin. It is situated on the banks of 
the Shiawassee River and its location is enough to 
make anyone, however restless, charmed with the 
beauties of nature. It is located on section 3G, 
Cale<lonian Township, Shiawassee County. Its 
owner first saw llie light of da}- May 9, 1835, in St. 
Lawrence County, N. Y. 

Our subject's father was Samuel S. Martin, a na- 
tive of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he was 
born March 4, 1801. During the greater part of 
his life he pursued the calling of a farmer and lum- 
berman. Ilis wife was Maria (Lytic) Martin, a 



native of the same county in which he was born 
October 10, 1806. They were married in New 
York where they resided untd 1850, and then 
eame to Micliigan. They settled on section 18, 
Venice Township, this county, upon a perfectly 
new farm. The^- began building a home here by 
erecting a log house in the midst of the woods, be- 
ing one of tlie first families of settlers in tlie town- 
ship. Samuel Martin improved a large farm. He 
was a large landowner and a man who made his 
presence and influence felt in every community- 
wherever he happened to be. His death took place 
January 17, 1871. His wife followed him a few 
months later — June 6, 1871. 

The old couple were the parents of nine children, 
seven of whom are now living. The cliildren have 
been brouglit up under the influence of the Meth- 
odist Church of which their parents were members 
in Veinou, ever having contributed largely to the 
support of the church and attending to many de- 
tails that would otherwise have been overlooked. 
For years they furnished the communion service. 
He took an active part in political matters, in tiie 
early part of his life being a Whig and later a Re- 
publican. Under his party he was elected to tev- 
eral offices in the township. He was Justice of 
the Peace and Highway Commissioner for a term 
of seven years. 

Our subject received most of his educ.".tional ad- 
vantages in Venice Township, here attending the 
district school. He remained at home until 
twent^'-two 3'ears of age and was soon afterward 
united in marriage, March 25, 1857, to Sarah 
Yerkes. a daughter of Titus an<l Helen (Lurcher) 
Yerkcs, the former of whom was a native of Penn- 
S3lvania, the latter of New York. Their marriage 
took place in Wayne County and soon after, in 
1831, ihey came to this Stale and settled in Lyon 
Township, Oakland County, upon a new farm. 
There they lived until 1849, having acquired two 
hundred acres of land that at the time of their 
leaving was well imi)rovcd. At the date above 
mentioned the}' came to Shiawassee County and 
settlcil on their present f.-vrm, which was then new 
land, being at the time a perfect wilderness. Mrs. 
Yerkes died January 11, 1859, her husband, August 
10, 18G9. 



900 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Ml-, and Mis. Yerkcs were the parents of eight 
cliildren, Uiree of wlium are now living. The 
children woie brought up in the Baptist C'hurfh of 
which bod}' their mother was a member. The 
father was a farmer and miller. He erected the 
\'alley Mill at this place and also buill the dam 
that crosses the river near his home. He Brsl set- 
tled iii)on three hundred acres, of which he cleared 
one hundred acres. He was a prominent man in 
the township, taking an active.sland in every ques- 
tion that affected the comraunitj'. Politically he 
was a Whig and later a Reiiublican. 

Our subject's wife, Mrs. Martin, was born March 
5, 1838, in Lyon Township, Oakland County, this 
Slate. She received the usual advantages to be 
Lad in the district school and after graduating she 
taught for a short time in A'enice Township. She 
and her husband are the parents of four children, 
three of whom are living. They are Titus S., who 
was born April 13, 1861, and married Stella 
Church who lives in this township; she has pre- 
sented her husband with one son — Frank. John 
Y., born June 8, 18f>3, and married to Lillian Holly, 
whose home is in this township; Florence A., 
born October 5, 1868. The children were all ad- 
vanced students of the Corunna High School. 
Florence is a graduate of Olivet College, hav- 
ing there devoted herself principally to music. 
She is now a student of Hellniuth College, London, 
C'lnada. It is her intention to attain to a high 
position in that beautiful art which appeals more 
tlirectly to the intellect than any other. She is 
already acknowledged to be a remarkabl}- fine 
pianist. 

Mr. Martin has always been a strong friend to 
such school measures as he felt would be of advant- 
age to the men and women of the future. He votes 
the straight Rcijublican ticket and although he is 
held in the highest esteem by his fellow-townsmen, 
he has never been willing to accept oflice, prefer- 
ing to devote himself to his chosen calling and the 
pleasures of home life. He is a model family- man, 
his constant study being how he can beautify the 
home and make it pleasanter for his family. He 
now has four hundred acres of land under a high 
degree of culture. All the buildings have been 
placeil thereon by the family, lie h.as been inter- 



ested in the lumber business in Saginaw County, 
which he has carried on in such a manner as to re- 
sult most profitably to himself. Mrs. Martin is a 
very prepossessing ladj' whose sympathies and in- 
terest are awakened by every measure that prom- 
ises progress. The temperance question is one of 
vital imi)ortance to her and she is an ardent worker 
therein. 



-J- 



-^ 



■i- 



VDABEZ CLOSK is a native of Scipio, Cayuga 
County, N. Y. His natal day was Septem- 
ber 17, 1820, and he is the son of William 
Close, a native of York State. The mother 
was born in Massachusetts; they were married in 
Cayuga County, where the husband died in 1848. 
The mother and part of the children came to this 
Slate and settled in Burns Township, Shiawassee 
County, but the old lady spent her last daj-s among 
her children and died in Mundy, lienesee County, 
this Slate. Mr. Close's father was a farmer all his 
life and in politics a thorough-going Democrat. 

The paternal grandparents of onr subject were 
Jabez and Abigail Close, natives of Connecticut. 
He was a Revolutionary soldier and settled in Ca^'- 
uga County, soon after the Revolutionary War, 
taking up a section of wild land. He was a tailor 
by trade and varied his farm work by employing 
his needle in making the homespun suits for his 
neighbors as there was a demand for them. He 
died upon his farm as did his wife. The maternal 
grandparents were natives of Massachusetts but 
died in Cayuga County, N. Y. 

In those days the French rule of one had not 
become the fashion in rearing a family. Our sub- 
ject's parents had nine children, viz: Jabez, Eben- 
ezer, Lydia, Lewis, Angelina. Delia, Louisa, Will- 
iam and Eddie. Of these the original of our sketch 
is the eldest. He grew up in his native town, as- 
sisting his father on the farm during the intermis- 
sions while he was not at school. He received a 
good academic education and was fitted for college, 
but his father's death prevented the fullillmenl of 
this much cherished desire. 

After finishing school Mr. Close determined to 
fit himself for the legal profession and with this 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



991 



object iu view he read law for about one and a 
half years at Moravia, N. Y.. but was never ad- 
mitled to the bar. In the year 1846, tiie country 
was just recovering from a great tinancia! crisis 
and social as well as commercial circles were in a 
very unsettled state. The barriers to tlie great 
West seemed not so insurmountable as the}' luid 
been before, for now there vf as a golden purpose 
in the distance that led to the opening up of a 
vast extent of Western country. Mr. Close fol- 
lowed the tide of emigration, coming to this State 
where he located at Karmington, Oakland County, 
in which place he remained one year and from 
there went to Muudy, Genesee County, where he 
bought a farm on which he lived until 1851, when 
he sold out and came to Bj-ron. 

While he of whom we write felt th.at liis legal 
studies were a great advantage to him, he realized 
that there would be more immediate returns in a 
mercantile life and thus turned his attention in 
that direction in which he engaged for about five 
years. About this time he purchased a farm in 
Burns Township, and has followed farming more 
or less from that time until this. Mr. Close still 
own a farm of eighty acres in this township. He 
has been engaged in trade of all kinds. He has 
done a particularly lucrative business in buying 
and selling wool and grain. The means that he 
has accumulated he has made by his own exer- 
tions. He has retired from active business and in 
the afternoon of his life is enjoying the fruits of 
his carl3' labors. 

The original of our sketch is independent in pol- 
itics, believing that the best man to fill an office 
is he who is best fitted for it, irrespective of party. 
He has served twelve years as Supervisor of Burns 
Township and numerous other township offices 
have been conferred upon him. For four j-ears he 
occupied the position of Postmaster of Byron un- 
der Cleveland's administration and is now Justice 
of the Peace. He has attained to the Master de- 
gree among the Masons. He is a Presbyterian in 
faith and his wife is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

In 1843 Mr. Close married Miss Sarah A. Royce, 
of Cortland County, N. Y. She was a daughter 
of Joseph and Sally (^Cross) Royce. 'J'his mar- 



riage resulted in the birth of one child — AVilliam 
F., who is a farmer and wool-buyer. He was 
united in marriage to a lady whose maiden name 
was Ilaltie Chaffee, Their union is graced by the 
birth of one child, a son, Vyc(\. Mrs. Close died 
in 1858, and Mr. Close was a second time married 
in 1859, to Miss Melissa A. Parrish, of Mundy, 
Genesee County, Mich. She was born in New 
York, in Genesee County, and is a danghter of 
John Parrish. There were no children by this 
marriage. The second Mrs. Close died in 1801. 

In the fall of 18G1, Mr. Close was united in 
marriage with Miss Lucy A. Tildcn, who was born 
in Michigan in 1838, and whose parents wore n.a- 
tivesofthe State of New York. The third wife 
died in the year 1885. The following year he was 
joined in holy wedlock lo his present wife, Mrs. R. 
M. Richards, of Byron, widow of William Rich- 
ards. She was born in New York and her maiden 
name was Smith. By her first marriage she had 
three children who are now living — Frank, Austin 
E., and Elmer. 



'^^ 



E^^- 



GlEORGE A. STEEL. No young man in 
- Clinton C^ount^- has been more successful 
1 than Mr. Steel, who is now Vice Preisident 

of St. John's National Bank and has full charge of 
the business of his father. It. M. Steel, in this sec- 
tion. He is the eldest oi three children and was 
born in St. John's, June 19, 18G2. He was in the 
last year's course of the High School when his 
health failed and he laid a--ide his book, at the early 
age of sixteen years to enter into business that 
would take him out of doors and recuperate his 
wasting strength. This was in 1878 and he went 
to Sauk Rapids, Minn., and took charge of the 
building of a bridge. His health iini)roved and lie 
went to St.Paul where he had charge of the building 
of the substructure of the highway bridge across 
the Mississippi at Ft. Snelling. Ilis father had ihe 
contracts for both of these structures. 

In 1879 young Steel went to Nevada where he 
acted as I'ay master, drawing an<l signing all checks 
and seeing to the purcli.ase of all stores for a force 



992 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



engaged in the building of tlie Nevada Central Rail- 
road. The nextjeai- he was in Oregon and Washing- 
ton, again acting as paymaster and looking after 
all the finances of the Oregon Railwa_v Navigation 
Company, the Oregon Trans-Continental Company, 
and the Oregon Construction Company that had 
contracts for thee onstruction of some four hundred 
miles of railroad'. In his disbursements for the 
company he handled from |!200,000 to $350,000 
per month. While liis fatlier was President he be- 
came Secretary. Both had been largely interested 
in the company from the beginning a«d at the 
close of their contract they owned all the shares. 

In 1885 Mr. Steel was married in St. John's to 
Miss Cora Stout. This lady was born in Maple 
Rapids and is a daughter of Anderson Stout, an 
early settler in that place and an aitorncy-atlaw. 
For some time he was located in St. John's, but he 
now now makes his home in Pasadena, Cal., and 
has retired from practice. Mrs. Steel is a gr.idu- 
ate of St. John's High School and of Mrs. Noble's 
Training School of Elocution of Detroit, and was a 
teacher in St. John's before her marriage. To her 
there have been born two sons — Francis R. and 
George G. Educated and refined, with a degree 
of good judgment and tact that enables her to look 
well to the ways of her household, she is one to 
whom prosperity brings a greater desire to make 
life pleasant and surround her home with the evi- 
dences and means of culture. 

After his marriage Mr. Steel located in St. John's 
taking charge of his own and his father's affairs 
and doing no more contracting until quite recently. 
He became connected with the National Bank at 
St. John's and has since been its Vice President. 
He is also a Director of the Clinton County Savings 
Bank of St. John's St. John's Manufacturing Com- 
pany, Whipple Harrow Company, St. John's Electric 
Light, Heat & Power Company and the Gas Com- 
panj'. He is Director and Manager of the St. John's 
Evaporator & Produce Company, which he as- 
sisted in organizing, and is interested in the First 
National Banks of Union and Island City, Ore., and 
is a Director of the First National Banks of Ovid, 
Mt. Pleasant, St. Louis and Ithaca, this State. AVith 
his father he is largely interested in real estate, 
milling and merchandising in Oregon. He has a 



nice property in St. John's and has been Trustee 
of the village for four 3'ears. 

Politicall}', Mr. Steel is a Republican and he has 
a place in the foremost ranks of the party. For the 
last three 3-ears he has been a delegate to the State 
convention. He is edowed with a large amount of 
public spirit, is liberal in his donations of time and 
mone}- to worthy enterprises and in his dealings 
with mankind is straightforward and honorable. 
He is looked up to and admired hy his fellowmen, 
not only on account of his phenominal success, but 
because of the manly character and gentlemanliness 
of his bearing. 



•^ 



^p^ C. BEACH, Superintendent of the St. John's 
((^\ Manufacturing Compan}', was born in Mar- 
\^ ceilus, Onondaga County, N. Y., March 24, 
1851. His father, Orlando, and his grandfather, 
Dr. Bildad, were both natives of Connecticut, and 
the latter was educated as a i)hj'sician. He was an 
early settler of Onondaga Count3', where be was 
prominent as a ph\'sician and citizen. He was 
Surgeon in the AVar of 1812 under Gen. Scott. The 
family comes of English descent. The father was 
reared in Connecticut and_New York, and was en- 
gaged in farming and hotel keeping at Austin 
Hollow in Onondaga Countj'. He now resides in 
Marcellus. Politicailj- he is a Republican, and he 
is an oflicial member of the Episcopal Church. 

The mother of our subject was in her maiden- 
hood know as Catlierine Curtis, and was born in 
Connecticut. Grandfather Gad Curtis was born in 
the same State but became an early settler of Mar. 
ceilus, N. Y. His father Nathaniel was in the Rev- 
olutionary War. Our subject, who was one among 
three children, spent his youth in Marcellus, and 
was educated in the Union schools. When sixteen 
j-ears old he entered the employ of a firm who were 
selling sewing machines, and was thus engaged for 
about six years. In 1872 he went to Kansas City, 
Mo., wiiere he was employed in a chair factory. 
From early boyhood he was skilled in the use of 
tools, and was a natural mechanic. 

Returning to his native place our subject was for 



Portrait and biographical album. 



993 



some time engaged as a traveling salesman. In 
1880 he came to Detroit and became foreman in a 
furnitnre maniif.icturing eslablisliment, while with 
them he patented a knock down dining table. 
Later he became foreman for the Union Chair 
Works, and during the year or more he was with 
them he improved on his tabic. In 188.5 he came to 
.St. John's with his patent and became Superinten- 
dent of the Manufacturing Company, which has 
since undergone a material change. In the large 
buildings some two hundred and sixty men are em- 
ployed, and during the ten hours which they work 
each da}', turn out three hundred and twenty-five 
tables, upon which Mr. Be.ach receives a royalty. 
It makes a specialty of manufa(;turing dining tables 
and is the most extensive establish meni of the kind 
in the United States or even in the world. Owing 
to the untiring energy of Mr. Beach the business 
has become a great success. 

Mr. Beach was married in Marcellus, N. Y., in 
1879, to Miss Hannah Hardacre, who was born and 
reared in Weston-super-Mare, P^ngland. The fam- 
ily circle is completed by the presence of four 
children: Louis, Carl, Mamie and Olive. Mr. 
Beach is a member of the Ancient Order United 
AVorkman, and a Republican in his political affilia- 
tions. Ilis wife belongs to the K[)iscopal Church, 
and both are highly esteemed in the best social 
circles. 



w 



]^^ ENNIS SNYDER, one of the most intelli- 
I ))) gent and public-spirited gentlemen of 
^^^ Middlebury Townsiiip, Shiawassee County, 
was born in Warren County, N. J., March 
13, 1827. He is a son of Dennis and Sallie (Guilic) 
Snyder, both natives of New .Jersey. His ances- 
tors lived in that State during the Revolutionary 
War and his paternal grandfather took part in that 
conflict and was killed just after the war had been 
declared closed. 

Our subject lived at home untd he became of 
age, assisting his father on the farm and taking ad- 
vantage of what schooling he could get, but his 
opportunities were limited and meager. His 



parents came to the wilderness of Oakland County, 
Mich., when he was six years old. and when he 
first desireil to go to school there was none within 
three and one-half miles of their home. When 
he could go to school, he attended only two or 
three months in a year. His mother died when 
he was but two and a-half years old, and his 
father marrying again he was reared by his step- 
mother. 

When Mr. Snyder reached the age of twenty- 
one he went to Muskegon and worked for three 
years in the lumber woods. He also worked for 
Ryerson & Morris, who were engaged both in saw- 
mills and farming in that region. Later he went 
to the Point of Barks and worked in the grindstone 
quarry, learning the trade of grindstone-turning. 
In order to reach those quarries he traveled on 
foot eighty miles in the month of March, but he 
was determined to conquer difliculties acquired a 
thorough knowledge of the way such stones were 
cut and prepared. 

Young Snyder next returned to Oakland County 
and purchased a farm in the township of Oxford 
about three miles from the village bearing that 
name. He resided upon it for eight years and did 
much to improve its condition. Then coming to 
Shiawassee County he located on sections 10 and 
15 of Middlebury Township, where he has resided 
ever since. He came to this place in March, 1864, 
and making his home in an old log house under- 
took to clear the wilderness and improve a farm. 
Since that time he has erected both a capacious 
barn and attrai'tive residence, a view of which is 
shown on another page. 

This fine two-story brick house, containing four- 
teen rooms besides closets and cellar, is most con- 
veniently arranged and heated by a furnace. Mr. 
Snyder raises water by windmill into a tank which 
is carried through the house for the convenience of 
the family. He is a man who prizes the conven- 
iences of life and knows how to put a home into 
the best shape for living. Naturally' of a mechan- 
ical turn, he can handle tools as though he were 
trained to them. He had a blacksmith outfit at 
the time of dealing, and sharpened his own plows 
and did many little jobs of this kind which must 
otherwise have been sent aw.ay or left undone. He 



994 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



lins now cleared land on three diflferent farms, 
citber by his own hajid or that of hired men, and 
has transformed from a wilderness to a condition 
for farming purposes somewhere about three hun- 
dred acres. In 1889 he bnilt a fine and conve- 
nient horse barn, and has another large barn, 
26x72 feet, with 2.3-foot posts, with a shed 22x72 
feet. He has abundant protection for his stock 
and shows great judgment and consideration in 
handling them. 

Mr. Snyder w.is united in marriage with Mahala 
Parker, of Pontiac Township, Oakland Count}-, 
who has become the mother of four children: 
Frank, born May 1, 1855; Mary, November 19, 
1858; Abram, December 15, 1863; Lewis, January 
4, 1872; Frank married Jennie Cramer, of Burton, 
and is a farmer near iiis father; Mar}- married Mr. 
James Voorheis and lives in Fairfield Township; 
Abram, wiio married Frances Moore, of Ovid, lives 
in Middlcbury Townsliip; and Lewis, who is still 
single, remains at home. The father devotes him- 
self to general farming and breeding of good 
stock, but does not handle blooded grades. In 
politics he is conservative and has never sought 
office, but he has always taken an intelligent interest 
in schools, and is a man of more than ordinary in- 
telligence and character. 



^^EORGE PRIOR, one of the prominent agri- 
f|[ (— , culturists of Vernon Township, Shiawassee 
^^J! County, is a British-American citizen who 
has brought with him from his native countr}- the 
solid characteristics which go to make up a first-class 
British farmer. He was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, September 22. 1822. His father, Thomas 
Prior, died before the birth of his son, and the 
inotlier. Ann (llolden) Prior, spent the remainder 
of her life in the old country and did not follow 
her son to this new land. These parents had three 
children of whom our subject is the only one who 
lived to maturity. He w.as reared in England and 
received his schooling there, an<l was married in his 
native shire, August 8, 1843, at the Ilangle Church 



by the Rev. Thomas Right, his bride being Ann 
AVoodthorp, a native of England where she 
was born November 15, 1824. She was reared 
in lier native shire, and there the .young couple lo- 
cated after marriage. 

After eight j-ears of married life, Mr. Pr-or de- 
cided to come to America and try his fortunes in 
the New World, leaving his family at the old home 
until he should see what he could do in the way of 
bettering his condition. He located first at Albion 
N. Y., and after remaining there one j'ear decided 
to send for his wife and family. After they came 
to him he staid one vear in Alban}' then moving to 
Michigan, m,aking his home in Milford Township, 
Oakland County, where he found employment for 
two years, after which be came to Shiawassee 
County, and made his home in .Shiawassee 
for about three years working, by the day for 
others until he had accumulated means to purchase 
a home of his own in Vernon Township. 

Our subject purchased forty acres of land, where 
he now resides in 1856, and building a log house 
thereon settled his family in it and went to work 
to clear the land of trees and cultivate it. He 
fenced the farm and set out a fine orchard. Ten 
children were born to this frugal and enterprising 
couple. The three eldest were born in England, 
George T., in 1845, and Mary -Jane in 1847. The 
latter is now the wife of Ed Bj-am, and resides in 
Vernon Township. The third child, James H. was 
also born in England in 1849. Two died in in- 
fancy. Charles H. and the remaining children 
were born in Michigan; Charles' natal year being 
1853; Edward W. was born in 1855; Eliza A., in 
1859; EUaE. inl861; Willie in 1863. Eliza is now 
Mrs. Charles King and makes her home in Vernon 
Township; Ella is the wife of William Badgers 
and lives in Burns Township, and Willie died in in- 
fanc\-. 

Mr. Prior hasaddetl a little at a time to his farm 
until he owned at one time two hundred and fifty- 
one acres, and h.as improved it all. After his chil- 
dren became of age he gave to each ^100 and then 
hired them giving them each ^200 per year besides 
pocket money and clothes,applying the 1200 on land 
that he owned, so that they now each own a fine 
tract of land. This land cost him about $1600 for 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



995 



tbe fifty acres witli good house and barn which he 
is disposing of to each of his sons. 

Wlien Mr. Piior first came to Michigan he used to 
woriv out for a bushel of shelled corn a day and 
carried it liome at night. He also at other times 
worked for a bushel of potatoes a day carrying 
them home at night on his back. He now owns 
one hundred aud forty-six acres of well-improved 
land and three good dwelling houses. The beautiful 
home in which he now resides, was erected by him 
in 1880 at the cost of 12,000. It is an attractive 
two-story frame house, conveniently arranged and 
pleasantly situated. He and liis wife made a visit 
home to Lincolnshire, England in 1881, spending 
the summer season in the old home and delightfully 
renewing old acquaintances and strengthening the 
bonds of affection with the relatives aud members 
of the famil3' whom he found near the old home. 
He is now doing a good farm business, and handles 
some stock having about one hundred and forty 
head of sheep, thirty-five head of hogs, two hun- 
dred chickens and eight horses. He is a Democrat 
in his political views and a man who is interested 
in the upbuilding of the political institutions of our 
country. His eldest son, George T., served in the 
late war in the Tenth Michigan Cavalry, and is 
now receiving a pension. 



'if? ACOB 8CHIND0RF. The life of this gen- 
tleman affords a striking example of hard 
work and perseverance crowned with suc- 
'ijj cess. He has battled earnestly against cir- 
cumstances and has become the owner of valuable 
property, has a nourishing trade in agricultural 
implements and veliicles and is the proprietor of a 
general blacksmitliing slio|i where first-class work 
is always done. He has real estate in Grand 
Rapids and Saranac besides that which he occupies 
in St. John's. He started in the labors of life 
without any aid in the way of money and all that 
he received from the parental estate was iil,000. 
He has been living in Michigan since 1850 and is 
well posted regarding the advances that have been 
made in this great commonwealth. He was born 



in Seneca County, Ohio, June 20, 1839, and was a 
lad of eleven years when the removal was made to 
this .State. The family traveled from Sandusky to 
Detroit on a boat, by cars to New BnfTalo and 
thence to Waukegan. Not liking that section the 
father returned to tiiis State and from Battle Creek 
went to Grand Rai)ids witli a team, and thence cut 
his way through the timber, following a route 
marked by blazed trees into Ionia Count}'. The 
new home was made in Otisco Township and our 
subject was at once set to work girdling trees antl 
clearing land. 

The Schindorf farm consisted of two hundred 
and sixty acres, most of which was placed under 
cultivation through the efforts of our subject and 
his brother. Their school privileges were neces- 
sarily limited and their recreations were such as 
are common in sparsely settled communities. 
Jacob hunted a good deal and during one fail 
killed thirteen deer. Those animals were so numer- 
ous during the smoky lime that he drove ironwood 
sticks slantingly into the ground and thus killed 
five of them. He sometimes had fights with tlie 
wounded animals and on one occasion his life was 
saved by the intervention of a log over which his 
antagonist could not pass. When of age young 
Schindorf was apprenticed to a blacksmith in Sar- 
anac and spent four years in service, then in com- 
pany with his former master formed the firm of 
Scheldt <& Schindorf, which lasted ten years. 
After the dissolution of the firm Mr. Schindorf 
opened a shop and began the manufai'ture of 
wagons and other commodities. In 1883 he came 
to St. John's, bought and improved a shop and 
began to work at his trade here. He is now deal- 
ing in all kinds of vehicles and still manufactures 
the Schindorf wagon which he has been placing 
on the market for more than a quarter of a cen- 
tury. He also manufactures carts and in former 
years made buggies. 

The father and grandfather of Mr. Schindorf 
bore the same name, Peter, an<l were natives of 
Bavarian Germany. Tlie younger Peter Schindorf 
came to America in 1831 and located in Seneca 
County, Ohio. For two years he worked at $(> per 
month, then bought forty acres of land which he 
improved and occupied until lie came to Michigan. 



996 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



VVben he located in Ionia County he bought one 
hundred and sixty acres, tlien fony, then sixty, 
and with tlie aid of his sons placed tlie whole under 
improvement. He had a large family, comprising 
ten sons and daughters, and Jacob was the second 
in order of birth. The mother was p:iizabelh 
(Krupp) Schindorf, and born in Bavaria, Germany. 
Her father, Charles Krupp, was a blacksmith who 
emigrated to this country the same year as Mr. 
Schindorf and located in the same county in Ohio. 
From that time until his decease he w.as engaged in 

farming. 

At Sherman, Huron County, Ohio, April 19, 
18G8, .Jacob Schindorf was married to Teresa 
Meisig, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- 
many, but had lived in the Buckeye State from the 
time she was four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Schin- 
dorf have three children living, viz.: Joseph J., 
Lucy M. and Martha T. The sou is engaged in 
business with his father, the firm being J. Schin- 
dorf & Son. He is married but the daughters are 
still inmates of their parents' dwelling. Mr. 
Schindorf is a Catholic and gave his aid in the 
impiovement of the church property and was a 
Trustee until he resigned. He casts a Democratic 
ballot and has been a delegate to county and State 
conventions, visiting Detroit and Grand Rapids 
when State Delegate. The son is a member of the 
fire department, and botli liave a good name in 
business circles, and in the society which they fre- 
quent the entire family is looked upon with resi)ect 
and friendly feeling. 



^^ 



^1^ ERMAN C. FRIESEKE, a properous busi- 
ness man of Owosso, Shiawassee County, of 
the firm of J. and H. Frieseke, manu- 
(^ facturers of brick and drain tile, is a native 
of Prussia, Germany, having been born December 
17, 1844, in Pritzcrbe, near Brandenburg. His 
father was was one of tlie old soldiers who fouglit 
at Waterloo and followed his children to this coun- 
try, dying in Owosso, Mich., at the age of ninety- 
two. His name was Frederick and his wife was 



Elizabeth (Langerwisch) Frieseke, and they emi- 
grated to America in 1858 when the son was onl3' 
fourteen years old and made their way directly to 
Owosso. 

After coming to Micliigan tlie father carried on 
farming in a small way for a number of years. The 
schooling of our subject was in the public schools 
of Germany until he was fourteen years old, but 
after coming to this country he assisted his father. 
In February, 1864, Herman Frieseke enlisted in 
the Union army in the Thirteenth Michigan Bat- 
tery wiiicli w-as assigned to the Army of the Poto- 
mac and took i)irt in the battle of Ft. Stevens and 
afterward engaged in skirmishing and garrison 
dut}'. After cigiiteen months' service he was dis- 
charged in July, 1865, and was finally paid ofif and 
mustered out of service at Jackson, Mich. 

Returning to Owosso this young man engaged 
in the manuf.acture of brick in company' with his 
brother Julius luider tlie firm name of J. & II. 
Frieseke. They nianuracture all kinds of brick, 
both plain and ornamental, common and pressed 
brick. They also m.ake drain tile from two and 
one-half to twelve inches in diameter, most of 
which finds ready sale near home. Tlie wcirks are 
situated near the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwau- 
kee Railroad. 

Miss Eva Graiiara became the wife of Mr. Frie- 
seke in 1872. She was an Owosso lady who was 
born in New Albanj-, Ind., and she became the 
mother of one son and one daughter, Edith and 
Fied C, but this hai)|)y home was soon to be 
broken up by the death of the mother. She de- 
parted this life in 1881. The second marriage of 
Mr. Frieseke took place in 1884; he was then united 
with Mary Shultz. of Laingsburg, Mich., a native 
of Prussia. No children have crowned this second 
marriage. Both of this worthy couple are active 
members of the Corgregational Church, and they 
have a beautiful liome on the corner of Water and 
King Streets. 

The election of Mr. Frieseke as Alderman of the 
First Ward took place in the spring of 1891. He 
is a membci- of the (Juackenbush Post, No. 541, 
G. A. R. From 1883 to 1887 Mr. Frieseke was 
engaged in manufacturing brick in Jacksonville, 
Fla, He is Treasurer of the Sliij\wassee Savings 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



997 



Society and one its directors since its organization 
in Ma^', 1867, and is now serving his second term 
upon the local ScUool Board. Politically, he is a 
Republican. 



VILLIAM HEC 
beautiful farm 
County, and 



<^ j^ILLIAM HECK. Many elegant homes and 
rms are to be found in Clinton 
few among them attract 
greater admiration than that of Mr. Heck. Tiie 
residence is a fine large frame house, whose interior 
arrangements show the refinement of the lad^- who 
jiresides therein with grace and hospitality. Mr. 
Heck and his estimable wife are highly esteemed 
throughout tlie community, and their man^' friends 
rejoice with them in their present prosperity. He 
was born September 23, 1830, in Seneca Count}', 
N. Y., and is the son of George Heck, a farmer and 
a successful business man. The mother, Margaret 
Heck, died in 1878 at the age of three-score and 
ten 3'ears. She was a woman of strong religious 
convictions and was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church many years, as was also her hus- 
band. 

Our subject, the eldest among the cliildren, was 
reared to farming pursuits, and received a fair edu- 
cation in tlie common and High Schools of the 
vicinity. He engaged as a teacher successfully for 
six terms, but iu 1854 became a clerk in a grocery 
store in Penn Yan, Yates Count}', N. Y., where he 
remained three 3'ears. He then came to Mieliigan 
in 1857, and located north of St. John's, Clinton 
County, where he purch:ised eighty acres of timber 
land, whose only improvement consisted of a 12x 
14 shanty. He cleared about thirty acres and made 
it his home some time, but after about seven years 
purchased his present farm on section 16, Essex 
Township, where he has since lived. His first pur- 
chase here consisted of one hundred and forty acres 
to which he has added until he now owns two hun- 
dred and forty acres of fine laud. 

Mr. Heck was married September 6, 1859. His 
wife was born in IJeWitt Township, this county. 
Their son Seldon M., who was born January 2, 
1861, is a prosperous farmer in peWitt Townshiji; 



George R., born March 18, 1864, is a graduate in 
the law department of Valparaiso (Ind.) College, 
and is preparing to enter upon the practice of law. 
He is an exceedingly bright- young man and his 
future is assured. Mr. Heck is a Republican polit- 
ically, and has been Justice of the Peace four years, 
also served as Commissioner of the Highways, etc. 
Mrs. Heck is a member of the Congregational 
Church, and is a woman of many endearing quali- 
ties. She owns two hundred and sixty acres in one 
farm in DeWitt Township, and four hundred and 
thirtj' iu Essex Township, which was inheiited 
from the estate of her father, a verj' prominent and 
influential citizen. 

Mr. Heck has always taken a delight in horses, 
being especially interested in the Percherons, Ham- 
bletonians and Morgans. He raises a good breed 
of stock, and this in connection with general farm- 
ing occupies his time. His success in life has been 
remarkable for he came^here without means, and 
has acquired a competency b}' continued efforts. 
His residence which was erected in 1874, is the re- 
sort of many friends and is one of the coziest of 
the homes of Essex Township. 



^ NDREW CO WELL. Among the farmers 
wEM of Shiawassee County a prominent place 

I li is held by this gentleman who resides on 
^ section 17, New Haven Township. He 
was born in Macomb County. Mich., in 1846, and 
is the oldest child of John and Margaret (Tapking) 
Cowcll, whose sketch will be found on another 
page of this volume. In his jouth Andrew at- 
tended the common school. In 1866 he bouglit 
fort}' acres on section, 19, and soon afterward went 
to Wyoming Territory where for two years he was 
engaged in cutting railroad ties. On his return 
East he spent one year in Michigan, then went to 
North Platte, Neb., and there joined a Government 
surveying party. This occupied his time during 
two summer seasons wliile the winters were passed 
in hunting and trapping in Colorado. 

In 1876 our sul)ject atten(?ed the Centennial 
Exposition at l*hiladelphii\ ^nd the following year 



998 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



bought the farm of eighty acres on section 17, 
where he now lives. At the time of the purchase 
it was all wild land which was gradually cleared 
through the energy of Mr. Cowell. In 1877 he was 
married to Anna Dumond, wliose father, Harmon 
Duraond, was a farmer of New York. Anna, who 
was the second among three daughters, was born in 
1857. Our subject and his estimable wife have four 
children — Gracie, John, Morris and Lester. Mr. 
Cowell is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 
153, at Henderson, in which he has filled all the 
Chairs. Hebelongs to the G. A. R. in Henderson. 
Mr. Cowell enlisted in 1865 in Company H, 
Tentli Michigan Cavalry and was ordered to Nash- 
ville. His terra of service lasted from February, 
1865, until the ensuing November, and during 
several weeks of that time he was in the hospital. 
He was mustered out at Memphis and returned 
home after making an iionorable record as a sol- 
dier. In partial eompcnsalion for injuries received 
in the army he receives a pension. 



^f^ILKY RICE, tiie presen 

Ls*^ Fowler, Clinton County, is 1 

■aifli a native of Connecticut ^ 



esent Postmaster of 
the son of S. Rice, 
who in his earlj- 
years was a sailor for six years, and after- 
ward followed his trade as a stone-mason. In 1840 
he decided to leave New England and come West, 
and removed to Medina County, Ohio, where he 
died two years later. Ills wife, Betsey Clark by 
name, bore to him three sons and two daughters 
and tlie sou Riley was born in Connecticut in 1832, 
thus being eight years old when the family removed 
to Ohio. 

At the age of twenty Hiis young man entered 
into a matrimonial alliance with Lydia A. Sears, 
and to them were born two daughters, Mary and 
*EIIie. It was in 1855 that our subject came to 
Michigan and settled upon a farm and there made 
his home for thirty years, after which lie came to 
Fowler where he now resides. In 1864 he felt the 
call of duty to enlist under the banner of his coun- 
try, and on September 6, he entered tlie Tnited 
Slates service, in the Twenty-third Michigan In- 



fantry, serving until June 28, 1865, when he re- 
ceived his honorable discharge. He took part in 
the battle of Nasliville and in the conflict at Frank- 
lin, and he cherished the associations of war times, 
with great warmth and is an active member of the 
R. G. Hutchinson Post, No. 129, G. A. R., and is 
now serving as its commander. He is a Republi- 
can in his political convictions and vote. 

After the death of Mrs. Lydia Rice our subject 
was a second time married to Mrs. Elizabeth (I)e- 
rauth) Turk, widow of Mr. John Turk, an Ohio 
man. Her father, Landy Derauth, was born in 
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and removed from that 
region to Lucas County, where he now resides. 
Here he became a prominent citizen and a leader in 
the Democratic ranks. His wife was Harriet Rake- 
straw and of her eleven children Mrs. Rice was the 
first-born. Tiie paternal grandfather of Mrs. Rice 
was Frederick Demuth, a native of Pennsylvania. 

The first marriage of Mrs. Rice took place Marcll 
13, 1864, and by that union she became the mother 
of three children: Eva, Arthur and Clarence Turk. 
Mr. Turk died January 14, 1876. This lady is 
possessed of more than ordinar}- talent and educa- 
tion and began to teach at the early age of sixteen 
aiul followed that profession for a number of years. 
She is now Deputj- Postmistress at Fowler. She is 
an efficient member of the Women's Relief Corps 
of Fowler and has been its President and also at 
one time served as Secretary. Mrs. Rice was a 
National Delegate to St. Louis in 1887, being one 
of tlie thirteen to represent the State of Michigan. 
She has also been Assistant Inspector for the State. 
Her literary ability and culture |)lace her in the 
front rank and her pen-work as correspondent for 
the Clinton Independent at St. John's, is highly 
prized. 

ERFORD NASH. One of the most strongly 
marked features of the American people is 
! their indomitable spirit of industry, standing 
out prominent in all their past history and as 
strikingly characteristic of them now as at any 
former period. It is this spirit which has laid the 
foundation of the greatness of the nation and has 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



999 



placed the United States in the front rank among 
the republics of the world. Tliis vigorous growth 
has l)cen the result of the inihistrial cnorgj' of in- 
dividuals, and lias depended upon the number of 
hands and minds from time to time aclivel}- em- 
ployed within it, whether as cultivators of the soil, 
writers of books, or producers of articles of util- 
ity. The gentleman whose name introduces these 
paragraphs has contributed his quota foward the 
progress of this section of country and is a pros- 
perous farmer of Clinton County, residing on sec- 
tion 26, Lebanon Township. 

The father of our subject, Zenas Nash, of New 
York, came to Michigan when a 3'outh of fifteen 
years in company with his parents. Upon reaching 
years of maturity lie was united in marriage with 
Mary Corvvin and to them five children were born, 
namel}': Erford, Edgar, Ella, Marion and John. 
The first home of this family in Michigan was in 
Jackson County on a rented farm. After seven 
years' residence there they removed to W.-iyne 
County and purchased one hundred acres of land. 
Zenas Nash cleared and cultivated the land but 
died before he had been on the place many years. 
II is father, Aaron Nash, came from New York at 
an early day to Washtenaw County and removed to 
Jackson County before his dealli. 

Erford Nash was born May 2 t, 1848 in J.ickson 
County, Mich., and remained with his parents until 
he became of age. He then undertook to work 
the farm on shares and in 1871 purchased forty 
acres of land in Lebanon Township. He now owns 
two hundred acres of fine land and excellent farm 
buildings. Some years ago he erected the com- 
modious and attractive buililiiig in which he makes 
his home and a view of which is presented in con- 
nection with this sketch. He also built the large 
and well arranged barn which is one of the signs 
of a prosperous and competent farmer. He is a 
general farmer in the common acceptation of the 
word and lias success in all his undertakings. He 
is not a politician but is interested in public mat- 
ters, and votes and works for the success of the 
Republican party to which he has always been 
strongly attached. 

The wife of P^rford N.asli is of English birth, 
and by name Lizzie Tate. She came to America 




with her parents when a child ; her father, John 
Tate, made his first home in America in Detroit 
and lived in Wayne Count}- until tlie breaking out 
of the war. Then like many another Brilish- 
i\inerican subject he sprang to the defence of his 
adopted country and enlisted in a Michigan Regi- 
ment. He was killed in battle and Mrs. Nash was 
thus left an oiphan in early life. The mother lives 
with her child'en ill this county; the home farm 
which has never been divided, is left for her sup- 
port. The marriage of I\Tr. and Mrs. Nash took 
place December 5, 1872 in Wayne County, and has 
been blessed by the liirth of one daughter, Mary, 
who is at home with her parents. 

ON. PHILIP V. M. BOTSFORD, well 
known beyond the limits of Bennington 
Township, Shiawassee County, where he re- 
sides on section 27, was born in Scottsville, 
in 1839. When one j'ear old he was brought 
by his father, John W. Botsfoid, to Michigan, and 
here he has since resided. His education was re- 
ceived in the district schools and further supple- 
mented by attendance in the Michigan Slate Nor- 
mal at Y'psilanti. In 1861 he entered the law 
departiiient of the University, and was graduated 
in March, 1863. The following August he began 
active practice of his profession, in which he con- 
tinued successfully for eight years. He became 
I well known as a pension claim lawyer, and found 
I his practice lucrative, but poor healtli coni|)elled 

him to adopt a more active vocation. 
j Accordingly Mr. Botsford, in the fall of 1883, 
I took up his residence on a farm in Bennington 
Township, where he is now located. A strong Re- 
publican, he has for years been conspicuous among 
I his fellow-citieens who have called him to many 
positions of trust and responsibility. He was 
elected Supervisor of Bennington Township, on 
the Farmers' and Laborers' ticket, recciTiiig nine- 
ty four majority. He is an instrumental factor in 
all the transactions, business and social, of the 
Patrons of Industiy, is A'ice-President of the 
County Association and Piesident of the Milling 



1000 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



Association, operating mills at Perry. At the last 
election he was chosen to represent the Second Dis- 
trict of Shiawassee County in the Legislature, and 
is making an active and influential member. The 
ticket was a combination of farming and labor in- 
terests and he received one thousand five hundred 
and sixty-seven votes. His course as a legislator 
is one upon which his constituency can reflect with 
pride, and is well calculated to advance their inter- 
ests materially. 

The Botsford farm comprises two hundred and 
eighty acres on section 27, and is partially devoted 
to the breeding of roadster horses. Among the 
latter is the well-known ''Judge Holden," No. 10,- 
333. a beautiful trotting bred stallion. He is six 
years old, fifteen and three-fourths hands higl), 
weight, one thousand one hundred and sevent}' 
pounds; a bright bay with black points, powerfully 
and handsomely formed, registered. 



g ' l ' I ' I - ^ 

"j^^^.EWCOMB MITCHELL. This gentleman 
f jjj holds a position among the prominent and 
lil^ thrifty citizens of Bennington Township, 
Shiawassee County, and we take pleasure in pre- 
senting to our readers a Inicf account of his life 
and character. It is impossible in the limits of a 
volume like this to follow his career in every de- 
tail, but an outline will be given which will indi- 
cate the prominent features, and the reader will be 
able to fill out the picture 113- his own imagination. 
Tlie home of Mr. Mitchell is on section 28, and 
the estate now comprises one hundred acres. The 
residence is a commodious structure of eleven 
rooms, tastefully furnished and the home of a hap- 
py family. The improveraenls on the place have 
cost $4,000, consisting besides the elegant dwelling- 
house, of all convenient and necessary outbuild- 
ings, also wind engine and reservoirs. 

The father of our subject passed his last 3-ears 
with our subject, but died in Attica, N. Y., Octo- 
ber, 14, 1851. He was born May 10, 1785, and 
his father was an Irishman. Tiie mother of our 
subject was born in June, 1794, and died May 9, 
1873; her maiden name was Polly Howe. Tlie 
prif^inal family comprised eleven thihlrcii, six of 



whom now survive, as follows: William, who 
makes his home with our subject; Newconib; Cal- 
vin, who lives near Ann Arbor; Ezekiel, a resident 
of Sciota Township; Adeline, Mrs. Olive Mead, of 
Lansing; Sarah, Mrs. Russell Walker, of Lansing. 
Our subject worked out until he was twenty 
years old, the wages going to the family. He 
worked at his trade in Salem and Lansing, and w.as 
also emplojed in Detroit and Michigan City, Ind. 
In 1848 became to Shiawassee County, and settled 
on land which had previously been purchased bj' his 
father. Here he has lived since 1849, and through 
the efforts of himself and his good wife, the place 
has been converted into one of the prettiest estates 
in the county. He was married January 1, 1856, to 
liliza J. Phelps, and their union was blest by the 
birth of eight children, .is follows: Adella, born 
May 21, 1857; Cora A., March 22, 1859; Charles 
IL, July 12, 18G1 ; Frank D., February 15, 1864; 
Rose May, July 19,1867; Arthur A., March 12, 
1869; Lena A., April 25, 1871; Edna E., October 
1, 1873, and Effie F., August 2, 1879. The five 
youngest children still remain under the parental 
roof, to brighten the old home by their merry 
voices and pleasant manners. They are interested 
in music and are quite proficient in that direction. 
Mr. Mitchell has for some time been an active 
member of the ISIelhodist Episcopal Church in 
which he is an Elder. 




EONARD G. LOOMIS. In this gentleman 
51 we have an ex-Supervisor of Greenbush 
^ Township, Clinton Count}-, who was born 
in Lorain County, Ohio, August 4, 1837. His 
fatlier, Jonathan C. Loomis, is now deceased, but 
the mother, Ijetsej- L., is still living. This son 
received his education in the public schools of 
Ohio and took one j'ear in the Berea College, Ohio, 
and subsequently taught three terms of school, one 
term being in Oiiio and two in Michigan. 

Upon the breaking out of the War this young 
man decided to go to the defense of the old flag 
and enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Forty-second 
Ohio Infantry, entering as a private but being 
soo» proipotecl to a sergeancy. He took part in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 



1001 



the battles of Port (Jibson, Cliampioii Hill, Cliick- 
asaw Mountain, Arkansas Post and mimoious minor 
engagements. On the 16tli day of May, 1863, at 
riiampion Hill he was wounded and then taken 
prisoner by the rebels, being, however, paroled soon 
after. He received his honorable discharge No- 
vember 16, 1864. 

In the spring of 1866, Mr. Loomis came to 
Greenbush Township and settled on section 7, 
which has since continued to be his home. He 
owns one hundre<l and twenty-live acres of well 
improved land and is considered one of the pros- 
perous farmers in this part of tiie county. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Elizabetli Abbott, 
has borne to him three children, two of whom are 
living, namely: Mary E., wife of Prof. D. D. 
Yntema, of St. John's and Leonard .S. For one 
year Mr. Loomis acted as Supervisor of the town- 
ship and he has served many years as Justice of the 
Peace, being very useful in this capacity. The 
wife of his youth was called away by death, and 
he was married again October 13, 1880. His pres- 
ent wife, whose maiden name was Minnie Quigley, 
has four children, namely : Ethel, Emma O., George 
B. and Ruth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Loomis are de- 
voted and earnest members ol the Methodist Church 
and he is identified with the Grand Army of the 
Republic at St. John's. He is among the promi- 
nent and leading citizens of Greenbush Township 
and is esteemed highly' as a leader of thought in 
the Republican ranks. 




jHARLES C. WASHBURN, a well-known 
farmer and successful apiarist, who resides 

on section 1, Rush Townsiiip, Shiawassee 

County, was born in New York, April 16, 1842. 
His father. Benjamin, was a farmer and a native of 
Maine, where he was born in 1797. He liad an 
excellent common-school education and started out 
in life for himself when only si.xtcen years old. 
When he had reached the manly age of twenty 
years he went to New York City and liiere learned 
the baker's trade, but he wSs not willing to settle 
down to watpb the ovon, !\m] took passage a.? a 



sailor making a voyage to the West Indies. He 
continued in this line of work for seven years and 
then traveled for a commercial house in Maine, and 
afterward went into business for himself, living in 
A'ermont, Massachusetts and Northern New York 
successively. 

The marriage of Benjamin Washburn with 
Nancy Anthorp took place in 1838. This lady 
was of English parentage and was born in 1819 
being the eldest in a family of three sons and one 
daughter. For one year the J'oung couple carried 
on a hotel at Stanstead Plain, N. Y., and then came 
to Ft. Ann, N. Y. on the Erie Canal. They did 
not [reside there long but emigrated to Wayne 
County, Mich, in 1842, and after three years spent 
there purchased eighty acres of land in Ingham 
County, not far from Lansing. There they lived 
for about eleven years and then made their home 
on section, 12, of Rush Township where they bought 
eighty acres of land, at the same lime purchasing 
another eighty on section 5. Eleven children 
blessed this home, six daughters and five sons. 
The father was a Methodist in his religion and a 
Democrat in politics and an earnest worker for his 
party. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace 
and died in 1870 while his good wife survived him 
for tweutv years. 

The subject of this sketch had but a poor chance 
for schooling, for the exigencies of pioneer life 
early called the older children of the family into 
requisition as laborers upon the farm. When 
twenty -one years old he left home and was for ten 
years a lumberman in Michigan and Wisconsin. 
He bought forty acres on section 1, in 1863, and 
ten years later was united in marriage with Maria 
Parshall, a daughter of Henry and Lucina(Root) 
Jfarshall. They were from New York and had in 
their family two sons and six daughters, Maria be- 
ing born in 1855. 

Six children have been born to our subject and 
his excellent wife, namely: Charles H., Elnora 
Maria, Benjamin F., Alta M.ay, Mary Elma, and 
Mattie E. Mr. Washburn's political views are in 
accordance with the principles of the Democratic 
party, and he has been some what active in local 
political work and has filled the offices of Highway 
Coipipissioner and LSchool Inspector, 









Abbott,, John T.,M. D 1171 

Abeiie, Fred .8il(! 

Atiams, James S 732 

Adams, J. C 507 

Adams, John 23 

Adams, John Q 39 

Alchin, Frederick 483 

Aldrich, William A fl09 

Alger, Knssell A 173 

Allen, Rev. W. C »17 

Allison. C.S 8S.') 

Amos, August H., Jr 370 

Anderson , James 843 

Anderson, John 281 

Arthur, Chester A 99 

Atherton.S.G 2C'.l 

Atkinson, Thomas 507 

Austin, A. A 240 

Aust i n , Ambrose 39() 

Axford.H :!:il 



B 



Balieo.-k, M fi20 

Babeock, Mrs. M. M 626 

Bagley, John J 157 

Bain , Augustus 326 

Bair, William T 772 

Baker, Hon. N. H .379 

Baleom. William A 779 

Baldwin , Henry P ISS 

Baldwin, Niwlon 259 

Baldwin, T. W 870 

Ball, A. K, M.D (U5 

Ball.C. E 545 

Bancroft, Darwin 740 

Barker, Seth J 752 

Barnes, C.(! 5'19 

Barrington, John A 804 

Barrus, Calvin P 585 

Barry, Johns 113 

BaU'helor, B. F 693 

Bauerly, Charles W 839 

Baxter, D. G 4S6 



Beach, T. C 992 

Beard, Allen 317 

Beardslee, J. M 2.'i+ 

Beckwith.J. W 820 

Bedford, George H 208 

Beebee, Sylvester 799 

Beebee, William t 918 

Begole, Josi.^h W 169 

Benedict, Charles L 826 

Benjamin, Alfred B .548 

Benjamin, Calvin 829 

Bennett, A. C 759 

Bennett , John 789 

Bensinger, Joel 304 

Bentley, Alvin M. . . .; 561 

Bent ley, Lewis 515 

Bigelow, C. A 960 

Bigelow, W. H .566 

Bigford, George 310 

Bingham, John F 650 

Bingham, Kinsley S 137 

Bingham, W 682 

Bira,L. C 641 

Blair, Austin 145 

Blass, John 917 

Boss, A. R 405, 

Botsford, William C 746 

Botsford, P. V. M 999 

Bowers, G. W 413 

Boy Ian, William 510 

Urands, George U 245 

Bray, Israel M Mi 

Brewer, E.I 688 

Brewer.F.F 364 

Briggs.J. H 720 

Bristol , James Sterling 739 

Bromley , Tlioimis 079 

Brooks, John 308 

Brooks, W.K 291 

Brown, E. F 616 

Brown, Edward 463 

Brown , II. W 574 

Brown, John 261 

Brown, Elnathan 977 

Brunson, William II 706 

Bryant, John W 909 

Bryant, Lewis 875 

Buchanan, James 75 

Buii(la.v, Warner 944 

Burgess, William W 716 

Burncs, Henry M 310 



Bush , George J 823 

Bush, John K 244 

Bush , Mrs. Marietta 590 

Bush. Judge Matthew 904 

Bussoll, CO 56:) 

Byerly, Col. Edgar P 865 



C.alkiim, J. H 947 

Call, William 212 

Garland, M. E ..800 

Carmody , Thomas 735 

Carrington,H. AV 3,84 

Carson. W. S 200 

Carter.S 434 

Caruss,Hon. K. B 4;iO | 

Caruss, William 1 780 

Case, Henry C 270 

Castle, Diiane 723 

Castle, MissH. E 208 

Castner, Goodlope 49-t 

Chalker,C. B 890 

Chandler, A. L 639 

Chapin, J. A .578 

Cl)apin,V. A 901 

Chase, D. B 467 

Chase, J. W^ 922 

Chipman, A. B 386 

Cliurch, W. T 742 

Clandening, T. V 617 

Clapp.D.C 616 

Clements, J. H 3.57 

Cleveland, F. D 553 

Cleveland, S. Orover 102 

Clark, A. B 650 

Clark, R. S 425 

Clark, Robert 751 

CliLse, Jabez 990 

Cobb, E. W .'i!l9 

Colby, George M 836 

Colby, J. S 8.35 

Colby, Rudolph 5.59 

Cole, Mrs. J. T 518 

Cole, William H 919 

Coleman, M 912 

Colisler, Herbert ^7 

Colt, Col. George 385 



Comstock, M. D 324 

Conn, Frank 765 

Conn, James H 719 

Conrad, Hon. L. F .569 

Converse, Ransom .575 

Cook, C. T 766 

Cook, E.J 313 

Cooper, A. C 199 

Cooper, Eli,... 212 

Cooper, G. A 228 

Cooper, J. T 9:16 

Cooper, L. C 199 

Copas, J. H 820 

Corbin, Martin L 883 

Corbit, George S 3:i0 

Corbit. John H 5(» 

Cortright, James 487 

Cosgrove. George, -M.D 709 

Cossitt, Hon. C. H 415 

Cowan, Charles 4.55 

Cowles, A. G., M. D 945 

Cowles, Norman .390 

Cowell, Andrew 997 

Cowell.John 792 

Cox. Theodore H 810 

Crane, Alfred B 418 

Cranson, Hon. J. H 987 

Crapo, Henry H 149 

Crcssnian, I. F 477 

Cresswell, Charles M 161 

Criekmore, Alfred 849 

Cronkhite. T. L 579 

Cummin, Capt. W. E 769 

Currier, C. F 4.58 

Curtis, Hon. James B. F !I5G 

Curtis. J. C. : 953 



D 



Daboll. Judge S. B XM 

Daggett, Reuben E .561 

Daniells. John T 731 

Darling. F. R "56 

Davies.B.C 438 

Davies. K. K »'55 

Davies, William T 763 



INDEX. 



Davis, Hiram 319 

Davisdii, James K 792 

Day , Charles 5X5 

Dayton, L. A 307 

r>ean,C'. L 842 

DeCamp, E C-(« 

Dennis, \V. W 851 

Derliani, A 5!»3 

Detwilir, William :i3() 

Devereaux, G. W 9(S 

Dewey , Hon. George M 323 

Dewey, John W 988 

Dewey, T. D 973 

DeWitt, O. P 312 

DeWitt, Walter C 618 

Doau, Ethan 831 

Doane, Lucy G 932 

Doman, Rev. K. V. M 729 

Downer, S. W 9(i. 

Doyle, M. S 5U 

Drake, M. \V 362 

Droste, Anthony 688 

Drury, W. K 811 

Dryer, I. M 617 

Dryer, N. A. , M. D .')16 

Duir.C.C 702 

Dunham, William H 742 

Dutcher, Davis i>03 

D^Ties, Pierce 796 



E 



Eaegle, David L 874 

Easier, George S-il 

Ellis, Albert H 696 

Ellis, Miron 724 

Ellsworth, A. B STil 

Enimeit, F. M 811 

Enmions, George W ;>41 

Enmious, P ,5(® 

Estes, James D 289 

Estey , Hon. D. jM 227 

Eveleth.E 958 

Evans, Alvin 258 

Evens, J. D 2!)0 

Ewell, A. J 404 



F 



Farley, Nelson 399 

Featherly, Frank 821 

Fedewa, J. H 408 

Fedewa, John 6:10 

Fetlewa. John J 677 

Kedewa, Mathnus 913 

Felch, Aliihcus 117 

Fildew, Alfred S .'>5« 

Fillmore, Millard 67 

Fitch, John M 263 

Fitch, John M 507 

Flcagle, Peter 595 

Heshman, Elijah 311 

Flint, L'alvin 447 

Float!-, Walter 910 

Forward, Franklin 440 



Fowler, Lieut. Charles 923 

Fowler, N ; CtOi) 

Fox, W. B., M. D 2.17 

Frasier, A. W 862 

Frasier, J. B 771 

French, D. S i<7 

French. J. W 7(io 

Friegel, Conrad 291 

Frieseke, H. 996 

Frieseke.J .566 

Fuller, Otis 431 



Gale, Hon. C. J 222 

Gallup, Eli 896 

Garlield, James A 95 

Garrison, Arthur 604 

Garrison, W. D .528 

(Jcrardy , J. J. P 942 

Gerardy, J. P 557 

Geller, Fcrdmand H 243 

Gillam.S. E., M. D 822 

Gihnore, R 584 

Goddard, F. I 207 

Goff, James 346 

Goodell, Hon. James M 371 

Goodsell, James .536 

Gould, Hon. An)os 981 

Gould, Col. E 982 

Gould, Edwin A 609 

Gould, F. H 6^29 

Gould, L. E 979 

Gould, O., M. D 881 

Gormley, John H 288 

Gorsuch, E. U 267 

Goss, George W 863 

Grace, Charles S 376 

Grant, Ulysses S 87 

Green, D. B 911 

Green, S. W 214 

Greenly, William L 121 

GrLsson, C. E 852 

Grove, Cornelius 443 

Grow, M. D 779 

Grulcr, Constantine 260 

Gunnison, A. G -HI 

Gunnison, James H "81 



H 



Hadsal I . Terry 465 

Hagan , Charles 239 

Haire, James 891 

Hall, K. S 308 

Hall, F. L 810 

H:ill, William F :151 

Hamil. Benjamin F 406 

Hamilton, James 427 

Hamilton, K. C 488 

Hand, Mai-shall 7!K) 

Hankey, Joseph 391 

llanna, Isaac D 833 

Harder, J. S 449 

Harder, N. A 608 

Harder, J. N 310 



Hardy, B.B 530 

Harlow, Albert 409 

Harmon, C. D., M. D 969 

Harper, Judge A. A .803 

Harper, James S 667 

Harrington, D. K 9;i5 

Harrison, Benjamin 107 

Harrison, William Henry 51 

Hartshorn, A. E 7;{3 

Harvey, E. W., M.D 7(9 

Haughton, Charles .588 

Havens, (ieorge C, M. D 409 

Havens, William, M. D 339 

Hawkins, E. G 811 

Hayes, Rutherford B 91 

Hayt, J. A 615 

Heath, James 905 

Heck, Wi lliam fi.55 

Henderson, J. D 971 

Henderson, William G 980 

Henning, Charle-s 495 

Hicks, A. R. ,M. D 733 

Hicks, John ;J97 

High, Hiram M 619 

Hill, Clinton J 936 

Hill, H. W 474 

Hill, John E .583 

Hill.L. W 496 

Hinman, J. B 794 

Hinman, W. 1 785 

Hoenshcll, Jonas .570 

Hoismgton , Edward 119 

Holbrook, J. L 840 

Holley, D. C.,M. D 659 

Holman, Charles 373 

Holmes, D.B 168 

Hoover, Jacob 920 

Hopkins, Loren 681 

House, Charles M 978 

House,J.T 934 

Hovey,H.O 480 

Howe, J. H .516 

Hoyer, F.JF 369 

Hubbard, J. A 450 

Hull', Aaron 389 

Huffman. J. J 924 

Hulse, Aildison 980 

Hulse, M. A 743 

Hume, A. M., M. D 881 

Hunt, A. A 377 

Hunter, William G 420 

Huntoon, George A 889 



Ingraham, S. W 711 



Jackson, Andrew 43 

Janes. George F 268 

Jayne, John E 198 

Jclferson, Thomas 27 



Jefferys, Parson. 631 

Jenison, Hon, W. F 713 

Jerome, David H 105 

Johnson, Andrew 83 

John.son, (.'. A ttOti 

Johnson, \Villlam 437 

Johnston, John A 930 

Jones. Daniel Z i~s 

Jones, W. W 5;J;{ 

Jopling. William 213 

Jubb, Jlrs. Kylvia ;ioO 

Jutld, George H 206 



K 



Keiser, .John J 379 

Kcnyon, A. H., M. D 762 

Kerby , .S. M (a.5 

Keys, H. N BXi 

Kilbourn, F. M 93s 

Kincaid,Tod (iy.j 

King, George E iihi 

King, Rev. Henry, Jr .163 

King, John 356 

King, M. L 3(j7 

King, Willard .538 

Kingsley, George D 880 

Kipp, George D 791 

Kittle, George E 370 

Kline, C. H 715 

Knapp, B. S ,521 

Knight, A. T 574 

Knight, Edwin 549 

Knight, Job U 9S4 

Koenig, Father H. C :1B1 

Kubns Manaseh 725 



Lambie, John 417 

Lamfrom, Sanmel 239 

Lapham, N :i()2 

Laubenga.ver, T. A 795 

Launstein, William B 710 

Lee, Wilson 3.!7 

Lemon, Thomas H 825 

Lewis, Lafayette 580 

Lineidn, Abraham 79 

Litehlleld, J. .\ (ilo 

Long, Noah 861 

Loomis, L. G IIMXI 

Lonng, George W 710 

Lowell, O. \V ftlO 

Luce, Cyrus Gra.v 177 

Ludwick, J. E 274 

Lyman, Burl 416 

Lyon, Edwin II 915 



M 



Madison, James. . . 

Main, 11. C 

Mann, Mi-s. Laura.. 



. 31 

..275 
.613 



Index. 



Marshall, Mrs. H 193 

Martin, Eli 989 

Marvin, T 329 

Mason, A. B fl'S 

Mason, G. D 8«3 

Mason, G.T 658 

Mxson, Stephen T 105 

Matthews, Alanson 705 

Mattoon , George P 523 

Mankey , Henry ■*79 

McBride, James N *265 

McBride,J. S 830 

McCall, \V. B 781 

McClelland, Robert 129 

McCormick, Colin, M. D 90U 

McLeod, W. H 303 

McLouth, Newton '172 

Mead, Caleb 813 

Mead, Israel 824 

Meacher, John 892 

Merrill, Charles M :)87 

Mesler, William M 473 

Mikan, John (>52 

Mikan,T 814 

Miller, A. J 080 

Miller, John P 576 

Miller, J. U 189 

Millman. JohnT 726 

Miner, Selden S 194 

Mitchell, E 577 

Mitchell, N 1000 

Monroe, James 35 

Moon,C. L 362 

Moore, Richard .508 

Moore, W. W 4!K) 

Morehouse, D. W 246 

Morns, H. VV 704 

Morris, R. H. B B74 

Morrison , Col. R. G 217 

Munger, Hon. O. W 701 

Murphy, 1>. L 855 

Murphy, \\'illiani J 197 

MurtlocK, Fred F 525 

Myres,H. S 793 



N 



Nay, George W 454 

Nash , Erf oixl 998 

Nethawav, C 633 

Newberi-y, William 736 

Newman , F. W 750 

Newsom, C. B 497 

Nichols, A. T 2«> 

Jtichols, Ezra B 426 

Nichols, L. K <5t 

Nixon, W. A .5.54 

Nourse, John .311 



Osburn, James 930 

Osburn,M .193 

Outcalt, John W 314 

Cutwater, Harri-son 423 



o 



Oliver, George 890 

Ohney, Esek f»07 

Orm.sby, M 916 

Osborn.P. W 235 



Paine, Fred J 264 

Painter, J 376 

Palmer, Henry, M. D 550 

Parker, G. A 903 

Parks, George \V 457 

Parks, Sidney D .520 

Parrish, A. T 266 

Partlow. A 299 

Parsons, Andrew 133 

Patchel , J. J 221 

Patridge, Mrs. L. A f(X 

Patterson. A. J 373 

Patterson, H. J 959 

Patrick, William C 3*7 

Payne, W. L 267 

Peach, Henry 871 

Peach, John 975 

Peacock, James J 485 

Pearce, Varney 957 

Pearl, Lewis 844 

Pearl, S.F 224 

Pennell, Edwin 486 

Perkins, J.abez, M. D 233 

Perrin, Hon. H. M !)85 

Perry, J. W 716 

Phillips, Charles H 7.53 

Phillips, Hon. N. G 636 

Phippen.S. S. C 565 

Phelps, C.E 353 

Phelps, Dyer 984 

Phelps, W. H 871 

Phoenix, M. G 799 

Pierce, Franklin 71 

Pierce, John Q 832 

Pierce, S. N 8.56 

Pierson, Albert 320 

Pinkney , John 730 

Polk, James K 59 

Pollard. J. W., M. D ..318 

Pond, Rollin 695 

Post, Leonard H 668 

Potter, W. H 939 

Power, D. H 469 

Pratt, George W .588 

Priest, George W 7.55 

Prior, George 91H 

Putnam, B. J 976 

Putnam, E. B 785 

Putnam, W.H 690 

Purdy, F. E 619 



R 



Rann,B. F 914 

Hansom, Epaphro<lilus 125 

Rapalee, J 301 

Read, John 583 



Redfern.F. W ,.428 

Reed,D.B »27 

Reed, George W 626 

Reed,H 596 

Reed, John 940 

Reeve, George C 928 

Reeves, Charles S -538 

Reidy, Michael 648 

Retan,J. V 420 

Rice, Charles D 282 

Rice,OtisL 3(2 

Rice, Riley 998 

Richards, A. E 380 

Richmond, H. L 639 

Ridenour, Daniel 652 

Rigley , Charles E 218 

Robbins, J.H 872 

Robinson, A. C 8*1 

Robinson, E. S 899 

Robson, William H 967 

Rose, James W 632 

Rose, Hon. W.H 298 

Rowell, Stephen D 819 

Rowley, S.B 860 

Royce, J. D 968 

Ruess,G "^ll 

Ruggles, F. S., M. D 761 

Russell, M.V 498 

Russell, William 661 

Kyon , Austin 879 

Ryon, Luther 318 



Salisbury, E 424 

Sanders. G. T 731 

Sanderson , J. D 776 

Sayre, C. H 876 

Sayre, D. B .54* 

Schanck, William P 783 

Schemer, Frederick 446 

Schoewe, T. W 605 

Schroeder, J. C 242 

Schweikerl, Joseph 400 

Scott, Nelson 224 

Scott, G.W 666 

Scott, S.E 911 

Schindorf, Jacob ii9o 

Sergeant, Collins 751 

Sevy,Ozi B 280 

Sexton, Charles 824 

Sexton, Zephaniah 403 

Seymour, VV. R 387 

Shadduck, L. B 861 

Shaft , John M 219 

Shattuck, C. E 446 

Shaw, W. R 220 

Sheldon, S. E 929 

Shepard.B. M 345 

Shepard.F.M 500 

Shepard , Perry 543 

Shepard, R. C 475 

Sherman, A. D 234 

Shickle, Charles, M. D 309 

Shuster, Samuel 816 

Sieb, Nicholas 510 

Silvernail, Andrew 230 

Simmons, R., M. D 5.57 



Simpson, Martin V. B 931 

Simpson, William K2 

Skinner. H. M 892 

Sleeth, James, M. D 920 

Smiley , Benjamin F 928 

Smith, Rev. Charles 513 

Smith, Clark 815 

Smith, Clark 961 

Smith, E. L 628 

Smith, E. V 320 

Smith, Ezra, M. D 834 

Smith, J. L.,M. D 279 

Smith, Martin 460 

Smith, M. S 809 

Smith, N. 629 

Smith, S. F 331 

Snyder, Dennis 993 

Soule, D. H 955 

Sowle, George H 394 

Spalding. W. F 297 

Spaulding, F. M 499 

Spitler, George J 666 

Spitler, H. W 677 

Stampfly . B .5.55 

Stearns, Rev. R. D 341 

Steel, D. G 535 

Steel, George A 991 

Steel, R. G 764 

Steel. R. M 191 

Stevens, William M 662 

Stewart. John 211 

Stone, Jesse E 378 

Stone, John C 453 

Stow, F. A 335 

Strong, William N 407 

Struber, L .549 

Sugden,0. G 385 

Sutfln.D. A 941 

Sutherlan, William 711 

Sutton, W. R 627 

Swain, O. B ....962 

Swarthout, A 678 

Swarthout, Edson 307 

Swarthout, R 493 

Swarthout, T. L .573 



Taber, C, P 986 

Taber. Leander C 773 

Tabor, Charles E 745 

Tallman, W. L 845 

Taphouse, William 589 

Taylor, L. R 662 

Taylor, Zachary 63 

Teachout, Asher 725 

Terbush, J. M 270 

Thomas, A. S 4,39 

Thomas, John 712 

Tillotson, W. T 558 

Tinker. Adelbert 4!IS 

Todd, Hon. E. A 3.54 

Tompkins, Richard 8iM 

Topping, G. W. , M. D 603 

Travis. Fred A 853 

Trn.sdcll. James K 587 

Tuttle, M., M. D 286 



INDEX. 



Turner, Jerome W 325 

Tyler, John .i5 

Tyler, Melvin J fi06 



u 



XJhrbrock, Lewis 885 

Underwood, W. D .V2o 

Upson, VNilliam N 21R 

Upton, Hart L 869 



Valentine, S. H 763 

Vanauken. J. M SO.) 

Van Huren,Martm 47 

Van Uerholf. A. M 50(j 

Van Deiisen, A. M 760 

Van Dyne. James R 4:J3 

Van Liew, William P 473 

Van Scoy , Hon . K. S IHo 

Voorbees, E.B 383 



w 



Walbridge, H. E 722 

\Valdron,E. P 703 

Walker, Hon. S. S 202 

Walsh . John 806 

Walsh, John T 244 

Walsworth, P. E 229 

Ward,E. B., M. D 665 

Warner, George, Jr :W8 

Warner, S.F 427 

Warner, W. E 476 

Warner, W. W 527 

Warnor, O. R 3;i3 

Wanen,D. L 251 

Warren , W. M S93 

Warren, George H 276 

Warren, G. R -h'2 

Warren, James J 495 

Warren , William E 236 

Washburn, CO 1001 

Washburn, M. F 954 

Washington, George 19 

Waters, Richard .*46 

Watson, Hon. F. H 2.53 

Watson, John A 193 



W'atson,S 608 

Watson, W. W 967 

Webster, E. D 596 

Webster, H., M. D 754 

Webster, H. W 970 

Weidman, Frank A 410 

Weleh, E.B 403 

Welch, Frank 267 

Weller. George %3 

Welhusen, William 200 

Wesener, Hugo 775 

Westcott , Frank 873 

Wheelock, Joel S 895 

Whelan, Charles A 590 

Whelan, Clark 406 

Whipple, A. D 660 

White, Edwin E 948 

White, Mr.s. Jessie 880 

White, H. Kirk 526 

Wiiitmore, M. W G'dS 

Whitlock. Orange 900 

Wideman, William 886 

Wiggins, A. J., M. D 285 

Wilcox, Italian 782 

Wi Iki nson , George C 48 4 

\V illiams, John D 504 

Williams, C S 332 

Wil loughby , M . W 4:!5 

Winans, Edwin B 181 



Wing, C. T 699 

Winston, E. M 648 

Wisner. Mcses 141 

Wolcott, C. S 300 

Wolter, Christian 859 

Wood, George 74-4 

Wood, James, Jr 879 

W^ood, Mason 760 

Woodard, W. A 2.')2 

Woodbridge, William 109 

Woodhull, J 6.56 

Woodhull, Z. S 5!I8 

Woodward, Warren 774 

Woodworth, John 913 

Woo*lworth, J. W 883 

Wright, Walter 470 

Wright, William 4C.6 



Ycrkes, S. A 921 

Yntenia. I). B 414 

Young, Isaac O .534 

Young, Thomas R 684 

Youngs, G. J 333 




INDEX. 





POMTMJLIT 



■^-^ 



?H~^ 



Abbott, Dr. J. T CTO 

Adams, John 2*2 

Adams. John Q 38 

Alchin, Frederick 482 

Aldrich, William A 008 

Alger, Russell A 172 

Arthur, Chester A m 

Babcock, M (!2:) 

B.lbcock, Mrs. M (122 

Ba^^ley, John J 15*1 

Baldwin, Henry P 152 

B.all,Dr. A. R fiH 

Barry, John S. 112 

Batchelor, B . F i'M 

Beard, Allen :!li; 

Be)fole,Josiah W ins 

Benjamin, Calvin 828 

Bennett, John 788 

Bingham, K. S 1311 

Blair, Austiii 114 

Brown, Edward 4(12 

Buchanan, James 74 

Bussell, CO .W2 



Cleveland, Fr.ink B 5.52 

Cleveland, S. Grover lO.'i 

Cosgrove, (Jeorge 708 

Crapo, Henry H 148 

Croswel 1, Charles M Ififl 

Cummin, \Villiam E 7(>8 

Dewey, Hon. George M 322 

Doman , Rev . R. F. M 728 

Dutcher, David .502 

Estey, Hon. D. M 22i: 

Felch, Alpheus 11(1 

Fillmore, Millard (!(1 

Fitch. John M 2(!2 

Fox,W. B 2.56 

(iarfield, J. A 91 

Grant, U. S m 

Greenly, William L 120 

Grove, Cornelius 142 

H.'irrison, Benjamin 10(1 

Harrison, W. H 50 

Harvey, E. \V 718 

Havens, William :i38 



Hayes, R.B flO 

Hill, John E .582 

Holman, Charles. 272 

Jackson, Andrew 42 

Jed'erson. Thomas 2(1 

Jerome, David H 1(4 

John.son, Andrew 82 

King, M. 1 366 

Kocnig, Henry C 360 

Lincoln, Abraham 78 

Luce, Cyrus Gray 176 

Madison, James 30 

Mason , Stephen 104 

Mattoon, George P .522 

McClelland, Robert 128 

Monroe, James 34 

Morrison, R. G 216 

Nichols, A. T 204 

Out water, H 422 

Parsons, Andrew 132 

Pierce, Franklin 70 

Polk, J. K 58 



Pollard, J. W 318 

Kansom, Epaphroditas 124 

Sext<>n, Zcphaniali 402 

Shepard.B. M 314 

Shepard , Perry ,542 

Smith, Dr. J. L 278 

Spalding, W. F 2% 

Stewart. John 210 

I'aylor, Zadiary 62 

Topping, Dr. G. W 602 

Tyler, John 54 

U|)ton, H. L 868 

Van Buren, Martin 46 

Voorhees. E. B ;i82 

Ward, Dr. E. B 664 

Warren,!). I Stil 

Warren, Mrs. I). L 218 

Washington, George 13 

Wiggins, A. J 284 

Winans, Edwin B 180 

Wisner. 3Ioses 140 

Woodbridge, William 108 




Amos, A. H 371 

Bain, Augustus 327 

Balcom, Will A 777 

Bauerly, Clmrles W 837 

Bcebee, Sylvester 737 

Bennett, A. C 7.57 

Bensinger, Joel 305 

Bowers, G.W 411 

Biu'gess, William W 717 

Bush, Mrs, M Ijill 

Caruss,K. B 431 

Colby, George M 837 

Cowles, Norman 3itl 

Cox , Theodore H 817 

D.arJing, Fred 757 

Drostc, Anthony 685 

Dvnes, Pierce 7i»7 



Ellis, A. H 6il7 

Essex M. E. Church 511 

Fedewa, John J 675 

French, J. VV 697 

Gallup, Eli 737 

Hardy, B.B .5.31 

Hoenshell, Jonas 571 

Hubbaril, James A 451 

Hntrinan, J. J 925 

Iluntuon, (Tcorge A 887 

Kcrby, Samuel M 633 

Kiltie. George E .371 

Litchdeld, Mrs. J. A 611 

Marvin , Thomas 327 

Mikan, John 6.53 

Moore, VV. W 191 

Morris, R.H. B (175 



N.nsh , Erford 877 

Nethaway, Clement (133 

Newberry , John 737 

Perry, J. W 717 

Phoenix, M.G 797 

Pierce, S.N 8.57 

Ridenour, Daniel (53 

Ro.se, James \V 0:i3 

Rowell, D. Stephen 847 

Ryon, Austin 877 

Ryoii, Luther 3(9 

Sanderson. .J. D 777 

SayrcCH 877 

Sicb, Nicholas 511 

Shepard, Perry 391 

Sinister, Samuel 817 

Smith. M. S 807 



Siij-tler, Dennis 925 

Stone, J. C 4.51 

Swarthont, Ed.son 305 

Swartliout, Ralph 491 

Swarthont, T. L .571 

Van Dyne, James K 431 

Van Liew, William P 471 

Walsh, John 807 

Warren, D. L 611 

Warren , W. E 237 

Watere, Richard 817 

Weidman, Frank 411 

Whelan.C. A 591 

Wi.l.nian, William 887 

Wing, C. T 697 

Wolter,C 8.57 

Wright, Walter 471 

Young, Thomas R. (»5 



/ 



